Saudi Aramco Backs Mitti Labs to Revolutionize Asia’s Rice Farming with $9.5M Funding

Mitti Labs, a climate-tech startup headquartered in New York and Bengaluru, has raised $9.5 million to expand its work in making Asia’s rice farming more water-resilient. The investment round was led by Aramco Ventures, the venture arm of Saudi Aramco, and will help the company deploy its platform that combines satellite imagery, AI, and field operations to help farmers reduce water use and methane emissions.

Why Asia’s Rice Farming Needs a Water-Resilient Future

Rice is a staple food for billions of people across Asia, but it’s also one of the most water-intensive crops. Traditional flooding of rice paddies uses enormous amounts of freshwater and produces large quantities of methane—a powerful greenhouse gas. With rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns, farmers are struggling to maintain yields while facing water shortages.

The challenge is urgent. According to the International Rice Research Institute, rice farming accounts for up to 15% of global methane emissions. At the same time, Asia’s growing population demands more food, putting even greater pressure on water resources.

Mitti Labs: Combining Technology and Field Support

Mitti Labs has developed a platform that helps rice farmers adopt sustainable practices like Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD). This method reduces water use by up to 30% and cuts methane emissions significantly. The platform uses satellite imagery to monitor field conditions, AI to provide recommendations, and local field teams to support farmers on the ground.

• Satellite imagery: Tracks water levels, soil moisture, and crop health in real time.
• AI algorithms: Offer personalized advice on when to irrigate or drain fields.
• Field operations: Train farmers in AWD and other climate-smart techniques.

The $9.5 Million Funding Round

The Series A round was led by Aramco Ventures, with participation from existing investor Lightspeed India, along with Godrej Industries Group, Cisco, Francis Family Fund, and Volta Circle. With this latest injection, Mitti Labs has now raised a total of $12.5 million.

This funding will allow the startup to expand its operations to more countries in Asia, including India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam—regions where rice farming is central to the economy but highly vulnerable to climate change.

What This Means for Farmers and the Climate

For farmers, adopting water-resilient practices can lead to lower costs, higher yields, and better resilience against droughts. For the planet, reducing methane emissions from rice paddies is one of the most cost-effective ways to slow global warming in the agricultural sector.

Mitti Labs’ approach is already showing results. In pilot programs in Andhra Pradesh, India, farmers using AWD with the platform reported saving 30% more water and cutting methane emissions by 40%—without sacrificing yield.

The Road Ahead

The investment from Saudi Aramco signals growing interest from energy giants in climate-tech solutions. As Mitti Labs scales, it aims to reach 1 million farmers across Asia by 2030, making rice farming more sustainable and water-resilient for future generations.

With the right combination of technology, funding, and on-the-ground support, the future of rice farming looks brighter—and a lot less thirsty.