Proba, an Amsterdam-based carbon finance startup has raised €1 million to accelerate decarbonisation in the agri-food sector through insetting and address global sustainability efforts.
The funding, led by Future Food Fund and Yield Lab Europe, with continued support from Value Factory Ventures, will help scale verified insetting which turns sustainability commitments into financial value.
“With this investment, Proba is set to transform supply chains, turning sustainability into a benefit for agri-food leaders worldwide,” said Sijbrand Tieleman, CEO and Co-founder at Proba. “Decarbonization in agriculture isn’t something companies can tackle alone. It requires shared investment, shared benefits, and real collaboration across supply chains. With the addition of two experienced agrifoodtech investors, we’re accelerating our mission to make insetting a standard tool for financing sustainability.”
Founded in 2022 by Sijbrand Tieleman and Rutger Beens, Proba is an insetting leader for fertiliser-related decarbonisation in the agri-food industry. With Proba, businesses can quantify, verify, and finance emission reductions within their supply chains using insetting certificates.
This enables organisations to turn sustainability efforts into a tradable asset that supports better supply chain partnerships and co-finances sustainability projects. Proba also ensures compliance with recognised carbon accounting frameworks, including the GHG Protocol and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Kim Wagenaar, Investment Director at Future Food Fund, emphasised Proba’s strategic role: “Proba is unlocking credible insetting at scale for the agri-food sector. Their ability to drive real impact, particularly in hard-to-abate fertilizer related emissions, makes them a key player in the transition to sustainable supply chains.”
According to Proba, agriculture is a major contributor to climate change, with nitrogen fertiliser-related emissions alone accounting for 5% of global greenhouse gases, more than the aviation and shipping industries combined. The technology for reducing emissions from fertilisers – from production to application – already exists. Proba works with agri-food companies to adopt and expand sustainable practices through insetting.
Despite the availability of low carbon technologies, adoption remains slow due to cost barriers and a lack of financial incentives. This is where insetting comes in, turning decarbonisation efforts into verified insetting certificates, which supply chain partners can invest in and fund these solutions.
Insetting focuses on reducing emissions within your own supply chain, where it matters most. Unlike offsetting, which compensates for emissions through external projects, insetting ensures real, measurable impact that benefits all supply chain partners.
Daan Wilms van Kersbergen, Investment Director at Yield Lab Europe, added: “Proba is a standout startup; real traction, real impact, and a business model that proves sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. We’re excited to be part of their journey.”
Peter Kleijwegt, Managing Partner at Value Factory Ventures, reinforced their continued support: “Proba exemplifies the kind of high-impact climate innovation we seek to back. Their progress in decarbonizing supply chains is impressive, and we’re excited to deepen our partnership as they scale. Proba also creates valuable synergies with other companies in our portfolio, strengthening our impact in agritech and climate technology.”
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/02/e1-million-for-startup-proba-to-drive-agri-food-decarbonisation-through-insetting/
