Irish climate consultancy Climeaction’s VSAg aims to deliver verified farm-level emissions data for global food supply chains.
Climeaction, an Irish climate consultancy, has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first video-guided software platform for verified farm-level climate data, in a bid to address one of the most persistent challenges in food industry emissions reporting.
The platform, called VSAg, is designed to help manufacturers meet tightening regulatory requirements under frameworks such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the Science Based Targets initiative’s Forest, Land and Agriculture guidance (SBTi FLAG).
“Farm-level emissions are the biggest obstacle standing in the way of credible Scope 3 reporting for food companies”
These rules increasingly demand accurate Scope 3 emissions data, which includes indirect emissions across supply chains.
Keeping farmers in scope
Farm-level emissions account for the bulk of climate impact in global food systems but remain difficult to measure, particularly across fragmented supply chains and in regions with low connectivity. Traditional audits and survey-based systems are often costly and impractical for smallholder farms.
VSAg seeks to overcome these barriers by using video-guided, offline-ready self-audits supported by AI and consultant-led verification. Farmers record key data through simple video prompts, while manufacturers access aggregated insights via cloud-based dashboards. The company says the system is designed for low-literacy environments and works without constant internet access.
“Farm-level emissions are the biggest obstacle standing in the way of credible Scope 3 reporting for food companies,” said Paul Murphy, chief executive of Climeaction. “Manufacturers are being asked to report, reduce and verify emissions without access to reliable data from the farm gate. VSAg changes that.”
Charis Aherne, Climeaction’s head of agricultural impact and strategy, said the platform was built to reflect the realities of farming rather than impose complex technology. “Too many tools expect farmers to adapt to technology that doesn’t reflect their reality,” she said. “VSAg was built to be farmer-first — simple, inclusive and accessible — while still delivering the level of accuracy and verification required by regulators, investors and sustainability teams.”
The platform also aims to create incentives for farmers by providing insights into emissions drivers, cost-saving opportunities and productivity improvements, as well as access to sustainability-linked premiums. For manufacturers, Climeaction says VSAg offers a scalable data foundation aligned with global reporting standards.
Enterprise Ireland supported the development of VSAg, which is already being piloted across multiple continents and farming systems. Climeaction plans a broader rollout with manufacturers, processors and cooperatives seeking solutions to Scope 3 reporting challenges.
-
Bank of Ireland is welcoming new customers every day – funding investments, working capital and expansions across multiple sectors. To learn more, click here
-
For support in challenging times, click here
-
Listen to the ThinkBusiness Podcast for business insights and inspiration. All episodes are here. You can also listen to the Podcast on:
-
Spotify
-
SoundCloud
-
Apple
