diff --git a/message_ix_models/project/edits/__init__.py b/message_ix_models/project/edits/__init__.py
index da9dca5039..ea0233b1c6 100644
--- a/message_ix_models/project/edits/__init__.py
+++ b/message_ix_models/project/edits/__init__.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 from sdmx.model.common import Codelist
 from sdmx.model.v21 import DataStructureDefinition
 
+from message_ix_models.tools.exo_data import ExoDataSource
 from message_ix_models.util import local_data_path
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -156,6 +157,21 @@ def _transform(value: Any) -> str:
 }
 
 
+class PASTA(ExoDataSource):
+    """Retrieve and process PASTA data for use in MESSAGEix-Transport."""
+
+    id = "PASTA"
+
+    def __init__(self, source, source_kw):
+        if not source == self.id:
+            raise ValueError(source)
+
+        self.raise_on_extra_kw(source_kw)
+
+    def __call__(self):
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+
 def gen_demand(context: "Context") -> None:
     """Generate MESSAGEix-Transport demand data from PASTA.
 
diff --git a/message_ix_models/tests/project/test_edits.py b/message_ix_models/tests/project/test_edits.py
index 075929ad5b..0ec23ba67f 100644
--- a/message_ix_models/tests/project/test_edits.py
+++ b/message_ix_models/tests/project/test_edits.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from message_ix_models.project.edits import gen_demand, pasta_native_to_sdmx
+from message_ix_models.project.edits import PASTA, gen_demand, pasta_native_to_sdmx
 from message_ix_models.util import package_data_path
 
 
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ def test_pasta_data(test_context):
     copyfile(package_data_path("test", *parts), target)
 
 
+class TestPASTA:
+    def test_init(self) -> None:
+        PASTA("PASTA", {})
+
+
 def test_pasta_native_to_sdmx(test_context, test_pasta_data):
     pasta_native_to_sdmx()