Standardized Adoption Observations for an Effective Farm Development Plan
Updated: Oct 7
Using Standardized Farm Observations to Assess Sustainability and Guide Smallholder Farm Development
Effective farm sustainability assessment starts with consistent observation. Understanding current farming practices, identifying gaps and tracking change over time are essential to designing a farm development plan that responds to farmers’ actual needs and capacities.
In Thailand’s cocoa sector, ECOSHIFT has used standardized farm observations to better understand smallholder farming systems and identify practical opportunities for improvement.
There are an estimated 608 million farms in the world. Smallholder farms of less than two (2) hectares account for 24% of agricultural land use, produce 29% of crops, and provide 32% of the world’s food. If you include farms up to 10 hectares, they provide 55% of the world’s food.
That’s a lot of output from small farms.
Despite their contribution to global food supply, the World Bank says, “About 78 percent of the world’s poor people— close to 800 million people at the time of writing - live in rural areas and rely largely on farming, livestock, aquaculture and other agricultural work to put food on their plates and make a living.”
At ECOSHIFT, we believe this must change. Our focus on smallholder cocoa farmers in Thailand aims to tackle farm poverty by improving yields and boosting farmer incomes.
While Thailand is a comparatively small cacao producer on the world stage, the number of farms is growing. Cocoa can be a sustainable crop, and when integrated with suitable agroforestry methods, it can offer multiple income opportunities, biodiversity and economic resilience.
Moreover, as existing cocoa-producing areas in West Africa and the Brazilian and Peruvian Amazon are expected to become less suitable by 2050, production in SE Asian countries like Thailand has the potential to fill the gap as the sector adapts to climate change.
ECOSHIFT is committed to helping smallholder cocoa farmers in Thailand improve efficiency by boosting yields, increasing incomes, and reducing poverty levels. Smallholder farms are family enterprises, and ECOSHIFT coaching will create opportunities for spouses and youth who can benefit from improved farming systems that produce diversified crops.
The short answer is “yes” and “no.”
On the “yes” side, ECOSHIFT’s tech stack uses satellite imagery to map farm polygons and blockchain-based data management for transparent and verifiable supply chain management. This is a service we offer to our smallholder farmers free of charge. It supports sustainable production and allows product traceability for compliance with EUDR and other regulations. For example, our “Sustainabar,” in collaboration with Pridi Cacaofevier and Boo Chocolate, is Thailand’s first fully traceable chocolate.
On the “no” side, at the ground level, many smallholder farmers do not have access to the level of financing nor the inclination to adopt agronomic tech solutions themselves. They are more interested in growing and selling cocoa, and ECOSHIFT aims to provide the support they need to grow cocoa sustainably and profitably.
Our strategy to improve yields and incomes for smallholder farmers is based on a hands-on approach. An essential component in the ECOSHIFT toolbox is adopting standardized Adoption Observations to deliver a diagnostic for the cocoa farm. This enables farmers and their coaches to plan necessary interventions over time for an effective farm development plan.
What Are Adoption Observations?
Agronomist Peter van Grinsven has developed a standardized Adoption Observations methodology with Mars in consultation with Rainforest Alliance. The comprehensive Adoption Observations are agnostic and are not part of a certification initiative.
Peter had over 35 years of experience as an agronomist, helping cocoa farmers from Indonesia to Africa to South America improve output.
2026 editorial note: Peter van Grinsven, who passed away in June 2025, was part of ECOSHIFT from its early days. He introduced our team to the Adoption Observations methodology and generously shared decades of field experience in cocoa and smallholder farm development. His practical, farmer-centred approach has had a lasting influence on how ECOSHIFT thinks about farm assessment and development.
Adoption Observations were initially developed for Indonesia and West Africa, focusing on improving cocoa yield. The Adoption Observations have been extended to include criteria specifically for regenerative cocoa and agroforestry. They can be applied to any cocoa farm and adapted to farms not practicing regenerative or agroforestry farming.
The Adoption Observations fall under four general categories with related sub-categories. Within each sub-category, a series of Adoption Observations, with well-defined and specific criteria, are conducted to assess cocoa farms following a standardized protocol.
Adoption Observation specialists undergo comprehensive “calibration” training to ensure that protocols are followed, the observations are accurate, and all criteria are included in the assessment so that each observer reaches the same conclusion.
Peter emphasizes that “it’s about what you see, not what the farmer tells you what they are doing or will do in the future.”
Observation specialists follow specific guidelines to catalogue relevant data. The next step is to work with the farmer and build a farm development plan that respects their intent, abilities, and access to resources.
Adoption Observations Overview
CATEGORY | SUB-CATEGORY |
Crop Resilience | Plant Material Farm Condition: tree age, tree health, tree density Good Agricultural Practices: pruning, pest and disease control, sanitation, weeding, harvesting and shade management |
Agroforestry and Natural Habitats | Management of agroforestry trees Spatial design of the agroforestry farm |
Soil Condition, Organic Matter and Nutrients | Physical soil condition (sandy, rocky, argillic), pH (acidity of the soil), Erosion, Soil health Soil nutrient availability in ratios needed |
Carbon Water and Revenue | Carbon Water Use and Riparian Buffers |
ECOSHIFT Founder Linda Chevrier subsequently completed the Adoption Observations training remotely with Peter van Grinsven, through extensive one-to-one exchanges and working sessions focused on applying the methodology to smallholder cocoa farms in Thailand.
There are two critical elements outlined in the Adoption Observations format:
1. Observing and evaluating current on-farm situation and practices.
2. Adopting functional processes that allow farmers to plan improved practices leading to higher yields.
Key Factors Influencing Crop Yields
Genetic Capacity
The genetic capacity of the species determines how much a tree can produce and how well it can adapt and survive. To succeed, a farm needs trees disposed to high yields and resistance to prevalent pests and diseases, and farmers must know where the seeds, seedlings, or clones came from to ensure the highest genetic capacity.
The most common variety of cacao in Thailand is Chumpon #1, a hybrid of PA7 and NA32 varietals from Trinidad. It’s designed to produce good flavour cocoa beans at a higher yield through selective breeding, enhancing traits such as fruit size, number of fruits per plant, and overall plant vigour.
While hybrids can produce good yields, clones are a better option as they offer consistency and predictability in yield, mirroring the performance of the parent plant. However, since appropriate clonal varieties are not yet available in Thailand, we will initially focus on improving the yields of the Chumpon #1 hybrid. If or when clonal material with a good flavour profile and high yield becomes available, existing trees on farms may be grafted with such clonal material, and older farms and new farms would be planted with clonal seedlings.
Chumpon #1:
developed to resist common diseases that affect cacao plants, reducing the need for chemical treatments and increasing the sustainability of the crop
adaptable to various growing conditions in Thailand, making it suitable for different climates and soil types
known for producing high-quality cocoa beans essential for premium chocolate production
Tree Age
Another key factor to consider is tree age. Believe it or not, “tree senility” exists. If trees are older than 25 years, it’s time to replant. Anything under 25 years is acceptable.
Tree Density
For cacao monoculture, the ideal density is around 840 - 1230 trees per hectare. If a farmer practices agroforestry, the ideal density is 640 – 1000 trees per hectare. If the agroforestry tree species are selected and managed well, the revenue of the agroforestry crops should more than compensate for the losses of reduced cocoa plants per hectare.
Soil
The importance of soil cannot be overstated. An essential part of the Adoption Observations includes assessing its physical condition, pH balance, erosion indicators, presence of organic matter, and nutrients.
“A trained person can rate the quality of pruning in a few minutes
and rate all 21 Adoption Observations in 15 minutes.”
Pruning and Pest and Disease Control
If the factors outlined above are met, the most important measure of success is pruning. Good pruning also aids pest and disease control. Peter says, “Many farmers do not understand or appreciate the importance of pruning. The branches must be pruned to allow each leaf to catch the maximum amount of sunlight possible.”
Pruning also requires maintaining optimal tree height and removing the chupons, or vertical shoots, that grow from the trunk or branches.
ECOSHIFT coaches can help smallholder farmers learn or improve this skill.
According to Peter, “A trained person can rate the quality of pruning in a few minutes and rate all 21 Adoption Observations in 15 minutes.”
Higher Yields are the Beginning of the Process
Higher yields are the beginning of the process, not the result. Higher yields lead to better incomes for smallholder farmers. Better incomes allow them to continue investing/re-investing in their farms to ensure continued success.
Our goal at ECOSHIFT is to get farmers to a certain level of income that enables them to continue enhancing their farm development plan and repeating the cycle of improvement. But to do this, farmers must agree to a problem highlighted by the diagnostics before they can agree to a solution. It’s vital that coaches have ‘soft skills’ to help change farmers’ behaviour and adopt the necessary interventions.
While the average tree in Africa produces 0.5 kg/ha but can produce 1.5 kg/ha of dried beans, experience in Indonesia proves that two kilograms per tree, or two tons per hectare, is an achievable goal in Asia.
We help smallholder cocoa farmers in Thailand transfer the data gathered in the Adoption Observations into a practical Farm Development Program and embark on the path to improved practices and higher yields.
Partners for Improved Agricultural Outcomes
.In late 2024, ECOSHIFT worked with French tropical agriculture researcher Guillaume Lacombe from the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD) to assess water and soil-related factors affecting cocoa farms in Southern Thailand.
The fieldwork took place across Koh Phayam, Ranong and Chumphon, where Linda Chevrier and Guillaume Lacombe visited and assessed four cocoa farms, examining key factors influencing water stress, farm conditions and cocoa production.
They observed:
the presence and nature of tree cover
planting density
abundance of litter
soil type and clay content
potassium inputs
monthly and annual rainfall
temperature
genetic varieties of the species cultivated
availability of water resources for irrigation and associated costs
Combining direct field observations with a structured farm diagnostic provided a more complete picture of farm conditions and the factors affecting productivity, helping identify practical priorities for farm development.
The work that began with standardized Adoption Observations has continued to evolve at ECOSHIFT.
Our experience in the field has reinforced a simple principle: collecting observations is only the starting point. To support meaningful change, field data needs to be structured around clear objectives, relevant indicators and a way to track progress over time.
This has led ECOSHIFT to explore broader assessment and monitoring approaches that connect field realities with environmental, social and economic priorities — while remaining adaptable to different farming systems, programmes and supply chains.
ECOSHIFT helps organisations turn field realities and sustainability objectives into practical assessment and monitoring frameworks tailored to their programmes and supply chains.
From defining indicators and observation methods to structuring data, tracking progress and supporting decision-making, the framework is designed around what you actually need to understand and act on.
by Tim Morch, Freelance Writer
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