Fair & Smart Data (FSD)

According to the Dutch Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa (DISCO) member progress report, only 0.21% of cocoa farmers earn a living income, underscoring inequality and need for fair compensation in the value chain. Our partner Solidaridad Network recently created a short clip, showing the lack of fairness and traceability of chocolate products in Dutch supermarkets. On the bright side, some progress is underway. For instance, Tony's Chocolonely’s Open Chain partners with companies like Barry Callebaut, and Albert Heijn to set a standard for responsible sourcing and traceability. Built on five principles - traceable beans, fair prices, long-term commitments, farmer support, and improved quality - Tony’s model ensures cocoa is traceable from bean to bar. At FSD, we believe fair compensation and farmer-centric data governance are key to equitable supply chains, as detailed in our previous report. Tony’s Open Chain initiative uses its Beantracker technology for transparency and empowers local cooperatives by putting data ownership in their hands, aiming for better decision-making and community impact. Watch Solidaridad's clip on fair chocolate in the Netherlands: https://lnkd.in/dU_ngMhG Read the DISCO progress report: https://lnkd.in/dbUiudZq Learn more about Tony’s Open Chain here: https://lnkd.in/dcQ-3jdY FSD Data Governance Principles: https://lnkd.in/dAjSSfu3 #Cocoa #LivingIncome #FairChocolate #DataGovernance #FSD #Traceability #ValueChain Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (BISCI) Maastricht University School of Business and Economics

Smallholder farmers play a complex role in global forest management. While they can be linked to forest loss, their livelihoods often depend on forest resources. Protecting these forests while empowering smallholder farmers is essential for biodiversity preservation and climate resilience. At the current Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP16 in Colombia, action is needed to protect and restore biodiversity. Smallholder farmers can play a crucial role but require the appropriate knowledge, financial resources, and institutional support. In light of the ongoing conference, we want to share some resources with you related to COP16, biodiversity loss, climate mitigation and adaptation and smallholder farmers. Check out the links below for more insights:   https://lnkd.in/etMjvMtv https://lnkd.in/dB3S4rY5 https://lnkd.in/dRH3dnvg https://lnkd.in/dwNdb-Xm https://lnkd.in/d9gaP6Sy   #Biodiversity #COP16 #ClimateAction #SmallholderFarmers #Sustainability Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (BISCI) Maastricht University School of Business and Economics

"By harnessing the power of data, we can improve productivity, make better decisions, innovate, and optimize value chains."   Abebe Haile-Gabriel - FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of Africa, stated this at the FAO's Science and Innovation Forum 2024. From climate-smart practices to improving food security, harnessing the right data is key to driving sustainable agricultural development across the continent.   At FSD, we emphasize that data collection and use in agriculture should follow farmer-centric data governance principles. To explore FSD's data governance principles, click here: https://lnkd.in/dAjSSfu3 Read more about the FAO’s discussion for Africa’s agrifood transformation here: https://lnkd.in/d86wXCGw   #Sustainability #SmallholderFarmers #FSD #Agriculture #DataGovernance Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (BISCI) Maastricht University School of Business and Economics

The implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (#EUDR) has sparked intense debate as the European Commission proposes a 12-month extension to give businesses more time to prepare. While some industries are lobbying for further delays, citing concerns over the impact on smallholder farmers and supply chains, environmental advocates argue that postponing EUDR would slow global efforts to combat deforestation. EUDR is designed to ensure that key commodities like coffee, cocoa, and soy are deforestation-free, and many believe this regulation will set a new standard for sustainable supply chains. Delaying it, they argue, could penalize businesses already investing in compliance and weaken the EU's commitment to environmental protection. This discussion highlights the delicate balance between economic concerns and the urgent need for action on deforestation, underscoring the importance of collaboration and support for smallholders to ensure an inclusive and effective transition. If you would like more information about this trending topic, we have gathered the following articles for you: https://lnkd.in/gCjsVgwW https://lnkd.in/efCQp-ri https://lnkd.in/dywTvCTx https://lnkd.in/eg9HdeYH #Sustainability #Deforestation #EUCompliance #SupplyChains #ClimateAction Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (BISCI) Maastricht University School of Business and Economics

On point! Smallholder farmers are key to global food security and the fight against climate change. Unlocking climate finance for them isn’t just a necessity—it’s the cornerstone of any impactful strategy, short- or long-term. With the right funding, we can build digital infrastructure and tools that empower farmers to access new markets, adopt sustainable practices, and thrive in the digital economy. #ClimateAction #SustainableAgriculture #DigitalEconomy #FoodSecurity Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (BISCI) Maastricht University School of Business and Economics

The SEI — Stockholm Environment Institute recently highlighted how the EU deforestation regulation (EUDR) could impact smallholder farmers in Southeast Asia. Farmers may struggle to meet the requirements due to multiple challenges, including limited data collection technology. At FSD, we believe data collection itself should follow farmer-centric data governance principles, ensuring fair treatment and compensation.   Read the full SEI article here for the authors suggestions on how to support smallholder farmers in EUDR implementation: https://lnkd.in/d4idWiKU Find our farmer-centric data governance principles here: https://lnkd.in/d-HNftQP   #Sustainability #SmallholderFarmers #Deforestation #FSD #EUDR #DataGovernance Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (BISCI) Maastricht University School of Business and Economics

To what extent does the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) affect the relationship between chocolate manufacturers and smallholder cocoa farmers? In his FSD-supervised Master's thesis, Paul Eichhorn, a MSc Sustainability Science, Policy & Society graduate, explored this research question.   You can read on our website a blog in which he summarises his findings: https://lnkd.in/dfqwa3Wb   #CSRD #SmallholderFarmers #FSD #Sustainability #Reporting Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (BISCI) Maastricht University School of Business and Economics

After a summer break, we are pleased to reconnect with you through a throwback to our event series on farmer-centric data governance.   In April, we hosted our second event in the series, "The Business Case for Farmer-Centric Data Governance in the Global South." The event explored the desirability, feasibility, and viability of applying these principles in the agricultural data ecosystem.   One of the speakers, Steffie Rijpkema, introduced FarmTree B.V.—a digital tool designed to help with the planning, design, and implementation of agroforestry projects.   Watch her presentation below, and find the full event recording including all speakers here: https://lnkd.in/dHzA4yfv.   We look forward to continuing the discussions around farmer-centric data governance in the future. Stay tuned!   #DataGovernance #AgTech #Sustainability #FSD #Smallholders Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (BISCI) Maastricht University School of Business and Economics

"The carbon credit market must reform or go out of business" - Sir David King, Head of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG).   The quote underscores the recent rise in critiques of the integrity of the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) and the quality of Voluntary Carbon Credits (VCCs). Helena Schrimpf, a recent graduate of the MSc Sustainability Science, Policy, and Society program, delved into these critical issues in her thesis titled "The Role of Market Mechanisms in Upholding Quality and Integrity in the Voluntary Carbon Market" that was supervised by the FSD team. The graph below, extracted from the thesis, summarizes the most significant challenges affecting the quality of VCCs and the integrity of the VCM. These findings are based on a literature review and were complemented by the case study of Acorn. Helena emphasizes the context-specific and project-dependent nature of challenges concerning the VCM and VCCs. Nonetheless, the research demonstrates that addressing these challenges can substantially enhance the quality of VCCs and the integrity of the VCM, thereby reinforcing the market's role in financing climate mitigation.   For an in-depth exploration of Helena's research, access her full thesis here: https://lnkd.in/dRannCZP #Sustainability #CarbonCredits #VoluntaryCarbonMarket #Quality #Integrity #FSD Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (BISCI) Maastricht University School of Business and Economics

Can blockchain technologies benefit smallholder farmers in the context of data-driven agriculture? Daniel Acosta Stasiukynas, a recent MSc Sustainability Science, Policy & Society graduate, investigated this question and the potential of this technology in his Master's thesis.   You can read a summary of his findings in his blog post: https://lnkd.in/dB6VydYZ #Sustainability #traceability #Blockchain #Agriculture #SmallholderFarmers #Innovation #FSD Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (BISCI) Maastricht University School of Business and Economics