Understanding GHG Methodologies and Third-Party Verification & Validation

When it comes to the impact of low-emission fertilizers on the footprint of growing crops, food companies want and need more than internal calculations. They want reductions that are quantified with robust methodologies and independently verified.

Methodologies define how reductions are measured and need to be reported and verified. Verification bodies check that those reductions are indeed real. 

What Are GHG Methodologies?

GHG methodologies are quantification protocols that make emission reductions measurable. They provide the formulas and factors needed to work out how much CO₂e is avoided when a producer or farmer adopts a new practice or technology and what it means for the footprint of a crop.

A methodology defines three things:

1. What counts: which practices or technologies are eligible, and what the baseline (the business-as-usual scenario) looks like.
2. How to measure: data, assumptions, and steps for calculating reductions.
3. How to prove it: the monitoring and reporting requirements that link directly to verification.

Without a methodology, reductions are just estimates. With one, they become measurable.

Proba Methodologies

At Proba, methodologies are built and reviewed with industry partners and our scientific team. They are grounded in recognized frameworks like ISO-14064 and aligned with SBTi and GHG Protocol. Each methodology undergoes a public consultation and expert review to ensure it reflects the latest science, market needs, and regulatory context.

For companies who are active in the agri-food industry, this means Proba’s methodologies are designed for real-world use cases, from fertilizer production changes (green ammonia) to application practices (inhibitors, controlled-release fertilizers).

Verification in Practice

This is where Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) play their role:

• Validation: before a project starts, VVBs check that the plan follows an approved methodology, that the baseline is solid, and that risks are addressed.
• Verification: after implementation, VVBs assess the impact, checking the accuracy of data and verifying set out assumptions. Verification takes place on a regular interval, not just once.

Both steps are required to turn a reduction into a recognized certificate or Scope 3 claim. Without them, reductions cannot be considered legitimate outside the company itself.