VCA4D is funded by the European Commission. The service facility is operated by Agrinatura and analyzes agricultural value chains on a case-by-case basis (one commodity or product, one country, typically), using a standardized, multidisciplinary, and quantitative methodology, producing evidence-based recommendations—including for corporate actors and value chain investors—on sustainability pathways.

The analyses address key questions related to inclusion and equity, sustainable growth, environmental and social performances, employment, and micro- to macro-economic indicators along the value chain. The resulting evidence is requested by and delivered to EU Delegations and national partners, who use it to inform policy and investment decisions.

More than 65 studies have been conducted over the past 10 years, and the facility enters its third phase in the course of 2026.