Solid Grounds was born in 2021 from several observations:

• A critical consensus frommany academic and civil society experts on the shortcomings of existing environmental assessment systems, in particular Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods.
• The need for collective reflection to produce relevant approaches and tools, then to guarantee the independence of these tools over time.
• The need for systemic approaches and benchmarks to reflect, in a sincere, comprehensive and scientifically credible way, the negative as well as positive externalities of production systems in all their diversity.
• The need to support the agricultural and agri-food sector with nuance and eco-design tools that allow neither greenwashing nor unfounded criticism of the agricultural industry. And to establish an unprecedented level of transparency in the agri-food market, the only way to restore trust among consumers.

The Solid Grounds Institute operates independently: its governance, free of any conflict of interest, brings together scientists, experts and associations. There are no corporate or industry interests in its governance. Its members perform their duties free of charge and on a voluntary basis.

The Board of Directors is made up of 5 to 14 members, each with one vote. It is supported by three colleges of experts drawn from academia and civil society (consumer and environmental protection associations, etc.).

The members of the Board of Directors are drawn from the three Colleges and sit intuiti personae because of their expertise in the College's field of activity, according to the following numerical rules:

• 2 to 6 members of the Scientific and Technical College (a maximum of 21 members). Growers are among the experts recognized as such by the Fund, and are invited to sit on this college.
• 1 to 3 people from the College of non-profit and non-governmental consumer, environmental and animal welfare organizations (college comprising a maximum of 9 members)
• 1 to 4 members from the College of qualified personalities (maximum 15 members).
• A representative of the company deploying the Planet-Score label held by the Fund.

The Board of Directors currently comprises 11 members, drawn from the various colleges. 

A total of 29 experts make up the three colleges that surround the Board of Directors, contributing their expertise as and when required. The boards have an advisory role.