Digitising Smallholder Food Supply Chains: 10 Top Tips for Success

At Smallholdr, we’re passionate about harnessing the power of data to improve the lives of smallholder farmers and the efficiency of agricultural businesses. That’s why I was honoured to represent Smallholdr on the “Learning by Doing: What Can Go Wrong in Digitizing Your Supply Chain?” panel at BIOFACH, the world’s leading trade fair for organic food.

I shared Smallholdr’s experiences alongside industry experts from Tradin Organic, Kiwa BCS Öko-Garantie GmbH, and South Grown Group. The discussion was rich with insights, and I’ve distilled the key takeaways into ten top tips to guide your organisation towards successful digitisation.

Smallholdr has been working alongside Tradin for the past three years, providing the technology to digitise their cocoa supply chain in Sierra Leone, as they continue to source from over 30,000 smallholder farmers and ensure EUDR compliance. It’s been a privilege to contribute to their journey towards greater transparency and efficiency.

Here are my ten top tips for success when digitising smallholder supply chains:

1. Start with the end goal in mind: Igor Gaina from Tradin Organic emphasised the importance of first putting down all the possible requirements of all stakeholders involved in the supply chain. This includes considering the needs of certification bodies, clients and various funding programmes, as well as compliance with legislation such as EUDR.
2. Ensure data is collected throughout the entire season: Yvonne Wimmer from Kiwa stressed that data collection should occur during the whole season, rather than just before audits. Continuous data collection helps ensure solid documents are available to prove traceability and mass balance.
3. Implement user-friendly solutions: I mentioned the importance of tools that cut down on time and build on previously collated information. I highlighted the need for solutions that work offline, are easy to use for field workers, and provide a dashboard for those in the office to view information. Smallholdr’s mobile app is designed to be user-friendly and to work offline in rural environments.
4. Recognise that it’s not just a software problem: I pointed out that implementing the software is one cost, but the bigger cost is manpower. This includes the field team, their transport requirements, and training. The right technology can minimise manpower costs.
5. Invest in continuous training and support: Igor Gaina emphasised the need for continuous investment in training people to correctly use the tools, as accurate data collection on the ground is crucial for complying with various programs.
6. Be prepared to cover initial costs: As Patrick Eboe from South Grown Group mentioned, the market often won’t pay extra for traceability. Igor Gaina added that for now, companies may have no choice but to cover the costs themselves to stay in business as traceability, EUDR compliance and quality are essential.
7. Consider data privacy and security: Ensure that data is stored securely and that farmers give their consent for their data to be collected. I mentioned that Smallholdr helps to store the data securely in the cloud but does not own it or have any rights to share it.
8. Acknowledge network challenges: A delegate from Togo mentioned that network connectivity can be a big challenge. Smallholdr addresses this with an app that is able to work offline.
9. Address the risk of overburdening: Ivona Vimemer highlighted the challenge of ensuring a solid certification process without overburdening small farmers.
10. Ensure the system is adaptable: Patrick Eboe mentioned his previous systems crashing when pictures were added. He emphasised the need for a “super app” capable of reacting quickly. Smallholdr is tailored to the exact needs of each supply chain and the database is customised to model the real-world assets and language of each supply chain. In addition, the Smallholdr team continue to support clients to adapt the app and web dashboard as needs change.

Digitising your smallholder food supply chain or outgrower scheme can seem daunting, but by keeping these tips in mind, you can pave the way for greater efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. Smallholdr delivers compliance, traceability and real-time data insights for smallholder value chains.