Definitions
Motivated farmer
Tony’s Open Chain has developed the following base criteria to define the motivated farmer group. Each partner cooperative has been invited to review how these criteria apply in their context and to add additional verifiable criteria based on local realities where relevant. These definitions will be further developed together with cooperatives in the 2025/26 season. 1. Active Engagement • Regular participation in cooperative activities and meetings (with a minimum participation rate defined). 2. Consistent Deliveries • The farmer has made significant cocoa deliveries over a defined period. “Significant” should be quantified (e.g., as a percentage of expected volume or in kilograms). • The reference period should be clearly specified (e.g., over the past 2–3 years). 3. Investment in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) • Demonstrated implementation of cooperative-recommended GAPs, with a defined list of recommended practices used as a benchmark. • The extent of implementation should be measurable (e.g., percentage of practices adopted). • The implementation period should be specified (e.g., over the past 2 years). An overarching term that describes the ability to verify an item’s history, location, or application- in our cases, cocoa, by means of documented recorded identification. Note this definition is based on: “ISEAL Guidance: Chain of custody models and definitions” (2016) This model ensures that certified products are kept separate from non-certified sources through each stage of the supply chain, allowing assurance that the ingredients – in our case, cocoa – within a particular product originate from certified sources. Note this definition is based on: “ISEAL Guidance: Chain of custody models and definitions” (2016) In this model, the physical mixing of certified and non-certified products is allowed but not required (i.e., it does not define the model to have physical blending) at any stage in the production process, provided that the quantities are controlled and documented. Two main variables affect the type of mass balance: 1) whether physical mixing of certified and non-certified content actually happens, and 2) at what stage in the supply chain segregation is lost (i.e., where physical mixing or volume reconciliation happens) as well as how often. Note this definition is based on: “ISEAL Guidance: Chain of custody models and definitions” (2016)
Traceability
Segregation
Mass balance
Deforestation-related definitions
Active cases of deforestation:
Deforestation events that occurred after the EUDR cut-off date of 31 December 2020. Such cases are identified by Tony’s Open Chain's deforestation risk analysis partners via remote sensing technology and then ground-truthed by the relevant Tony’s Open Chain teams in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire to provide on-the-ground confirmation (or rejection) of the risk analysis partners’ finding. A forest is defined as an area of land that covers over 0.5 hectares, featuring trees taller than 5 meters and a canopy cover exceeding 10%. Deforestation refers to conversion of forest to other land uses or the long-term reduction of tree canopy cover below the minimum 10% threshold with a size of at least 0.5 hectares. Remote sensing technologies, including satellite imagery and aerial photography, offer important information about land use. However, this data can occasionally be inaccurate due to issues such as cloud cover, seasonal variations, or misclassifications. Ground-truthing enables Tony’s Open Chain and its partners to gather firsthand observations that can confirm and enhance the accuracy of remote sensing data. At Tony’s Open Chain, ground-truthing refers to the process of validating and verifying remote sensing data through direct field observations and collecting data including photos and questionnaires from partner cooperatives and farmers. In the context of deforestation monitoring, this involves visiting specific locations to confirm the presence or absence of cocoa plantations in at-risk protected areas, assessing land-use changes, and surveying cooperative leaders and members to understand the potential factors that may influence the deforestation risk status of specific farms.
Deforestation
Ground-truthing
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Ending exploitation in cocoa together
Living income
Climate, environment & productivity
Human rights
Governance & finances
Interesting appendices
Scaling for change
Introduction
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