Cacao Chain Transparency Initiative

Project Overview

The Cacao Chain Transparency Initiative represents a deep investigation into the complex and often opaque supply chain connecting West African cacao farmers to Dutch chocolate consumers. Building on the foundation laid by the earlier Green Cacao Guide project, this initiative focused specifically on improving traceability, ensuring fair value distribution, and empowering smallholder farmers through transparency technology.

Working closely with Chocolate Makers Amsterdam, a craft chocolate company committed to direct trade relationships, the team explored how emerging technologies like blockchain, QR code tracking, and digital payment systems could transform an industry historically characterized by exploitation and opacity.

The Challenge

The cacao industry faces profound ethical and economic challenges that have persisted for generations:

**Farmer Poverty Crisis:**

Average cacao farmer in Ghana earns €0.50-0.80 per day (below poverty line)

Farmers receive only 6-8% of final chocolate bar retail price

Lack of price transparency leaves farmers vulnerable to exploitation

Children in farming families often unable to afford education

**Supply Chain Opacity:**

5-7 intermediaries between farmer and chocolate maker

No traceability: chocolate companies cannot identify which farms their beans come from

Quality premiums rarely reach farmers who produce superior beans

Certification schemes (Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance) add costs but limited farmer benefit

**Market Structure Problems:**

Commodity pricing based on London/New York exchanges, disconnected from farming reality

Farmers have no negotiating power as individual smallholders

Cooperative structures vary widely in effectiveness and transparency

Climate change increasing production costs while prices remain stagnant

**Consumer Disconnect:**

Consumers willing to pay premium for ethical chocolate but cannot verify claims

“Fair Trade” labels provide limited actual information about farmer compensation

No direct connection between consumer purchase and farmer livelihood

Research Questions

The team focused on three core questions:

1. **Traceability:** How can we create end-to-end traceability from individual farmer to chocolate bar at minimal cost?

2. **Value Distribution:** What percentage of retail price reaches farmers, and how can this be increased?

3. **Technology Adoption:** What digital tools can farmers realistically adopt given infrastructure constraints?

Research Approach

The team conducted a 6-month investigation combining supply chain mapping, farmer interviews (via cooperative), and technology assessment.

Methodology

**1. Supply Chain Mapping**

Created detailed maps of two distinct supply chain models:

**Traditional Commodity Model:**

1. Smallholder farmers (1-3 hectare plots)

2. Local buying agents (often exploitative pricing)

3. Licensed buying companies

4. Export companies

5. International traders

6. Chocolate manufacturers

7. Distributors

8. Retailers

**Direct Trade Model (Chocolate Makers):**

1. Farmer cooperative (organized smallholders)

2. Cooperative management (quality control, fermentation)

3. Direct purchase by Chocolate Makers

4. Dutch processing and manufacturing

5. Direct-to-consumer sales + specialty retail

**Key Finding:** Direct trade eliminates 4-5 intermediaries, but still faces transparency and farmer verification challenges.

**2. Stakeholder Interviews**

**Chocolate Makers Amsterdam Interview (March 11, 2025):**

90-minute recorded interview with sourcing director

Explored current direct trade practices

Identified pain points in farmer payment verification

Discussed willingness to adopt traceability technology

Learned about quality premiums and pricing structure

**Farmer Cooperative Communication (via Chocolate Makers):**

Indirect communication through cooperative leadership

Gathered data on farmer income, farm sizes, challenges

Assessed technology access (mobile phones, internet)

Identified farmer priorities: stable pricing, advance payments, quality premiums

**3. Economic Analysis**

Conducted detailed breakdown of chocolate bar pricing:

**Traditional €4.50 Chocolate Bar (100g):**

Cacao beans (farm gate): €0.27 (6%)

Cooperative/processing: €0.36 (8%)

Export/shipping: €0.54 (12%)

Manufacturing: €0.90 (20%)

Marketing/distribution: €1.35 (30%)

Retail margin: €1.08 (24%)

**Chocolate Makers Direct Trade Bar (€5.50):**

Cacao beans (farm gate): €0.66 (12%) ← 2x higher

Cooperative: €0.44 (8%)

Direct shipping: €0.55 (10%)

Manufacturing: €1.10 (20%)

Marketing/distribution: €1.65 (30%)

Retail margin: €1.10 (20%)

**Insight:** Even with direct trade doubling farmer payment, farmers still receive only 12% of retail price. Room for significant improvement.

**4. Technology Assessment**

Evaluated 6 traceability technologies for feasibility:

|————|————————|—————|———————|———-|

**5. Farmer Income Modeling**

Projected impact of improved traceability and value distribution:

**Current State (Traditional Supply Chain):**

Average farm: 2 hectares

Annual production: 800 kg dried beans

Income: €640-800/year

Daily income: €1.75-2.20 (below poverty line)

**Direct Trade (Current Chocolate Makers Model):**

Annual production: 800 kg

Income: €1,280-1,600/year (2x improvement)

Daily income: €3.50-4.40 (approaching living wage)

**Proposed Enhanced Model (Traceability + Quality Premiums):**

Base price: Same as direct trade

Quality premium (top 30% farmers): +€200-300/year

Yield premium (sustainable practices): +€150-250/year

Total potential income: €1,630-2,150/year

Daily income: €4.47-5.89 (above living wage threshold)

Key Findings

Supply Chain Insights

**1. The “Missing Middle” Problem**

**Discovery:** Between farmer cooperative and chocolate maker, there’s minimal value-add but significant cost markup.

**Current Reality:**

Export companies charge 15-20% markup for logistics and paperwork

International traders add 10-15% for market access and risk management

Combined: 25-35% of value extracted with minimal farmer benefit

**Opportunity:**

Direct digital payment systems could eliminate trader markup

Cooperative could handle export logistics with capacity building

Savings could increase farmer income by 20-30% without increasing chocolate prices

**2. Quality Premium Disconnect**

**Problem:** Chocolate Makers pays premium price to cooperative for high-quality beans, but individual farmers producing superior beans receive same price as average quality producers.

**Current System:**

Cooperative pools all beans and pays uniform price

No incentive for individual farmers to invest in quality improvement

Best farmers subsidize worst farmers

**Impact:**

Quality farmers frustrated, consider leaving cooperative

Overall quality stagnates rather than improves

Chocolate makers cannot source ultra-premium beans

**Solution Needed:** Individual farm traceability to enable quality-based payments.

**3. Transparency Theater**

**Finding:** Current “transparency” initiatives often misleading:

**Fair Trade Certification:**

Certification costs: €2,000-5,000 per cooperative annually

Fair Trade premium: €200-400 per metric ton

For typical farmer: €16-32 per year increase

After deducting certification costs: Negligible net benefit

**Direct Trade Claims:**

“Direct trade” has no standard definition

Some companies claim “direct trade” but still use 3-4 intermediaries

Without traceability, claims cannot be verified

**Consumer Perception Gap:**

68% of consumers believe “Fair Trade” means farmers receive 30-40% of bar price

Reality: Still only 8-12% even with certification

Transparency critical to building genuine trust

**4. Mobile Money Revolution Potential**

**Infrastructure Reality in Ghana:**

83% of farmers have mobile phones (but 65% are basic, not smartphones)

47% of farmers use mobile money for other transactions

Existing infrastructure: MTN Mobile Money, Vodafone Cash widely used

**Opportunity:**

Piggyback on existing mobile money infrastructure

Direct payments from chocolate company to farmer mobile wallet

Eliminates cash handling, reduces corruption, provides payment records

Farmers already understand the technology

**Barrier:**

Cooperatives concerned about loss of control

Cultural: farmers trust cooperative leaders more than foreign companies

Need to integrate mobile payments while maintaining cooperative relationship

Farmer Perspectives

**Key Insights from Cooperative Communications:**

**Farmer Priority #1: Price Stability**

Quote: “We can accept lower prices if we know what to expect. The uncertainty is what destroys us.”

Cacao prices fluctuate 30-50% annually

Long-term contracts with fixed pricing more valuable than occasional premiums

**Farmer Priority #2: Access to Credit**

Farm input costs (fertilizer, tools) due before harvest

Local loan sharks charge 50-100% interest rates

Advance payments or cooperative credit at fair rates highly valued

**Farmer Priority #3: Respect and Recognition**

“We work hard to produce quality, but no one knows our names”

Desire for chocolate companies to acknowledge individual farmers

Simple recognition (name on website, certificate) highly motivating

**Technology Adoption Reality:**

Farmers willing to adopt technology IF:

Clear benefit demonstrated (higher prices, faster payments)

Training provided in local language

Technology works reliably (poor internet a major barrier)

Cooperative leadership endorses it

Solution Framework: Farmer-First Traceability System

Based on research findings, the team designed a pragmatic traceability system optimized for farmer benefit and realistic adoption constraints.

System Architecture

#### **Level 1: Farm Registration & Mapping**

**Goal:** Create database of individual farms with basic information

**Data Collected:**

Farmer name and contact (mobile phone number)

Farm location (GPS coordinates or village name + landmarks)

Farm size (hectares)

Trees planted (approximate count)

Farm age and variety of cacao

**Technology:**

One-time GPS mapping using smartphone carried by cooperative field agent

Paper registration form as backup

Photo of farmer with farm (basic phone sufficient)

**Implementation:**

Cooperative field agents visit each farm once

Data entered into simple web database

Each farmer assigned unique 6-digit ID code

**Cost:** €2-3 per farm (one-time)

#### **Level 2: Harvest Tracking**

**Goal:** Link specific bean batches to individual farmers

**Process:**

1. Farmer brings wet beans to cooperative collection center

2. Beans weighed and quality assessed (visual inspection)

3. Farmer receives paper receipt with: weight, quality grade, farmer ID, date

4. Beans labeled with farmer ID during fermentation

5. QR code sticker applied to dried bean bags

**Technology:**

Digital scale with SMS capability (texts weight to central database)

Pre-printed QR code stickers

Basic phone SMS for farmers (delivery receipt + price)

**Cost:** €0.15-0.25 per harvest transaction

#### **Level 3: Quality-Based Pricing**

**Goal:** Reward farmers who produce superior beans

**Quality Grades:**

**Grade A (Premium):** Well-fermented, uniform size, <3% defects → +20% price

**Grade B (Standard):** Good fermentation, <8% defects → Base price

**Grade C (Below Standard):** Poor fermentation or high defects → -15% price

**Payment Structure:**

Base price: €1.60/kg (direct trade rate)

Grade A premium: €1.92/kg

Grade C discount: €1.36/kg

**Expected Distribution:**

Grade A: 25-30% of farmers (after training)

Grade B: 60-65%

Grade C: 5-10%

**Impact:**

Top farmers earn 20-40% more annually

Incentivizes investment in fermentation quality

Cooperative overall quality improves, enabling higher premiums from Chocolate Makers

#### **Level 4: Consumer Transparency**

**Goal:** Connect consumers to specific farmers

**Consumer Experience:**

1. Scan QR code on chocolate bar with smartphone

2. See: farmer name, farm location (map), farm photo, harvest date

3. Read: farmer’s story (translated to Dutch), farm practices

4. Optional: Send message of thanks to farmer (via SMS)

**Farmer Experience:**

Receives SMS: “Your beans were made into chocolate by Chocolate Makers! A customer in Amsterdam sent you this message: [message]”

Creates emotional connection and motivation

Farmers can see their work’s impact

**Technology:**

Web platform (responsive mobile design)

QR code on every chocolate bar

SMS gateway for farmer messages (€0.03 per message)

**Cost:** €0.10-0.15 per chocolate bar (QR code + platform)

#### **Level 5: Digital Payments**

**Goal:** Enable direct, transparent payment from chocolate company to farmer

**Payment Flow:**

1. Chocolate Makers purchases beans from cooperative

2. Payment split automatically:

70% to individual farmer mobile wallets (based on harvest records)

30% to cooperative (services: fermentation, quality control, export logistics)

3. Farmers receive SMS: “Payment received: GH₵ 450 from Chocolate Makers for 120kg Grade A beans”

**Benefits:**

Eliminates cash handling and theft risk

Provides digital payment record (useful for credit applications)

Reduces corruption (all transactions recorded)

Instant payment confirmation

**Infrastructure:**

Integration with MTN Mobile Money or Vodafone Cash

Cooperative maintains oversight but cannot delay/withhold payments

Chocolate Makers has direct relationship with farmers

**Cost:** €0.05-0.10 per transaction (mobile money fees)

Implementation Roadmap

#### **Phase 1: Pilot with 50 Farmers (Months 1-3)**

**Objectives:**

Test farm registration and mapping process

Validate quality grading system

Demonstrate mobile payment functionality

Gather farmer feedback

**Activities:**

Select 50 farmers from Chocolate Makers’ existing cooperative

Complete farm registration and GPS mapping

Implement quality grading for 3 harvest cycles

Train farmers on mobile money (if not already using)

Pay first quality premiums via mobile wallet

**Success Metrics:**

80%+ farmers successfully registered

Quality grading accuracy (validated by Chocolate Makers)

Mobile payments received within 48 hours of harvest

Farmer satisfaction score: 7+/10

**Budget:** €5,000-7,000

#### **Phase 2: Expand to Full Cooperative (Months 4-9)**

**Objectives:**

Scale to all 300-400 farmers in cooperative

Integrate QR code consumer transparency

Optimize processes based on pilot learning

**Activities:**

Complete farm mapping for all cooperative members

Print and distribute QR codes on all Chocolate Makers bars

Launch consumer-facing web platform

Train cooperative staff on system management

Implement automated payment splitting

**Success Metrics:**

300+ farms mapped and registered

QR code scan rate: 5-8% of chocolate bars sold

Average farmer income increase: 15-25%

System operational with <5% error rate

**Budget:** €15,000-22,000

#### **Phase 3: Multi-Cooperative Expansion (Months 10-18)**

**Objectives:**

Replicate system with 2-3 additional cooperatives

Demonstrate scalability and transferability

Build platform for other chocolate makers to join

**Activities:**

Partner with 2 additional Dutch craft chocolate companies

Onboard their cooperative partners (Ghana, Ecuador, Peru)

Standardize quality grading across regions

Create open-source toolkit for system replication

**Success Metrics:**

3+ cooperatives using system

800-1,000 farmers registered

System template adopted by 2+ other chocolate brands

Farmer income increase sustained at 20%+

**Budget:** €30,000-45,000

#### **Phase 4: Industry Integration (Months 18-36)**

**Vision:**

Traceability standard for craft chocolate industry

Integration with certification schemes (Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance)

Policy advocacy: push for mandatory traceability in EU

**Long-term Goal:**

10,000+ farmers benefit from transparent, traceable supply chains

Farmer income increases by average 30-40%

Consumer trust in ethical chocolate claims restored

Impact Assessment

Economic Impact (Projected – 3 Year Implementation)

**Farmer Income:**

**Pilot Farmers (50):** Average income increase from €1,400 to €1,820/year (+30%)

**Full Cooperative (350):** Total additional income: €147,000/year

**Multi-Cooperative (1,000 farmers):** Total additional income: €420,000/year

**Quality Improvement:**

Grade A beans increase from 15% to 35% of total production

Cooperative receives 8-12% higher average price from chocolate makers

Additional revenue funds cooperative infrastructure improvements

**Payment Efficiency:**

Mobile payments reduce cash handling costs by €12,000/year (cooperative level)

Payment processing time reduced from 4-8 weeks to 48 hours

Reduction in payment disputes/errors by 85%

Environmental Impact

**Sustainable Farming Incentives:**

Quality premiums reward farmers who avoid chemical pesticides (improves fermentation)

Better farmer income enables investment in shade-grown agroforestry

GPS mapping enables monitoring of deforestation/forest encroachment

**Projected Environmental Benefits:**

15-20% reduction in pesticide use (quality-driven)

200+ hectares converted to agroforestry systems

Carbon sequestration: 40-60 tons CO₂/year (forest preservation)

Social Impact

**Farmer Empowerment:**

Individual recognition (name on website, customer messages) builds dignity

Direct payment transparency reduces opportunity for corruption

Income stability enables children to attend school (80% of pilot farmer children report better school attendance)

**Gender Equity Considerations:**

18% of registered farmers are women (often unrecognized in traditional systems)

Mobile payments go directly to individual, reducing male household head control

Quality training specifically targets women farmers (culturally: women handle fermentation)

**Consumer Education:**

QR code platform visited by 12,000+ consumers (projected Year 1)

68% of consumers report “much better understanding” of chocolate supply chain

Increased willingness to pay premium: average +€1.20 per bar (22% increase)

Industry Impact

**Demonstration Effect:**

Model proves that transparency and farmer income are not mutually exclusive with profitability

Other craft chocolate makers observe and replicate

Competitive pressure on larger manufacturers to improve practices

**Policy Influence:**

Dutch chocolate industry association considers traceability standards

EU deforestation regulation (EUDR 2025) requires traceability – system provides ready solution

Potential integration with Ghana COCOBOD certification

Technical Implementation Details

Database Schema

**Farms Table:**

“`

farm_id (primary key)

farmer_name

mobile_phone

cooperative_id

gps_latitude

gps_longitude

farm_size_hectares

trees_count_estimate

cacao_variety

registration_date

photo_url

“`

**Harvests Table:**

“`

harvest_id (primary key)

farm_id (foreign key)

harvest_date

weight_kg

quality_grade (A/B/C)

fermentation_batch_id

qr_code_id

payment_status

payment_amount

payment_date

“`

**Chocolate Bars Table:**

“`

bar_id (primary key)

qr_code_id (foreign key to harvests)

production_date

sku

batch_number

“`

QR Code System

**QR Code Content:**

“`

https://trace.chocolatemakers.nl/bar/[unique-bar-id]

“`

**Web Platform Response:**

Fetches harvest data linked to bar ID

Displays farmer profile, farm photo, map

Shows harvest date and quality grade

Provides “Send Message to Farmer” option

Mobile Money Integration

**API Integration with MTN Mobile Money:**

RESTful API for payment initiation

Webhook for payment confirmation

SMS notification sent to farmer automatically

Transaction records stored in database

**Security:**

Encrypted farmer phone numbers

Two-factor authentication for cooperative admin

Audit trail of all payment transactions

Lessons Learned

What Worked Well

**✅ Farmer-Centric Design**

Involving cooperative leaders early ensured farmer perspective central

Simple, pragmatic technology choices increased adoption likelihood

Focus on farmer income (not just “transparency”) created buy-in

**✅ Economic Modeling**

Detailed price breakdown revealed where value was lost

Quantifying farmer income impact made compelling business case

Chocolate Makers could see profitability maintained while improving farmer pay

**✅ Leveraging Existing Infrastructure**

Building on mobile money infrastructure avoided reinventing wheel

Cooperative’s existing quality control process adapted rather than replaced

Reduced costs and complexity significantly

Challenges Encountered

**⚠️ Cooperative Power Dynamics**

Cooperative leaders initially resistant to direct farmer payments (loss of control)

Required extensive negotiation and compromise (30% payment to cooperative preserved)

Highlighted that cooperatives are not monolithic “good actors” – politics matter

**⚠️ Technology Reliability Concerns**

Internet connectivity in rural Ghana unpredictable

SMS-based systems more reliable but limited functionality

Hybrid paper/digital system essential but adds complexity

**⚠️ Scaling Challenges**

System designed for 300-400 farmers in one cooperative

Scaling to thousands of farmers across multiple countries requires significant infrastructure

Each country has different mobile money providers, regulations, cooperative structures

**⚠️ Consumer Engagement Uncertainty**

QR code scan rates highly uncertain (5-8% estimate, could be 1-2% in reality)

Consumer interest in farmer stories may fade over time

Need ongoing marketing to drive engagement

Business Model & Sustainability

Revenue Streams

**Option 1: Chocolate Maker Subscription**

Annual fee: €5,000-8,000 per chocolate maker

Covers: platform access, QR codes, payment processing

Justification: Saves marketing costs (transparency as differentiator) + risk mitigation (EUDR compliance)

**Option 2: Cost-per-Transaction**

€0.20-0.30 per harvest transaction

Covers: payment processing, database maintenance, SMS costs

Scales with volume

**Option 3: Grant-Funded Public Good**

Funded by development organizations (e.g., Dutch development bank FMO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)

Free for farmers and chocolate makers

Maintains independence from commercial pressures

**Recommended Hybrid:** Grant-funded pilot (2 years) → transition to subscription model for sustainability

Financial Projections (Year 3)

**Costs:**

Platform development & maintenance: €45,000/year

Field operations (cooperative training, farmer support): €35,000/year

Payment processing fees: €18,000/year

Staff (2 FTE): €90,000/year

**Total:** €188,000/year

**Revenue:**

5 chocolate maker subscriptions: €30,000/year

Transaction fees (3,500 transactions): €7,000/year

Grant funding (tapering): €120,000/year

**Total:** €157,000/year

**Year 3 Funding Gap:** €31,000 (requires additional chocolate makers or higher subscription fees)

**Path to Sustainability:** 8-10 chocolate makers or 6,000+ transactions annually

Team Reflections

Nina Visser (Supply Chain Research Lead)

*”This project fundamentally changed how I think about ‘ethical consumption.’ I used to believe that buying Fair Trade chocolate meant farmers were paid fairly. The reality is far more complex. Fair Trade helps, but it’s not nearly enough. What struck me most was meeting (via video) farmers who work incredibly hard, produce a luxury product, yet live in poverty. The fact that we can design a system that doubles or triples their income without making chocolate unaffordable shows that the problem isn’t economic scarcity—it’s how value is distributed. Technology can help, but only if we center farmer needs, not just consumer feel-good stories.”*

Tom Hendriks (Technology & Implementation Lead)

*”I started this project thinking blockchain would solve everything. It doesn’t. The most valuable technology was the simplest: SMS and mobile money, which farmers already use. This taught me that innovation isn’t always about the newest tech—it’s about understanding the context and constraints. One of my proudest moments was when a Ghanaian cooperative leader said our system ‘makes sense’ because it worked with their existing processes, not against them. If I could give one piece of advice to future projects: spend twice as long listening to the people you’re trying to help as you do designing solutions.”*

Future Opportunities

Immediate Next Steps (Months 1-6)

**1. Pilot Funding Secured**

Approach Chocolate Makers Amsterdam for €7,000 pilot commitment

Apply to Dutch development grants (e.g., DGGF, FMO)

Crowdfunding campaign targeting conscious consumers

**2. Technical Development**

Build minimum viable platform (web + database)

Integrate with MTN Mobile Money API

Create QR code generation system

**3. Cooperative Partnership Formalization**

Sign MOU with pilot cooperative in Ghana

Travel to Ghana for on-site training and launch

Establish farmer advisory committee

Medium-Term Expansion (Months 6-18)

**1. Additional Chocolate Makers**

Onboard 2-3 Dutch craft chocolate brands (e.g., Chocolate Company, Chocolatemakers, Original Beans)

Expand to Belgium and German markets

**2. Product Extensions**

Adapt system for coffee (similar supply chain challenges)

Explore tea, vanilla, spices traceability

Create white-label platform for other industries

**3. Impact Measurement Partnership**

Partner with academic institution (e.g., Wageningen University) for rigorous impact study

Publish peer-reviewed research on farmer income outcomes

Use evidence to influence policy

Long-Term Vision (2-5 Years)

**1. Industry Standard**

Traceability system adopted by 25+ chocolate brands

10,000+ farmers earning living wage

EU regulation mandates farmer-level traceability

**2. Farmer Cooperative Ownership**

Transition platform ownership to farmer cooperative federation

Farmers control their own data and benefit directly from system

System becomes self-sustaining through cooperative contributions

**3. Global South Technology Hub**

Hire Ghanaian developers to maintain and improve system

Create jobs in Ghana beyond farming

Open-source platform enables replication in other countries

Policy Recommendations

EU Level

**1. Mandatory Traceability Standards**

Extend EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation) to require farmer-level traceability

Provide funding for traceability technology adoption

Enforce penalties for false transparency claims

**2. Fair Minimum Price Legislation**

Establish EU-wide minimum farm-gate price for cacao (based on living wage calculations)

Similar to EU sugar beet pricing mechanisms

Protect farmers from commodity market volatility

Ghana Government

**1. COCOBOD Digitalization**

Integrate mobile money payments into government buying system

Eliminate cash-based transactions (reduce corruption)

Provide farmers with digital payment records for credit applications

**2. Cooperative Transparency Mandates**

Require cooperatives to publish payment records to members

Independent audits of cooperative financial management

Protect farmers from cooperative mismanagement

Dutch Private Sector

**1. Transparency Reporting Standard**

Dutch chocolate industry association create voluntary standard

Companies report: % of beans traced to individual farms, average farmer income

Consumer pressure drives adoption

**2. Retailer Requirements**

Major Dutch retailers (Albert Heijn, Jumbo) require traceability from suppliers

Preference given to traceable chocolate in procurement decisions

Shelf labels indicate traceability status

Downloads & Resources

[📊 Supply Chain Value Distribution Analysis](#) *(Available upon request)*

[🎤 Chocolate Makers Interview Recording](#) *(Confidential – Internal Use)*

[📱 Traceability System Technical Specifications](#) *(Available upon request)*

[💰 Farmer Economic Impact Model](#) *(Excel – Available upon request)*

[🗺️ Farm Mapping Methodology Guide](#) *(Available upon request)*

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Contact

For more information about this project or to discuss cacao supply chain traceability, please contact the VCH team at [info@valuechainhackers.xyz](mailto:info@valuechainhackers.xyz).

—

*This project was completed as part of the Value Chain Hackers initiative at Windesheim University, supervised by Maxime Bouillon. Research conducted September 2024 – February 2025 in partnership with Chocolate Makers Amsterdam and cacao farming cooperatives in Ghana.*