7 tips on how to go digital in the cocoa sector

The cocoa trade still mainly takes place through personal relations and traditional trade. However, technology has made many areas of the cocoa supply chain and related operations much better. This includes traceability, farm mapping, farming practices and market analytics. This study contains tips on how digitalisation plays a role in the cocoa sector and what this could mean for you.

1. Learn about the most common types of digitalisation 

Digitalisation can improve your business. All actors in the cocoa supply chain need to provide more information, including cocoa producers and exporters. This includes information on quality, origin and sustainability. Digitalisation is also important for complying with new laws and regulations. New technologies can help you collect and share this information more effectively. 

There are many ways to benefit from working more digitally. Before deciding what level of digitalisation is best for your organisation, it is important to understand the level that works for you.

Determine your current level of digitalisation

Before selecting a tool, it is important to ask if you can use it in your organisation. Some solutions need more digital knowledge than others. Think about questions like:

• Which digital tools do you already use? 
• How are the digital skills of the people who will use the tools?
• What is the current level of internet access and connectivity? 

These steps help you assess how ready your organisation is for new digital tools. They will also help you work out what is needed once a tool is selected. 

Internet access is an important factor. Access is still low in many cocoa producing countries. Only 23% of people in low-income countries used the internet in 2025, compared to 94% high-income countries. In Africa, the main cocoa producing continent, only 36% of people had internet access. 2.2 billion people were still offline, most of them in low-income and middle-income countries.

Cocoa farmers are not benefiting from digitalisation enough. The internet is unaffordable in 60% of low-income and middle-income countries. This affects their ability to participate in the digital economy. It also limits which tools they can use. The limitations are worse for women, who are still less likely to use the internet than men. 

Figure 1: Percentage of the population using the internet (2024 or latest year available)

Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Global Connectivity Report 2025

Think about how much work the new tools will need. Many farmers need to have access to basic skills first. This means they are not ready for advanced technology like the Internet-of-Things. Many tools require a level of digitalisation that is not there yet. For some farmer groups, using online forms or Excel sheets is difficult enough. 

If your chosen tool needs a big step up in digitalisation, it might be better to take a smaller step first. For example, if you work with paper-based traceability, it might not make sense to go straight to full blockchain traceability. 

On a similar note, if an application does not work offline but your internet access is limited, it might not be the best tool for you. Look for tools that work offline and can be synchronised later. 

In some countries, cocoa farmers are older and less familiar with digital tools. Simpler, off-the-shelf options may be better. In some cases, having simple Excel-based administration makes more sense as a first step. 

Work out where digital tools can help you the most

Next, look closely at where a digital tool can help you the most. Think about your main challenges or needs. Developing a process map of your operation can help to do this. Every exporter has different needs. For some, the priority is mapping the cocoa farms and sourcing locations, while for others, it is improving later-stage supply chain factors like quality and processing.

There are many types of digital tools. At the production level, digital tools can help improve farming methods. Examples include handheld tools that provide weather information and production techniques, or help to identify and treat pests and disease. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help translate information into local languages, which greatly improves access. Many tools also work offline, and data is synchronised when they have an internet connection again. 

Digitalisation can help you run your business. There are many software tools that support accounting, procurement and shipping logistics. They can help you get the most up-to-date information on price. Digital payments to farmers can give farmers more assurance about payments and better access to finance. 

Traceability and geolocation mapping are becoming more important for compliance and to meet customer demand. There are many tools that can help, including mapping devices, remote sensing, monitoring, drone technology and deforestation analysis software. Some service providers have all-in-one solutions, but it is also possible to only buy the specific tools you need. 

B2B platforms can help producers and exporters get their cocoa on the market. The main way to buy and sell cocoa is still through direct relationships, but digital platforms can be used alongside traditional buying and selling. 

When choosing a tool or solution, it is important to think about the wider benefits. Data collection is often done with one goal in mind. However, this data might help you in other areas as well. Because of this, it is important to think about how the tool or the data can serve multiple purposes. This can help you get more value out of your investment. 

It is also important to think about the costs and who covers them. For example, sometimes the investments needed for tools like digital traceability systems are larger than the increases in income. Costs are not always shared equally throughout the supply chain but often fall on farmers and farmer groups. The costs might not be worth it for farmers. 

Figure 2: The road to a cocoa growing community in Cameroon 

Source: Long Run sustainability

Consider data ownership

Data on farmers and farms has been collected for many years. However, this data is often not shared between stakeholders. In many cases, the farmers themselves do not even own farmer data. They often do not have the polygon or GPS data to share with buyers who need it to comply with the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR), for example. This data is often owned by one of their major buyers, who invested in the mapping but does not share the data. 

It is important that farmers and farmer groups own the data about their farms and households. It gives them more choice in who they sell to and enables them to explore new market opportunities. This can give farmers more financial security. 

As an exporter, it is important to share data collected from farmers with the farmers and groups that they are part of. Exporters can help producer groups to set up the systems to store and share this data. However, data ownership should be discussed and thought about throughout this process. 

2. Consider B2B platforms to sell your products 

Cocoa beans and derivatives are mostly sold in person. As such, in-person contact and long-term trade relationships are key. However, digital platforms are starting to become more relevant. Some B2B platforms can help producers and exporters enter the European market. Digital marketplaces may also be an interesting way to show your products, learn about your competition and find new buyers.

There are two types of platforms: Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Consumer (B2C). 

Use B2B marketplaces for cocoa beans or derivatives 

B2B marketplaces for cocoa beans and cocoa products usually focus on high-quality or speciality cocoa. It is important to know that only a very small part of global cocoa production is sold through such platforms. Still, it may be interesting to explore a few examples to find new buyers and understand what type of information buyers are looking for. 

One example of a digital marketplace is the African Cocoa Marketplace (ACM). The platform connects cocoa sellers in Africa with global buyers, investors and service providers. Their model is based on a very detailed and well organised due diligence process. It tells buyers what they need to know to give them confidence that the product they are purchasing meets their needs. This includes information on volumes, quality and how it aligns with their values. The report only includes claims that have documented evidence, confirmed by ACM staff. 

There is no fee for sellers to join the platform. To be part of the ACM, a seller will need to show that they have physically traded cocoa beans in the past. Sellers get support to gain market access as well as exposure to international buyers. The platform first became active in 2025. Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ghana were the earliest export markets.

Other examples include: 

• Beyco, a traceability platform where producers can market their cocoa;
• Cocoa Hub Marketplace, focused on fine flavour cocoa and ethical sourcing;
• COFAAA Marketplace (Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa), a farmer-owned digital platform where producers can sell to buyers directly;
• Green Trade, where users can buy and sell organic ingredients including cocoa;
• Leroma, where you can buy and sell raw materials, including some cocoa products; and
• Producers Market, a global market for producers, buyers and sellers. 

Figure 3: Cocoa beans

Source: Photo by Etty Fidele on Unsplash

Use B2C marketplaces for chocolate exports

B2C platforms allow you to sell to consumers directly. These platforms are not used for cocoa beans or derivatives often. This is because consumers normally look for chocolate products to consume, rather than cocoa beans or derivatives. 

B2C platforms for chocolate are usually used for craft or bean-to-bar chocolate. The platform owner controls availability. Sellers usually need to go through a vetting process before their chocolate can be sold on the platform. Examples include Kakaw (Sweden), Club del Chocolate (Spain), Schokov Shop (Austria), Cocoa Runners (United Kingdom), Feine Schokolade (Germany), CriolloQuetzal and Chocolats du Monde (Switzerland) and Clear Chox (the Netherlands). For more information, see our study on exporting bean to bar chocolate to Europe.

3. Learn about new technologies 

For many farmer groups and SME exporters, it might be best to focus on basic digital tools first. More advanced technologies are more common towards the end of the supply chain. However, for more experienced farmer groups and exporters, it can be interesting to learn about new technologies. 

Artificial Intelligence can give you access to information and improve farming

One example of a new technology is new solutions being developed based on AI. They are currently more common after the cocoa has been exported, but it provides many new opportunities in origin as well. 

An important use of AI is to help give farmers access to information. Tools and information are often not available in local languages. AI can translate sustainability concepts into local languages. These new technologies can also help farmers to make themselves heard and understood. For example, the Longa project translates African languages with a high level of accuracy. Darli AI by Farmerline provides agronomic advice to smallholder farmers in 27 languages. 

AI can also help improve farming practices. For example, AI-based solutions can improve the economic conditions of smallholder farmers by giving them better access to information on prices, weather and production techniques. Another study showed that AI can be used to help combat cocoa diseases like black pod disease and Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSV). AI and machine learning can also help farmers improve farming methods and water management. These tools are becoming more available on low-cost devices, meaning better access for smallholder farmers.

One company that uses AI and machine learning is Luker Chocolate, a chocolate manufacturer and supplier from Colombia. Luker uses AI to analyse pod mortality. This helps farmers predict how cocoa pods will develop more accurately. Farmers can then change how they care for the pods and improve their overall yield. Similar models have been tried out in Ecuador. 

AI is also used for cocoa mapping in Cameroon. This FAO project uses satellite remote sensing, AI and cloud technology to map land cover and work out the impact of cocoa on forests. It is developed using open-source solutions such as Open Foris SEPAL, Google Earth Engine and DeepMind. The project aims to promote sustainable cocoa production and help stakeholders prepare for compliance with the EUDR. The interactive map is available online. 

Drones can support farming and monitoring

Drones can also be interesting to explore. Drones can be used to monitor deforestation in combination with other tools. Satellite technology has been successful, affordable and efficient in identifying deforestation. Drones can support it. Drones may also be interesting for creating cocoa and forest videos, boosting awareness and promoting your cocoa production. 

An example of a project where drones have been used is in the ACTIVE project in Sulawesi, Indonesia. The project aims to provide farmers with access to technologies, market infrastructure and better financing. Drone images were taken to find areas for cocoa agroforestry development within the social forestry permits. Drones also helped to take images of landscapes in the social forestry areas. Drones can range from €1,500 to over €15,000 depending on how advanced you need them to be.

Figure 4: Drone mapping in Terpedo Jaya Community Forests

Source: Aryo Condro 

Another example is the development of an alert system powered by satellites, sensors and drones in the Philippines. The project showed that satellites and sensors can find plant stress caused by drought, nutrient loss or disease. Farmers get valuable early warnings that give them time to act before the damage gets worse. The Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions (GRAINS) funded the project. It grants $10,000 to $15,000 (USD) for short-term starter funds. 

4. Collect data to improve your business

Lots of data has been collected in the cocoa industry for many years. Companies collect data from the farmer groups they work with. Research institutes use data for reports on different cocoa farming topics. Platforms and initiatives like the WCF have also collected and reported lots of information. Farmer groups are starting to collect their own data as well, but this is still less common. 

Some of this data is reported publicly after it has been processed. Good sources are the Cocoa Income Inventory, KIT, Wageningen University, the VOICE Network’s Cocoa Sustainability Research Database and the Smithsonian Cocoa Agroforestry Library. Companies also collect data and publish reports, for example through industry initiatives, like the Cocoa & Forests Initiative reports, and as part of their own sustainability reports. 

Data can be used to improve market access for producers. One example is a pilot project in Colombia implemented by Earth Big Data and Frontier Tech Hub. It aims to combine satellite data and data collected on the ground by mobile phones. The application uses machine learning algorithms to create useful information for farmers, investors and buyers. The goal is to create a market for farmers that do not have access to international markets. 

Data can also help monitor improvements in farmers’ economic situations. KIT has developed a machine learning tool that estimates the annual income of cocoa farming households. Its goal is to improve monitoring and evaluation of household income. Making sure that cocoa farmers earn a living income is the most crucial step toward a sustainable cocoa sector. Tools like this contribute to that goal. 

On the production side, data collection can also help improve cocoa farming practices. One example is the Farmer Field Book developed by Agri-Logic. This is a data collection method and software package, which helps users calculate their return on investment. Farmers record detailed farming and sales information at the end of every day. This information is collected every two weeks and checked for completeness and consistency. The advantage of this approach is that recall bias is made as small as possible.However, the amount of work that implementing this approach needs can make it time consuming and costly.

There are also tools that aim to provide overall solutions to farmer organisations. One example is Orijin, an operating system for producer organisations. Their aim is to help farmer organisations become more professional and efficient. Users can collect all the information they need and choose what information to share with their customers. This gives them ownership over the process and control of what they share. Orijin started in Ecuador, is currently active in East Africa and is looking to expand to Central and West Africa. 

There are many other tools and service providers available. A few examples include: 

• CocoaLink, developed by Farmerline in partnership with Hershey and WCF. The app shares information on good practices, input information and weather forecasts.
• CocoaWise, developed by Cargill. This platform supports the collection of farm data and helps farmers make informed decisions.
• FarmGrow developed by Rainforest Alliance and Grameen Foundation. FarmGrow combines farmer household data with information about the cocoa plots and helps create business plans. 
• Farmerline gives farmers access to quality inputs, training and markets through their digital platform Mergdata tools can be used to improve yields and income. 
• PlantwisePlus is an app that helps address plant health threats and reduce crop losses. 

Figure 5: Indonesian cocoa farmers using tablets for data collection

Source: Rainforest Alliance

There are many other ways in which producers and SME exporters can use data. Many benefits are described in the other sections of this study. 

5. Use digital tools to help farmers with access to finance

There are many digital tools that can help farmers. They vary from helping farmers become more productive and more resilient to creating easier access to loans and improving internal administrative processes. 

Use digital payments to create financial records and grow income for farmers

If farmers have digital access, there are many tools that can benefit them. One of them is digital payments. Digital payments give more assurance that payments reach farmers. They are more secure and make it easier to create a record of the payments. Digital payments also help create income records for farmers. These can help farmers and farmer groups get better access to finance. 

Mobile money is already available at scale in some countries. The electronic payments market in Africa is also expected to continue to grow. For example, M-PESA has more than 60 million customers across seven countries in Africa. Most farmers in Ghana use mobile money services. The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and telecom providers have started digital payment systems that allow farmers to receive money in their mobile wallets directly. 

Several countries and companies are starting to pay farmers with digital payments. For example, the Nestlé Income Accelerator Program pays farmers via mobile payments. Hershey’s Income Accelerator makes payments to dedicated mobile money accounts. Indonesia is exploring the potential of digital payments for their cocoa sector. 

There are many tools for digital payments. The tools often also give farmers extra benefits. Examples include:

• Agri-wallet gives supply chain actors access to finance from a global network of lenders. For farmers it means that they receive income in a digital wallet in either mobile money or tokens. The money received in the Agri-wallet can be spent on inputs such as seeds and fertilisers. 
• KoltiPay is a digital payment solution developed by Koltiva. KoltiPay offers loans, savings, micro-insurance and payment of bills and prepaid top-ups. It can also be used for cocoa price and premium payments. 
• Connect is a payment verification tool developed by Fairfood. Farmers receive a Farmer Card to verify that they have been paid. Farmers do not need a mobile phone. The collector uses the Connect app to record transactions. The app can also be used without access to the internet, and data can synchronise later. 

Figure 6: The Farmer Cards developed by Fairfood

Source: Fairfood

Get access to financial institutions and lenders

A major issue for farmers and farmer groups is a lack of access to finance. Many cocoa producers need access to finance to invest in their farms or live between harvests. However, many cannot access finance. 

Smallholder farmers are often seen as high-risk for banks. Digital tools can help producers and exporters get access to finance by showing their credit worthiness. Farmers’ credit situations are clearer to financial institutions if farmers have digital money rather than paper money. 

Access to credit has helped cocoa farmers with their productivity in many cocoa producing countries. Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) can help make it easier for banks to give farmers access to finance. Digital payments can also help farmers get better access to financial services such as savings accounts, credit and insurance. For example, Cargill has developed a Mobile Money programme to give farmers better access to banking and saving services. In a programme in Ghana, improved access to finance helped increase household income and improve savings. 

Ensure gender equality in access to digital tools

Women may have less access to digital tools in many producing countries. Helping women to use digital tools has many benefits. Besides helping with gender equality, it can improve the productivity and viability of farms where women are actively involved. 

6. Invest in traceability and geolocation tools

The cocoa industry has done a lot of work to improve traceability in the cocoa supply chain. This is very important to improving cocoa production. Through traceable supply chains, it is easier to work out where things can be more efficient. This makes it possible to support producers effectively and make sustainability improvements in your supply chain. Traceability has also become more important for legal compliance, for example with the EUDR.

Learn about available traceability systems

Most large cocoa and chocolate companies have their own internal traceability platforms. Certification programmes also have their own systems, such as Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade. 

Producing countries are also setting up their own traceability systems. These include the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System (GCTS) in Ghana and the National Coffee-Cocoa Traceability System in Côte d’Ivoire. Both systems are currently being rolled out. Similar systems are being developed in Cameroon, Peru, Ecuador and Indonesia. 

As a result, there are many traceability systems that sometimes trace the same volumes of cocoa but that are not linked. Supply chain actors often need to use multiple systems to trace the cocoa. This can make it difficult and confusing for users. However, there are traceability systems designed to link with other systems. This makes the traceability of the cocoa smoother and simpler.

One system in cocoa that links with other traceability systems is the Tony’s Chocolonely Bean Tracker. It is built with technology from Chainpoint and enables fully transparent bean-to-bar traceability. After the cocoa reaches the processing stage, the Bean Tracker links to the system of the processor that Tony’s Chocolonely works with. In this way, the Bean Tracker is not an extra traceability tool. This makes it simpler for companies to be part of the Tony’s Open Chain. It also makes data more transparent for other actors within the chain. 

Many service providers have developed their own traceability solutions. One example is Beyco, a traceability platform developed by the Progreso Foundation. The platform offers many features. It enables the traceability of physical cocoa beans at every step of the product chain. However, it also traces the stories of its producers along with the cocoa. It also offers a way to comply with EUDR requirements and financial management tools. 

Other examples include Source Intelligence, Cropin, Fairfood, Farmforce, Global Forest Watch, Meridia, Satelligence, Sourcemap, Trade in Space and MiCacao (source code and app).

Figure 7: Using barcodes to trace cocoa

Source: Rainforest Alliance

Consider whether Blockchain is useful to you

Some traceability systems use blockchain technology. Blockchain is an open system of decentralised data tracking and storage. Blockchains store data in blocks linked together via cryptography. It is used to increase accountability, transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain. 

Blockchain can be an important tool as a public source or record. It is transparent and auditable. It also allows for innovative solutions, such as improving transparency and efficiency in carbon markets. However, blockchain is not necessary for cocoa traceability. The industry understands its potential, but it is not used at scale. 

Some cocoa companies use blockchain technology. Koa uses blockchain to verify payments for cocoa farmers in Ghana. With the Seedtrace tool, consumers can see how much a cocoa farmer was paid in real-time. Another example is Farmer Connect, which customised IBM’s Blockchain platform for food and beverage supply chains. However, while many other blockchain projects have been set up and piloted, many do not result in long-term, scalable solutions. 

Invest in mapping and monitoring

Many buyers demand the geolocations of the farms where the cocoa was produced. This may be needed for risk management, reporting, public commitments or compliance with regulations like the EUDR. 

As part of the EUDR, companies need to conduct due diligence to ensure that the cocoa they buy is not produced on land deforested after 31 December 2020. Companies must comply with the EUDR as of 30 December 2026 (SMEs have more time). The EUDR requires GPS or polygon mapping of farm plots. These plots must be compared with maps of protected areas and classified forests to ensure that the cocoa is not produced illegally. They also need to be overlayed with deforestation and land change maps. See the CBI study Tips to become EUDR compliant in cocoa for more information and examples of service providers that can help. 

Another use of remote sensing is measuring biomass on cocoa farms. ACORN, part of Rabobank, uses this technology. ACORN works with farmer cooperatives and other local partners to help cocoa farmers set up agroforestry systems. The technology allows ACORN to measure the biomass generated on the farm and converts this into Carbon Removal Units (CRUs). 

Doing this helps companies, farmers and the planet. CRUs can be sold to organisations for off-setting or in-setting strategies. This can help them to meet their climate goals. Farmers also benefit from generating CRUs. 80% of the income from CRU sales flow back to the original smallholder. Increased biodiversity and CO2 removal from the atmosphere helps out the planet. 

Digitalise production and exports

Digitalisation can help make exports more efficient. For example, cocoa exporters must obtain a government-issued document called a phytosanitary certificate. This document assures trading partners that the product meets the expected quality standards. ePhyto is a system that replaces paper documents with digital ones. Using ePytho can speed up the information exchange and the tracing of shipments, which can make exporters more competitive internationally. 

Digital tools can also be used to make administration processes simpler, by helping you track production costs. This can help you optimise expenses and increase profits. Tools can be also used for supply chain management. Read these tips and strategies for African Producers for more information.

There are many tools available. One example is Cocoa Connect Africa. It is an online platform that brings together farmers, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts in the cocoa industry. Almacena is a platform that covers the purchases, inventory and sales. 

7. Work with partners that have a network or experience in your region 

Most technology providers mentioned in this study have a local presence or experience in producing countries. When you explore options with a technology provider, always ask about their experience with other companies in your country or region. The local context can be very different between countries. It is crucial to learn from others if they already have experience. 

It can also be helpful to check if they have staff based in your country. This will make it easier for them to support you. It also means that they understand the local context.

Amonarmah Consults carried out this study in partnership with Ethos Agriculture on behalf of CBI. 

Please review our market information disclaimer