SGS Spain will verify Proba fertilizer emission cuts for Scope 3 claims

SGS Spain has been approved to independently validate and verify fertilizer-related emission reductions under Proba’s standard, covering emissions from production plant to field. The move gives food companies a third-party check on Scope 3 claims as auditors, regulators and customers demand more traceable climate data.

Why it matters: - Food companies face growing pressure to prove fertilizer-related emissions cuts with data that can stand up to audits, customer scrutiny and regulatory review. - Independent verification can make Scope 3 claims more credible across agri-food supply chains. - Nitrogen fertilizer is a major emissions source in crop supply chains, so verified reductions could have outsized impact.

What happened: - SGS Spain has been approved as an independent validation and verification body under Proba’s Standard. - SGS Spain will verify fertilizer emission reductions from the production plant to the field. - Proba will use SGS Spain’s verification before certifying reductions for Scope 3 reporting. - The announcement came from Amsterdam on Nov. 5, 2026.

The details: - Proba is a Dutch start-up that quantifies and certifies fertilizer-related emission reductions in agri-food supply chains. - SGS Spain will verify reductions across the fertilizer life cycle. - Verified reductions will be allocated to the supply chain where they occurred and recorded in Proba’s registry. - SGS Spain will assess the underlying data, the calculations and whether each claim conforms with Proba’s Standard. - Nitrogen fertilizer emissions happen at two points: at the production plant and in the field after application. - At the plant, much ammonia is still made from natural gas. - In the field, some applied nitrogen escapes as nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas about 273 times more potent than CO2 over 100 years. - Lower-carbon production, inhibitors and controlled-release fertilizers each reduce part of that footprint. - Proba’s methodologies and registry will be subject to independent verification by SGS Spain. - Proba’s framework is designed to align with the GHG Protocol, SBTi FLAG and CSRD.

Between the lines: - Food companies are being pushed toward emissions claims that can survive outside review, not just internal accounting. - The partnership suggests the market is moving from estimate-based climate claims toward traceable, third-party verified reductions. - Proba is positioning its registry and methodology as infrastructure for more defensible Scope 3 reporting. - SGS Spain is extending its verification role deeper into agri-food emissions accounting.

What’s next: - SGS Spain will begin reviewing Proba claims under the new approval. - Food companies using Proba’s framework can seek verified reductions for reporting and supply chain claims. - Proba said verified reductions will continue to be recorded in its registry as the framework is used more broadly.

The bottom line: - The deal gives agri-food companies a third-party path to verify fertilizer emissions cuts, which could make Scope 3 reporting harder to challenge and easier to trust.