Key Takeaways
- Varda AG has transitioned into the Varda Foundation, a new non-profit organisation dedicated to improving transparency and data accessibility in global agri-food systems.
- All assets, including Global FieldID® and SoilHive®, have been transferred from Yara International to the new mission-driven foundation.
- The Varda Foundation will operate independently under neutral governance, with leadership from Executive Director Dr. Simone Sala.
- A diverse Board of Directors brings expertise across soil science, sustainable agriculture, farmer representation, and digital innovation.
- The move supports open digital public goods for soil health, regenerative farming, and long-term supply chain resilience.
Varda Foundation Established to Strengthen Open Digital Infrastructure for Agriculture
On World Soil Day, Varda AG and Yara International ASA announced the formal transition of Varda AG into the Varda Foundation, an independent non-profit organisation based in Rome. The Foundation will focus on enhancing transparency, collaboration, and data accessibility across global agricultural systems.
The transition reflects Varda’s continued commitment to shaping digital public goods that support soil regeneration, sustainable farming practices, and resilient supply chains. All intellectual property and services previously owned by Varda AG—including the Global FieldID® geospatial identification system and the SoilHive® soil data platform—have been transferred to the new foundation.
Varda Foundation Highlights Neutral Governance and Independent Stewardship
The Foundation will be led by Dr. Simone Sala, who steps into the role of Executive Director supported by a multidisciplinary team in agriculture, software, soil science, and data management.
“Launching the Varda Foundation on World Soil Day is a meaningful milestone,” Dr. Sala said. “As an open, non-profit institution, we can collaborate more effectively with partners worldwide to advance neutral digital infrastructures for agriculture. Our priority is to ensure that SoilHive and Global FieldID continue to evolve as trusted, accessible solutions that support farmers, researchers, and public institutions in delivering nature-positive outcomes.”
The Foundation’s Board of Directors includes representatives from WBCSD, Yara, CIFOR-ICRAF, the World Farmers’ Organisation, Fall Line Capital, and the University of Maryland (joining in 2026), offering broad expertise across soil science, digital innovation, geospatial analytics, and global farming.
Varda Foundation Emphasizes Purpose-Driven Transformation
The creation of the Foundation follows extensive engagement with partners and users who identified a non-profit structure as the optimal model for long-term impact. The new framework prioritises:
- Open, neutral governance
- Stewardship of FieldID and SoilHive as digital public goods
- A sponsorship-based financial model
With this alignment, the Varda Foundation aims to advance interoperability across agricultural data systems and contribute to global soil health and environmental accountability initiatives.
Varda Foundation Supported by Broad Community of Agri-Food and Development Partners
The Foundation acknowledges the contributions of organisations across the agricultural, technology, and development sectors, including CIFOR-ICRAF, Digifarm, The Landbanking Group, Radiant Earth Foundation, Syngenta, Swiss Re, Unilever, WBCSD, and the World Farmers' Organisation.
The transition has been made possible through long-term support from Yara International, together with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While these partners have enabled Varda’s development, the Foundation will now operate independently with a mission-driven governance framework focused on neutrality and broad societal benefit.
2 Comments