Digital solution enables sustainable farming and sourcing

Over 50 per cent more food will be required to feed the world population, which is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, and climate change threatens up to 25 per cent of crop yields. Growth of the global food system is dependent on sustainable, inclusive and efficient practices.

The current food system currently accounts for 70 per cent of freshwater withdrawals, 60 to 70 per cent biodiversity loss, and 25 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. The majority of the food supply is produced in developing markets, and there are approximately 500 million smallholders.

Farmforce replaces existing paper-based processes with mobile technology to provide traceability to the field level. The platform improves management information and transparency, documents compliance with food and sustainability standards (such as organic, Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance), and simplifies audits.

Designed for scalability and easy integration with other systems, the technology has been continuously refined over the past seven years to adapt to lessons learned on the ground.

Transparency and traceability in the food system in emerging markets are key to reducing fraud, improving food safety, increasing supply-chain efficiency, reducing food waste, and improving the sustainability of the food value chain.

For buyers, Farmforce’s platform enables direct sourcing and the integration of the supply chain at the farm level. Moreover, it allows for product traceability with farm specifications to the bag level. It increases visibility on yields for forecasting supply and provides documentation for compliance.

For farmers, the platform helps to boost output through improved analytics for crop selection and better practices. It mitigates risk through integration of crop production, credit, and insurance and digital payments. Additional benefits include management of certifications and collection and analysis of production, social, economic and environmental indicators.

The global food traceability market was valued at USD 11.25 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 20.95 billion by 2026. Key factors driving market growth include rising consumer concern for food safety, high demand in emerging economies, stringent export regulations, and the increasing penetration of modern retail, such as supermarkets and hypermarkets.

The Farmforce platform is currently deployed in 27 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and 45 crop value chains. Approximately 350 000 smallholders are managed on the platform.