Tracking the Journey of Coffee from Bean to Cup with Farm mapping

TechnoServe, a non-profit organization committed to helping farmers and entrepreneurs build sustainable livelihoods, partnered with TraceX to implement an end-to-end digital traceability solution for coffee produced by 3,500 smallholder farmers in the Araku Valley, India. This collaboration revolutionized the region’s coffee supply chain, promoting transparency, improving data management, and fostering ethical and sustainable practices. 

farm mapping, farm management

About the Company

TechnoServe is a non-profit organization that works for the upliftment of these farmers from the dire straits of poverty. Working across countries, TechnoServe links people, information, and capital ensuring prosperity and wellbeing of all communities. In the Araku valley of Andhra Pradesh, TechnoServe works with 9 mandals associated with FPOs. TechnoServe gives farmers agronomy training, manages post-harvest to increase coffee productivity, and provides the necessary market linkages. The 9 FPOs have about 500 farmers each and across 355 villages, there are 3500 farmers who are being benefitted by this venture.  

Industry

Foundation/Non- Profit 

Region

India 

Use Case

Consumer Trust and Transparency & Improved Farmer Efficiency 

Features Used

  • Farm and farmer Management 
  • Crop Management 
  • Harvest and Procurement 
  • Quality Control 
  • QR code Integration 
  • Network Integration 

Challenges

Araku Valley is renowned for its high-quality, organic coffee cultivated by tribal farmers. However, the region faced challenges, including: 

  • Limited visibility into farming practices and coffee origins. 
  • Manual data management, which was prone to inefficiencies and errors. 
  • Rising demand from global buyers for transparency and adherence to sustainability and ethical sourcing norms. 

Meeting these challenges required a robust system to trace coffee from farm to market while aligning with global compliance standards and sustainability goals. 

Solutions

TechnoServe adopted TraceX’s blockchain-powered digital traceability platform, integrating farm mapping, supply chain monitoring, and sustainability data tracking. Key components of the solution included: 

  1. Farm Mapping 
    Each coffee farm was mapped using GPS technology, ensuring precise identification of farm locations and boundaries. This enabled verification of coffee origins and compliance with sustainable farming practices. 
  1. Digital Data Management 
  • Data about farming practices, certifications, and crop yields was digitized and recorded on an immutable blockchain ledger. 
  • This streamlined data sharing between farmers, cooperatives, and buyers. 
  1. Sustainability Monitoring 
    TraceX’s platform monitored farming methods like shade-grown coffee and organic inputs, ensuring compliance with global sustainability standards such as Fair Trade and organic certifications. 
  1. End-to-End Traceability 
    Every batch of coffee was traced through the supply chain—from the farm to the cooperative to the final buyer—providing transparency and building trust with consumers and stakeholders. 

Key Takeaways

  • Transparency: Buyers and stakeholders could trace each coffee batch to its farm origin, ensuring ethical sourcing and aligning with sustainability goals. 
  • Improved Farmer Livelihoods: Farmers received recognition and premiums for adhering to sustainable practices, enhancing their income and resilience. 
  • Streamlined Operations: The digital platform eliminated manual processes, reducing errors and inefficiencies. 
  • Compliance and Market Access: The initiative met global compliance standards, opening doors to premium international markets for Araku coffee. 

 

Sandesh Deranna, Crop Lead- Coffee Value Chain, TechnoServe, said, “We are always on the lookout for digital tools that will help farmers improve their incomes and build a better future for themselves. TraceX was exactly the solution we were looking for. Through their blockchain-enabled traceability platform, TraceX empowers farmers by giving them more visibility, improving efficiency and profitability, building trust and transparency, leading to a better connect with the end consumers.”

farm mapping

Conclusion

The TechnoServe-TraceX partnership showcases the power of digital traceability in revolutionizing agricultural value chains. By combining innovative technology with a focus on farmer empowerment, the initiative not only secured global market access but also set a benchmark for sustainable coffee production in India. 

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