AdAstra launches Orbae to enhance transparency in agricultural land use
Agri-food
17 March 2025
Using satellite-based technology, Orbae provides high-resolution insights into deforestation and carbon emissions, helping companies and policymakers take targeted action toward more sustainable supply chains.
Geneva-based start-up AdAstra Sustainability has launched Orbae, a free open-data platform designed to improve transparency and accountability in agricultural land use change.
Land conversion, including deforestation and wetland drainage, is a major environmental challenge, accounting for 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions—with over 75% linked to agriculture. Despite commitments to halt deforestation by 2030, many agrifood companies have struggled to track the environmental impact of their complex, global supply chains.
Orbae addresses this gap by automatically calculating land use change emissions for 11 key commodities—including palm oil, soy, sugarcane, and corn—across 30 countries. Built on an advanced algorithm that processes billions of satellite data points at a 30-meter resolution, the platform provides heatmaps of carbon intensity, helping businesses pinpoint where interventions can be most effective.
“We’re making Orbae open so that companies can clearly see where land conversion is happening in their supply chains,” explains Xavier Bengoa, co-founder and CEO of AdAstra Sustainability. “This shifts the conversation from identifying the problem to implementing solutions.”
Industry adoption and expansion
Six of the world’s largest agrifood companies—including Louis Dreyfus Company and ofi (Olam Food Ingredients)—have already integrated Orbae data into their sustainability strategies. The Geneva-based start-up is actively expanding its network of corporate and NGO partners, ensuring that its high-quality insights remain freely accessible to key industry stakeholders.
For those requiring deeper analytics, Orbae Pro offers an extended dataset covering total land use emissions, forest loss trends, and deforestation-free commodity percentages. Additionally, AdAstra provides consulting services to help businesses integrate Orbae insights into their carbon accounting and climate strategies. As a MassChallenge Switzerland 2024 Winner, AdAstra Sustainability is setting a new standard for data-driven climate solutions. By making land conversion impacts more transparent and actionable, Orbae aims to accelerate the shift toward deforestation-free supply chains and more sustainable agriculture worldwide.
