Beyond the Bar: How KOLTIVA’s Traceability Solutions Enable Puratos to Build a Sustainable and Ethical Cocoa Supply Chain
- Gusi Ayu Putri Chandrika Sari
- Aug 27
- 6 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Editor’s Note
This publication is a joint effort between Koltiva and Puratos, developed to showcase how digital traceability and sustainability solutions are applied in the cocoa sector. It highlights key insights from our collaboration to build transparent, traceable and farmer-centered cocoa sourcing models.
Table of Index
Executive Summary
Puratos has partnered with Koltiva to strengthen its cocoa supply chain, aligning innovation with ethical sourcing and sustainability to address evolving global regulations and stakeholder expectations.
Koltiva provides a comprehensive digital ecosystem, KoltiTrace MIS, which delivers first-mile supply chain visibility, deforestation monitoring, child labor risk assessment, certification readiness, and greenhouse gas emission tracking.
Through this collaboration, Puratos and Koltiva are building a traceable, transparent, and inclusive cocoa supply chain that safeguards farmer livelihoods, protects ecosystems, and sets a benchmark for sustainability in the chocolate industry.
Every bite of chocolate begins with a choice—one that can either uplift farming communities and protect forests or perpetuate harm. The future of cocoa depends on our ability to meet global demand without compromising human dignity or planetary health. As consumer expectations rise and sustainability regulations become more rigorous, companies are no longer asked just to commit to ethical sourcing—but to demonstrate it, transparently and tangibly.
This is the story of how Puratos, a global innovator in food ingredients for the bakery, patisserie, and chocolate sectors, has selected Koltiva to transform its cocoa supply chain. Together, we are strengthening traceability, ensuring ethical practices, enabling carbon emission calculation and GHG monitoring, streamlining certification audit processes, and building a resilient sourcing model that guarantees both environmental integrity and long-term livelihoods for cocoa farmers.
At Koltiva, we’re proud to stand alongside Puratos in creating meaningful impact for both people and the planet. Through our integrated technology solutions, we’re helping to ensure a cocoa supply chain that is traceable, transparent, and ready for evolving regulations. From monitoring labor conditions and supporting remediation, to enhancing traceability with detailed farmer mapping and real-time, data-driven insights—our tools are designed to turn sustainability goals into measurable action.
A Shared Vision for a Sustainable Cocoa Industry
From chocolate factories to smallholder farms in, the cocoa supply chain is long and complex. It spans thousands of miles, involves countless transactions, and touches the lives of millions of farmers—many of whom face persistent poverty, labor violations, and the effects of climate change.
Puratos has long recognized that true innovation in the chocolate sector goes beyond taste and texture—it requires transformation at the source. This belief laid the foundation for its resilient supply chains, assisted by us, a trusted technology and agritech partner that delivering traceability, compliance, and sustainability solutions tailored for complex global supply chains.
Selene Scotton, Puratos Global Cocoa Sustainability Manager said, "At the heart of Cacao-Trace is our commitment to quality, transparency and farmer income. True progress depends on strong collaboration with partners who share our values. Our partnership with Koltiva enables us to scale ethical sourcing practices and meet growing global demands for traceability and compliance—while continuing to empower cocoa farmers and strengthen the communities that are the cornerstone of everything we do."
Transforming Intent into Action: The Power of Integrated Traceability Solutions for Cocoa Supply Chain
Since the start of its project, we support Puratos closely to build a supply chain that is traceable, inclusive, and ready for evolving regulations.
At the core of this transformation lies KoltiTrace MIS, Koltiva’s digital ecosystem that connects every stakeholder—from farmers and field technicians to exporters and buyers—through a real-time, data-driven platform. Here’s how Puratos is leveraging our tech-enabled solutions:
Traceability Across the Cocoa Supply Chain
Traceability is no longer a luxury; it’s a license to operate. With KoltiTrace, Puratos gains first-mile traceability across its cocoa supply chain. Every transaction, from crop procurement to final delivery, is digitally recorded and verified through FarmXtension, Koltiva’s mobile app for field teams.
This transparency empowers Puratos to ensure integrity at every step, validate supplier practices, and report confidently on compliance to customers, regulators, and stakeholders.
Deforestation Monitoring: Protecting Forests, Supporting Regeneration
With the global spotlight on deforestation, companies must do more than promise—they must prove. Puratos uses KoltiTrace’s Land Use Tracker to monitor land-use changes.
Satellite data, farmer geolocation, and historical land records come together to form a clear picture of risk— enabling not just the identification of risks, but also the avoidance of harmful ones.
Child Labor Risk Monitoring: A Human-Centered Approach
One of the most pressing issues in cocoa production is the risk of child labor. With KoltiTrace’s Child Labor Risk Monitoring System (CLRMS), Puratos is able to continuously assess working conditions, flag at-risk households, and coordinate tailored interventions.
Beyond detection, this system supports remediation—connecting families with support services, facilitating access to education, and working with local communities to shift social norms around child labor.
Streamlined Certification: From Compliance to Continuous Improvement
Meeting certification standards can be time-consuming and resource-heavy. Koltiva’s Certification Audit Tool, integrated into KoltiTrace MIS, streamlines this process with real-time compliance dashboards and automated alerts.
For Puratos, this means being able to manage certification readiness across multiple farmer groups, conduct gap assessments, and implement swift corrective actions—turning compliance from a checkpoint into a continuous journey.
Climate Action: Quantifying Emissions, Unlocking Nature-Based Solutions
Addressing climate impact starts with accurate data. To support Puratos in tracking its net carbon balance, Koltiva quantifies both greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals across the supply chain. The Land Use Change tool uses remote sensing and farmer polygon data to estimate land-based emissions. Complementing this, the Cool Farm Tool (CFT) Assessment—based on the globally recognized methodology from the Cool Farm Alliance—collects detailed on-farm and off-farm emission data through extensive farmer surveys. Finally, Koltiva’s Agri-Carbon Tracker leverages satellite imagery to assess above-ground biomass, laying the groundwork for Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and future carbon credit initiatives.
“Our journey with Puratos is rooted in shared values—sustainability, transparency, and innovation,” said Manfred Borer, CEO & Co-Founder of Koltiva. “Since the start of our collaboration, we’ve delivered tailored solutions that go beyond compliance and create lasting impact. We’re proud to support Puratos in building a resilient cocoa supply chain that uplifts farmers, empowers businesses, and protects the planet.”
Grounding Technology in Human Connection
Technology alone doesn’t solve supply chain challenges—people do. What makes this model truly effective is the combination of robust digital platforms with in-person field facilitation. In this collaboration, Puratos’ local agronomists and field agents work side-by-side with farmers to map plots, train on good agricultural practices, ensure ethical labor standards, and capture accurate data directly from the field —all using Koltiva’s integrated traceability tools. This human-centric approach bridges the digital divide and ensures no one is left behind in the traceability journey.
Real Impact, Real Results
Together, we support Puratos in building a cocoa supply chain that delivers:
Verified traceability from the first mile
Ongoing monitoring of child labor risk and ethical working conditions
Transparent reporting to customers and regulators
Improved livelihoods for farmers through access to training, data, and digital tools
From Compliance to Leadership
As more global regulations emerge and consumers demand ethical assurance, companies like Puratos are showing what’s possible when traceability becomes a strategic advantage—not just a reporting requirement.
By embedding sustainability at the heart of its cocoa sourcing strategy, and choosing Koltiva as a trusted partner, Puratos is not just adapting to change—it is leading it.
And at Koltiva, we remain committed to helping responsible brands navigate complexity with confidence—combining robust technology with field-based insight to build transparent, inclusive, and future-ready supply chains.
Together, we’re not just improving how cocoa is sourced. We’re shaping the future of sustainable chocolate.
About Puratos
Puratos is an international group offering a full range of innovative products, raw materials, and application expertise to the bakery, patisserie, and chocolate sectors. With its roots in Belgium since 1919, Puratos' products and services are now available in over 100 countries and are often produced by its network of local subsidiaries. The company sources raw materials responsibly and aims to ensure safe and stable income for farmers.
Further information: https://www.puratos.com/
About KOLTIVA
Offering human-centered technology and boots-on-the-ground solutions that digitize agribusinesses and help smallholder producers transition to sustainable practices and traceable sourcing, KOLTIVA is recognized as the leading global sustainable agriculture and supply chain traceability company. As a global technology provider, it constructs ethical, transparent, and sustainable supply chains, assisting enterprises in fortifying their resilience and transparency. The company helps businesses and their suppliers comply with ever-changing regulations and consumer demands worldwide with traceability solutions. Operating in more than 94 countries and fortified by a network of customer support offices in 21 countries, KOLTIVA is committed to supporting over 19,000 enterprises in establishing transparent and robust supply chains while empowering over 2,000,000 producers to increase their annual income. www.koltiva.com
Author: Gusi Ayu Putri Chandrika Sari, Social Media Officer, KOLTIVA
Gusi Ayu Putri Chandrika Sari combines her expertise in digital marketing and social media with a deep commitment to sustainability, supported by over eight years of experience in communications. Her work focuses on crafting impactful narratives that connect technology, agriculture, and environmental responsibility. She is driven by a passion for promoting sustainable practices through compelling, audience-focused content across a variety of digital platforms.
