Modern farms collect and analyze vast amounts of data using. While data can improve efficiency, productivity, sustainability, and decision-making, this development raises the question of who owns the data. This issue is particularly relevant for smallholder farmers, as digital transformation comes with a catch: their most valuable information is often controlled by others. It leaves them vulnerable and raises concerns about the risk of their data being used and monetized without their consent.

When it comes to cacao and coffee, smallholder farmers – farms of 10 hectares or less – produce an overwhelming proportion of the global supply. This widespread reliance on smallholders underscores the need for systems that directly benefit them, ensuring their participation in global trade and addressing common challenges, including productivity, sustainability, and data sovereignty.

ECOSHIFT recently entered a new technology partnership with Orijin to strengthen the services we provide to our smallholder partner farms.