Estonian sustainability innovations are once more proving their calibre. This week, global snack food giant Mondelēz International has announced its strategic investment in Estonian ClimateTech startup eAgronom during its A2 round. The aim is to speed up the switch to sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient supply chains.
The investment, made through Mondelēz’s impact investing arm Sustainable Futures, will support eAgronom’s ambitious expansion plans to increase its European farmland footprint from 2.5 million to over 4 million hectares by 2026.
The carbon challenge
With food production responsible for approximately 31% of global greenhouse gas emissions—and farms accounting for 70% of that figure—agricultural sustainability has become an urgent priority. And the challenges mount. As the world population grows toward an estimated 9.3 billion by 2050, food production must increase by 60% while simultaneously reducing its environmental impact.
Founded in 2016 in Estonia, eAgronom provides digital tools that help farmers improve soil health, measure carbon impact, and participate in carbon credit markets. The company currently works with more than 3,000 farms across 14 countries, including Poland, Romania, and Sweden.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Mondelēz as investors,” said Robin Saluoks, CEO of eAgronom. Partnerships with food companies play a vital role in driving progress toward net-zero food production. Together, we can empower farmers to adopt sustainable practices and improve soil health, which are essential steps toward building a sustainable agriculture sector.”
The partnership positions eAgronom as a key player in “carbon insetting”—an emerging practice where companies reduce emissions within their own supply chains rather than purchasing external carbon offsets.
“eAgronom’s platform provides a broad set of capabilities covering project development, on-the-ground support, and financial access,” explained Michael Weber, Senior Director of Climate & Environment at Mondelēz International. “We look forward to supporting the team’s efforts, especially on the insetting side, with carbon removals forming part of many companies’ carbon reduction pathways.”
Collaborations and plans
Regenerative agriculture refers to farming practices that restore soil health, increase biodiversity, and enhance ecosystem services. These practices include:
- No-till farming that minimises soil disturbance
- Cover cropping to prevent erosion and build soil organic matter
- Reduced chemical fertiliser use
- Crop rotation to improve soil structure and fertility
These methods not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also sequester carbon in the soil—making soil the second most efficient carbon sink after the world’s oceans.
“The farming sector is extremely conservative,” notes Saluoks. “Since the average farmer’s career spans only 40 harvests, they’re unlikely to experiment. If something is more or less working, it makes sense to continue with it.”
To overcome this resistance, eAgronom provides risk reduction strategies, educational resources, and financial incentives for transitioning to regenerative methods.
“This investment fits well with the Climate impact thesis of Sustainable Futures and our wider sustainability goals of building greater resilience within our key supply chains,” said Susanne Mathis-Alig, Senior Director of Sustainability at Mondelēz International.
eAgronom recently secured €10 million in its Series A2 equity round, which included this investment from Mondelēz. The round was led by Swedbank with a €4 million investment, joining existing investors Icos Capital, Soulmates Ventures, and SmartCap Green Fund.
Remember, it’s a good time to invest in Estonian food! Read more and get in touch to talk about how you can be a part of the future of food.
