Presented by Farmforce in partnership with Meridia
Advancing Transparency and Accountability Across Global Agricultural Supply Chains
Traceability has become a defining pillar of responsible agricultural supply chains. As regulatory pressure increases, sustainability commitments deepen, and stakeholders demand greater accountability, organizations across the cocoa and agricultural sectors are being challenged to move beyond intention and into execution.
At Farmforce, we believe that meaningful traceability is not only possible—it is essential. That belief underpins our continued investment in data-driven insights that help the industry understand where it stands today and where it must go next. We are therefore pleased to announce the official presentation of the 2026 Traceability Barometer Report, which will take place during Amsterdam Cocoa Week 2026.
This report will provide a clear, evidence-based view of the current state of traceability across agri-commodity supply chains, with a particular focus on crops such as cocoa and the organizations sourcing from them. The 2026 edition builds on prior research while introducing new findings that reflect evolving regulatory requirements, technological adoption, and operational realities on the ground.
Why the Farmforce Traceability Barometer Matters in 2026
Traceability has shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a business-critical capability. New and forthcoming regulations—such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), mandatory human rights due diligence laws, and strengthened sustainability reporting standards—are fundamentally changing expectations for supply-chain transparency.
At the same time, companies face persistent challenges:
- Limited visibility beyond tier-one suppliers
- Inconsistent or incomplete farm-level data
- Complex smallholder networks
- Manual data collection and verification processes
- Pressure to demonstrate compliance while maintaining operational efficiency
The Farmforce Traceability Barometer Report has been compiled to address these challenges by providing an objective snapshot of the industry’s current state. Based on data, surveys, and real-world implementation experience, the report helps organizations benchmark their progress, identify gaps, and prioritize actions.
What the 2026 Report Covers
The 2026 edition of the Traceability Barometer Report examines how organizations are responding to increased traceability expectations across several critical dimensions:
1. Regulatory Readiness
The report assesses organizations’ preparedness to meet current and upcoming regulatory requirements, including farm mapping, plot-level data, deforestation risk monitoring, and supplier documentation.
2. Data Quality and Coverage
Traceability is only as strong as the data behind it. The report explores common challenges related to data completeness, accuracy, and consistency—particularly at the smallholder level—and highlights best practices for improving data reliability.
3. Technology Adoption
Digital tools are increasingly central to traceability strategies. The report examines adoption trends in farm management systems, mobile data collection, geolocation technologies, and integration with broader supply-chain platforms.
4. Operational Reality on the Ground
Beyond strategy and policy, the report reflects the realities faced by field teams, cooperatives, and farmers. It captures insights into training, incentives, and the practical barriers to implementing traceability programs at scale.
5. Transparency, Trust, and Impact
Finally, the report examines how traceability efforts translate into meaningful outcomes—greater transparency for buyers, improved compliance confidence, and stronger foundations for sustainability and farmer livelihoods.
Key Themes and Industry Insights
While the full findings will be presented during the Amsterdam Cocoa Week session, several high-level themes emerge from the 2026 research:
- Traceability maturity varies widely, even among organizations operating in the same regions and value chains.
- Farm-level data remains the biggest challenge, but also the greatest opportunity for differentiation and impact.
- Regulatory pressure is accelerating investment, but many organizations still struggle to operationalize requirements efficiently.
- Digital traceability works best when paired with local engagement, training, and long-term commitment to farmers and cooperatives.
These insights underscore a central message of the 2026 report: traceability is no longer about proving compliance after the fact—it is about building resilient, transparent systems that support better decision-making across the supply chain.
Why Attend the Presentation
The official presentation of the 2026 Traceability Barometer Report is designed to be practical, informative, and relevant. Attendees will:
- Gain early access to the report’s key findings
- Understand how peers and competitors are approaching traceability
- Learn where common gaps exist—and how to address them
- Hear expert interpretation of the data, not just the data itself
- Leave with actionable insights applicable to sustainability, compliance, sourcing, and operations
SAVE THESE DATES
- Farmforce Traceability Barometer co-hosted with Meridia
- When: Thursday 19 February 2026 — 09:00
- Where: Keurzaal, Beurs van Berlage
Farmforce at Amsterdam Cocoa Week 2026
Advancing First-Mile Traceability Where It Matters Most
Farmforce will be in Amsterdam throughout Amsterdam Cocoa Week 2026, joining global stakeholders across the cocoa value chain to connect, share insights, and advance the conversation on first-mile traceability, compliance readiness, and supply-chain transparency.
- Amsterdam Cocoa Week 2026
- Dates: 16–22 February, 2026
- Location: Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Throughout the week, Farmforce will be on the ground for key industry gatherings, including the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) Partnership Meeting and Chocoa, where you can meet our team and join us for featured sessions.
Where You’ll Find Us During the Week
- WCF Partnership Meeting (Tuesday & Wednesday)
- Chocoa Exhibition — Visit the Farmforce booth: details available on ACW 2026 site
- Joint launch event with Meridia — The 2026 Farmforce Traceability Barometer Thursday, 19 February at 09:00 am CET, Keurzaal
- Speaking session with Farmforce’s Rodney Muriuki, Presentation: “From Bean to Border” — Tuesday 17 February from 10:20–11:20 am CET
Amsterdam Cocoa Week brings together the full cocoa ecosystem—from origin to brands—and Farmforce is proud to be part of this important forum for collaboration and progress.
Amsterdam Cocoa Week 2026 marks a pivotal moment for the cocoa sector as traceability, compliance, and first-mile data readiness move to the forefront of supply-chain strategy. Through the launch of the 2026 Farmforce Traceability Barometer, Farmforce and Meridia will share data-driven insights into where the industry stands today, what regulatory and operational challenges lie ahead, and how organizations can build more transparent, resilient, and compliant cocoa supply chains. The findings underscore a clear message: effective traceability starts at the first mile and delivers value far beyond compliance.
Join us in Amsterdam to help shape the future of cocoa traceability.
