Beneath our feet: Why Varda Foundation believes soil data could become agriculture’s most valuable asset

The Varda Foundation, originally founded by Yara International, aims to unlock the value of fragmented soil data to transform agricultural productivity, sustainability, and risk management. Transitioning to an independent not-for-profit to ensure neutrality and trust, Varda developed SoilHive, a federated platform allowing organizations to retain ownership while sharing soil data. This approach enables more precise farm recommendations, improved agricultural insurance, and enhanced supply chain resilience, though challenges remain regarding data standardization, trust, and incentives. Varda envisions a future where accessible soil data underpins innovation across the food system, recognizing soil as a critical but underappreciated agricultural asset.