UNDO Named One of Four Global Winners in $100M XPRIZE Carbon Removal Competition

UNDO has been awarded $5 million as one of four global winners in the final round of the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition.

Standing out among more than 1,300 teams from 88 countries, we were first selected as one of 20 global finalists. Now, following the final round of the competition, we have been named one of four winners for our work in enhanced rock weathering (ERW), a scientifically credible, highly scalable approach to permanent carbon removal. This recognition places us among a small group of innovators who have proven their ability to deliver measurable, high-quality removals in the real world.

Jim Mann, Founder and CEO at UNDO, said: “Being an XPRIZE winner is a powerful validation – not just of UNDO’s scientific rigour and massively scalable operational model, but of the incredible team and agricultural communities behind it all. In a field of truly impressive innovators, this recognition highlights the enormous achievement of taking enhanced rock weathering from the lab and into the real world. It’s an honour to be part of this winning cohort, united in our mission of creating a livable planet for future generations.”

What is the XPRIZE Carbon Removal Competition?

Launched in April 2021 and funded by the Musk Foundation, XPRIZE Carbon Removal is a $100 million global competition designed to accelerate the development of CDR technologies that can help address climate change at scale.

Participants were challenged to create solutions that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or oceans and sequester it durably, with a clear pathway to gigatonne scale. Over the course of four years, more than 1,300 teams from 88 countries entered, spanning a wide range of technologies, including ocean-based systems, direct air capture, land-based approaches, and mineralisation via rocks.

To reach the final round, teams needed to demonstrate the removal of at least 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ in a one-year period. The judging panel assessed submissions based on their ability to remove carbon permanently, the environmental integrity of the process, cost-effectiveness, and scalability.

Delivering Real-World Impact in Canada

Our winning submission focused on our Ontario-based operations, delivered in partnership with Canadian Wollastonite.

Over a 12-month period, we spread 34,000 tonnes of fast-weathering wollastonite across 5,670 hectares of farmland in eastern Ontario. The operation was supported by 30 advanced monitoring sites and a comprehensive data infrastructure that tracked everything from rock composition and application rates to soil response and field-level emissions.

The result: 1,209 tonnes of net CO₂ removed, as verified through a full lifecycle assessment (LCA) and third-party review by two independent VVBs. All deductions, including emissions from quarrying, haulage, spreading, and monitoring, were transparently calculated and subtracted from the initial gross removal figure.

This effort not only surpassed the competition threshold of 1,000 tonnes but also demonstrated that large-scale ERW operations can deliver tangible, measurable outcomes using existing infrastructure.

Rosalie Tostevin, Geochemistry Lead at UNDO, said: “Enhanced rock weathering holds enormous promise, but one of the biggest challenges is verifying carbon removal in natural settings. This is one of the most fascinating and urgent scientific challenges of our time, and as a geochemist, it’s a privilege to be working at the heart of it. I’m constantly amazed by the pace of progress and the energy of our team, people from all different backgrounds coming together with a shared purpose. I truly believe UNDO can meet this challenge, and the support from XPRIZE will help us move even faster.”

Why This XPRIZE Win Matters

While the $5 million award is a significant recognition, the real value of this achievement lies in what it proves.

“This is a monumental milestone for the climate movement at large,” said David Babson, Executive Vice President, Climate and Energy, XPRIZE. “The vast potential of the carbon removal solutions coming out of this competition highlight the profound impact incentive competitions have in accelerating innovation. We’re proud to serve as a powerful catalyst for transformative solutions to tackle the most pressing global climate challenges.”

Enhanced rock weathering has long been recognised as a promising pathway for permanent carbon removal, but until recently, few operators had delivered results at scale. Our win marks a shift, showing that ERW can move beyond the theoretical and become a credible, scalable solution backed by real-world data.

This moment matters for several reasons:

– It validates our scalable operational model, one built around collaboration with local partners, agricultural communities, and scientific institutions.

– It confirms the potential of ERW as a high-durability, low-cost carbon removal method that uses abundant natural resources.

– It highlights the importance of credible, measurable outcomes in a landscape where trust and transparency are essential.

– It signals momentum within the broader $3.9 billion carbon removal market, where demand for high-quality, third-party verified credits is rising.

Our approach combines technology, science, and on-the-ground delivery in a way that aligns with the real-world requirements of carbon buyers, project developers, and regulators alike.

A Closer Look at the Ontario Deployment

Our XPRIZE demonstration was grounded in one of the most advanced ERW operations to date.

Key highlights from the deployment include:

– 34,000 tonnes of fast-weathering wollastonite spread.

– 5,670 hectares of farmland enriched across 102 farms in eastern Canada.

– 30 deep MRV sites developed to track both soil and environmental responses.

– 1,209 tonnes of net CO₂ removal, after accounting for emissions from quarrying, haulage, spreading, MRV, equipment use, and potential downstream losses.

The project was designed to be highly measurable and carbon-efficient from day one. Every step from quarry to field was tracked using our proprietary data infrastructure, enabling full traceability of carbon removal outcomes. The mineral feedstock was selected for its fast weathering properties and consistently low levels of potentially toxic elements, ensuring both effectiveness and environmental safety. As our model leverages existing infrastructure, our operations in Canada have a carbon efficiency of greater than 90%

Canadian Wollastonite is one of the most environmentally considerate mines in North America. Less than 15% of the property’s 220 hectares of land will be disturbed by mining activities, allowing plenty of space for future environmentally beneficial projects. More than 15,000 trees have been planted on the property where the mine operates, and several large wetlands have been built with a marked increase in purple martin, duck, and bat populations. The biodiversity at the mine site is higher than before the mine existed, thanks to the concerted efforts of Canadian Wollastonite to cultivate the natural ecology.

Farmer engagement is central to the project’s success, with participating landowners seeing agronomic co-benefits alongside climate impact. These included improved soil pH and early indications of increased nutrient availability.

The Role of Measurement in Scaling CDR

Our carbon removal claims are grounded in field data, laboratory analysis, and conservative accounting. Measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) is core to how we operate, not just for competition entries but for every tonne of CO₂ removed.

To support the next phase of growth, we have developed a proprietary measurement approach designed to deliver cost-effective, transparent quantification at scale. This technique represents a fundamental difference in how ERW projects can be monitored and validated across diverse geographies.

The ability to measure consistently, at a low cost, and across multiple sites is essential to building trust with buyers and maintaining credibility as ERW scales. We continue to invest in both scientific partnerships and technology platforms to ensure every tonne of CO₂ removed is backed by robust evidence and traceable data.

From Kilotonne to Megatonne Carbon Removal and Beyond

Our project in Ontario is just the first step toward a much larger goal: delivering millions of tonnes of permanent carbon removal through a global network of ERW projects.

By 2031, we aim to scale to megatonne-level annual removal, with active projects already in development globally. These regions have been selected based on mineral reserves, agricultural land availability, logistics capacity, and environmental suitability.

Our model is intentionally designed for scalability. It uses established supply chains, decentralised delivery through local partners, and a data platform that enables consistency and oversight without requiring direct control of every field operation. This decentralised, partner-led model is critical to unlocking gigatonne-scale carbon removal, something no single project developer can achieve alone.

A Shared Milestone and a Collective Future

Our XPRIZE Carbon Removal win is a recognition of years of hard work, partnership, and scientific innovation, but it’s also a milestone for the entire enhanced rock weathering community. It shows that permanent carbon removal isn’t just a future aspiration. It’s already happening.

We remain focused on building the foundations for a world where ERW becomes a common farming practice, backed by strong data, robust science, and lasting local relationships. This is a collective effort, and we extend our thanks to the partners, funders, landowners, and researchers who made this achievement possible.

The challenge of climate change is immense. But through collaboration and demonstrated science, solutions like enhanced rock weathering can play a meaningful role in removing carbon at the scale the planet needs.

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