In a collaboration aimed at enhancing sustainability in the cacao industry, Belgian consultancy Zoto has joined forces with Swedish climate tech company Improvin’. Their mission? To revolutionise the cacao value chain, starting with primary data collection from farmers in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The cacao sector faces a myriad of environmental hurdles, from depleted soils to ageing trees and improper water management. Compounded by the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in remote regions, there’s an urgent need for action on both environmental and social fronts.
Zoi Papalexandratou, co-founder of Zoto, highlights the complexity of the cacao supply chain, which has historically hindered traceability efforts. “Together with Improvin’, we aim to explore ways to improve transparency and measure environmental impact, benefitting underserved farmers and their communities,” she asserts.
The partnership will delve into gathering agroforestry data directly from farmers, focusing on soil health, tree diversity and farming practices. Leveraging Improvin’s technology and satellite imagery, the project strives to quantify greenhouse gas emissions and enhance traceability on a batch-specific level.
Niklas Wallsargård, CEO of Improvin’, emphasises the significance of this endeavour, noting the lack of initiatives utilising primary data for cacao traceability and sustainability. “We are excited to pioneer scalable frameworks and standards with Zoto, aiming for tangible impact in this domain.”
The project is also bolstered by the support of international NGO Trias and local partners, Native Group of Companies. Funding from the Flemish International Climate Action Programme underscores the commitment to catalysing positive change in the cacao sector.
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