Dimitra Carbon ensures each DMTR Carbon Credit is verified through stringent monitoring and reporting standards. These credits are 100% traceable to the farmer level, offering unmatched transparency and credibility. This initiative opens the carbon offsetting market to approximately 500 million small-scale farmers who have been excluded due to high costs and time investments in generating tradable carbon credits.

Empowering Farmers and Businesses

The deployment of the DMTR token simplifies the carbon credit offsetting process, enhancing traceability and trust in line with regulatory requirements. Partnering with Dimitra allows organizations to reduce carbon costs with clear, verifiable data, making carbon credits accessible to smallholder farmers.

Dimitra collaborates with farmers in South America, Africa, and Asia, using advanced agricultural technologies and sustainable methods to boost productivity while minimizing emissions. The first project under Dimitra is already underway in Africa. To incentivize corporate participation, Dimitra offers a 10% discount on credits purchased with the DMTR token.

Heading – Dimitra Carbon

Diego Costa, COO of Dimitra, added, “The global credit market is growing rapidly, with projections reaching $50 billion by 2030. Dimitra aims to meet this demand, having hired a carbon program lead to work with our data science team. We’ve already seen international interest in joining the DMTR Carbon project.”

Dimitra Cameroon Coffee – Dimitra, a blockchain-based operating system for agricultural technology, and Arasco Food BV, an international food trading corporation. Has announced a joint pilot project that will digitize, modernize and make compliant coffee supply chains in Cameroon.

Led by Dimitra Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of Dimitra Incorporated, this partnership utilises blockchain technology to enhance farming processes and ensure market compliance with the upcoming European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), set to take effect at the end of 2024.

As part of the new partnership, Arasco will employ Dimitra’s tailored Connected Coffee platform to allow farmers access to blockchain traceability solutions. That will act as a transparent, traceable supply chain for regulators and smallholder farmers. The pilot project aims to ease the burden of data management for smallholders. And family farmers in Cameroon to ensure they receive certificates of compliance in line with new EU regulations. Which will ban imports from crops grown on deforested land after 2020. The project will onboard 5,000 farmers to the Connected Coffee mobile application. Providing them with comprehensive tools for farm registration, crop management, farmer surveys, and data acquisition.

Heading Dimitra Cameroon Coffee

Andreas Cerdan, director of Dimitra Europe, said: “Our Dimitra team is excited to be working with Arasco to prepare one of their key coffee origins for EUDR compliance. Rather than shying away from remote origins, Arasco takes this decisive step towards a fully digitised supply chain.”

Dimitra’s Connected Coffee platform draws data from various emerging technologies (including AI, satellite imagery, IoT, genomics and more). It translates these many data points for agriculturalists, helping to stabilise year-round production. And increase the quality and quantity of coffee cherries produced per farm. Dimitra tracks the flow of goods from farms to Arasco’s processing units. Ensuring they can improve processes and ensure regulatory compliance across global markets for local stakeholders, farmers, and traders.

Müsteçep Aras, CEO of Arasco Food BV, said: “At Arasco Food BV, we are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Dimitra. This partnership represents a significant step forward in improving the socioeconomic conditions of thousands of farmers in Cameroon through digitisation. By adopting the Connected Coffee app. We can enhance sustainable coffee production and trading in line with EUDR while we also support the local communities. We are excited to be part of this transformative journey and look forward to the positive impact it will bring.”

Farm registration and training have already commenced in the Littoral and West regions of Cameroon. Upon completion of the pilot programme, Dimitra and Arasco plan to implement across further global supply chains to continue the commitment to full traceability and compliance.

Dimitra South Africa – The annual budget of South Africa revealed its treasury’s plan to promote the adoption of digital payments, which includes analyzing stablecoins and blockchain to “improve the lives and livelihoods of marginalized groups.”

The country’s 2024 budget review highlighted the need for structural reforms and a focus on improving public financial management. While detailing its plan to promote digital payments. The National Treasury announced an upcoming policy change on crypto assets, specifically for stablecoins.

“In 2024, the Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group will publish additions to include “stablecoins” as a particular type of crypto asset.” – Dimitra South Africa

The working group published a crypto regulation paper in June 2021. Which will be amended to include stablecoins into the crypto asset class. In addition to finalizing a diagnostic of the domestic stablecoin landscape. The report read: Dimitra South Africa

“It will conduct analytical work to understand the applicable use cases of stablecoins and to recommend an appropriate policy and regulatory response.”

Additionally, the Financial Intelligence Centre Act could be amended to require all institutions to report crypto transactions over 49,999 South African rand ($2,650). South Africa will also study the impact of blockchain-based tokenization on domestic financial markets.

The working group is expected to publish a paper by December 2024 outlining. “the policy and regulatory implications of tokenization and blockchain-based financial market infrastructure.”

Dimitra South Africa – Related: Web3 faces regulatory hurdles in Africa, slowing progress

The South African government will also run a three-year program in collaboration with Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. And FinMark Trust to conduct four digital payments pilot projects. 

The four pilot projects include community digitalization, digitizing informal and low-income worker payments, cross-border remittances and cross-border trade. The aim of the initiative is to support small and informal businesses through payment innovation.

South Africa’s plans for digital disruption worked well for East African farmers as blockchain technology opened up global markets for the remote population. On July 20, 2023, AgTech firm Dimitra and One Million Avocados (OMA) — a sustainability-focused tech group — announced a partnership to help Kenyan avocado farmers boost production and quality through cutting-edge emerging technologies, including blockchain. – Dimitra South Africa

Dimitra Capital Newspaper – Dimitra, a prominent AgTech enterprise system based on blockchain technology, is partnering closely with the Limu Inara Multipurpose Cooperatives Union in Ethiopia. This union consists of approximately 51,000 farmers and together they aim to enhance farmers’ livelihoods and revolutionize agricultural practices in the region.

Through this partnership, Ethiopian coffee farmers affiliated with the Limu Inara Cooperative Union will have access to Dimitra’s cutting-edge technology. Enabling them to modernize and digitize various agricultural processes. Specifically, they will leverage Dimitra’s Connected Coffee Platform and Deforestation Compliance Module.

Recently European Union coffee importers are reducing purchases from small Ethiopian farmers in anticipation of a groundbreaking EU law. That will prohibit the sale of goods associated with deforestation. Dimitra’s Connected Coffee Platform and Deforestation Compliance Module offer a solution to ease the challenges and costs of complying with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

Jon Trask is CEO and Founder of Dimitra and has been working with blockchain since 2017. Prior to founding Dimitra, Jon had an extensive career building. And developing enterprise software solutions to revolutionize supply chain processes and improve immutable traceability. A recognized expert in his field, Jon is also Founder and CEO of Blockchain Guru. And a Partner with the Blockchain Training Alliance. His extensive career in the tech industry has seen him awarded a vast array of accreditations. Jon’s mission now is to increase farming connectivity. Particularly with those disenfranchised across the globe, and to leverage the power of innovative technologies to bridge farming and technology. 

Capital’s Groum Abate caught up with Jon Trask to talk about the new collaboration with Limu Inara. And how his company’s technology help the small holder farmers in Ethiopia in regards to EUDR. Excerpts;

Capital: What is Dimitra, and what is its role in the AgTech industry?

Jon Trask: Dimitra is a  blockchain-based enterprise system for AgTech driving productive, intelligent and inclusive farming. By removing data silos, we empower farmers to improve their farming processes through real-time insights.  Each of Dimitra’s tailored platforms facilitate access to specific, affordable technology solutions to help increase crop outputs (across 50 crops). Reduce their expenses, and mitigate any risks. 

Dimitra has 5 market-leading platforms that empower farmers to implement better ways of working through real, tangible insights. These platforms include: 

• Connected Farmer – an app which allows farmers to track finances, manage crops. Access weather predictions, and stay in compliance with local government regulations. 
• Livestock Guru – supplies data into insights about cattle and farm animals that help reduce record-keeping time and bolster data-driven decisions.
• Connected Coffee – Actionable insights for coffee farmers to increase the quality and quantity of their coffee beans.
• Deforestation platform – This platform produces deforestation certification for farmers, traders, operators and consumer packaged goods companies to ensure every shipment is compliant and meets the regulatory demands.
• Connected Cacao – This application allows farmers to optimize each stage of the cacao farming process, from cultivation, harvesting, fermentation, drying, storage, and marketing, reducing resource waste and increasing productivity.

All of Dimitra’s tech is accessible on mobile, meaning farmers have complete functionality. And insights on the go, all in real time. Using data collected from each farm, Dimitra builds a full picture for each farmer. Presenting them with simple actions they can implement to truly improve their processes and maximize efficiency. Dimitra also builds custom software for features that farmers and customers require specific to their industries or farms. At Dimitra we believe, every farmer across the world should benefit from data-driven. Effective farming technologies regardless of their economic standing. Ensuring those that need it most have access.

Capital: What is the collaboration with Limu Inara Multipurpose Cooperatives Union?

Jon Trask: Through the collaboration, the Ethiopian coffee farmers affiliated with the Limu Inara Cooperative Union will gain access to Dimitra’s industry-leading technology. Enabling farmers to modernize and digitize various agricultural processes. In particular, they will deploy Dimitra’s Connected Coffee Platform and Deforestation Compliance Module. Dimitra Capital Newspaper

Capital: How many farmers are part of the Limu Inara Multipurpose Cooperatives Union? – Dimitra Capital Newspaper

Jon Trask: LIFMCU is an umbrella union for four district farmers namely Limu Kosa, Limu Seka, Chora Bottor and Nono Benja. The Union was established in 2006 by 11 primary cooperatives. And 3083 member farmers with an initial capital of 158,000 Ethiopian Birr. The union is located in the western part of Ethiopia in Oromia Regional State. Currently, the number of member cooperatives has increased to 95 primary cooperatives and its members have reached 34,687 farmers. Out of the mentioned primary cooperatives 37 of them or 15,483 members are in the coffee production area. 5,360 coffee farmers from 10 primary cooperatives are Fairtrade certified and sell their product on Fairtrade terms. 

Capital: What are the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in the region?

Jon Trask: Smallholder farmers are an invaluable asset to the global food economy. Despite their size, they produce more than a third (around 35 per cent) of the world’s food and contribute up to 80 per cent of the food supply in sub-Saharan Africa. These growers play a key role in providing nutritious food to their local communities, maintaining ecosystems, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

However, smallholder farmers in Ethiopia face significant challenges. They often lack sufficient funds, work with inadequate infrastructure, and are vulnerable to the whims of supply chains that tend to favor large-scale farmers. Climate change also plays a role in making it difficult for smallholder farmers to sustain their agricultural operations. Severe weather events and changes in weather patterns have damaged land, creating unpredictable conditions for harvesting crops.

In particular, insufficient finances are a major challenge. Most smallholders do not qualify for bank loans due to a lack of collateral assets like land titles and limited access to technology. Additionally, smallholder farmers often lack access to modern farming technologies, such as irrigation systems and smart fertilizing methods.

Capital: What is the EUDR law, and how does it impact the sale of goods linked to forest destruction?

Jon Trask: The EUDR law imposes a ban on the sale of products from deforested areas within its borders, set to take effect on December 30, 2024. This regulation implements a tiered system of inspections and penalties based on the perceived risk level of the country of origin. While designed to ensure compliance, this structure inadvertently places a burden on smaller farming entities. Dimitra Capital Newspaper

The regulation encompasses timber, soy, coffee, cocoa, beef, palm oil, and related products, imposing obligatory due diligence responsibilities on both consumers and producers situated along the supply chain. This means that these products do not have access to the European market if they are not certified. Dimitra’s technology facilitates transparency and tracking throughout the supply chain, making it easier to comply with these regulations. Dimitra has developed blockchain-based solutions to assess deforestation and ensure compliance for producers, traders, and consumer goods firms.

Capital: What efforts has the Ethiopian government made to combat deforestation and promote sustainable coffee production?

Jon Trask: The Ethiopian government in collaboration with the UNDP and GEF, inaugurated the FOLUR project to combat deforestation and promote sustainable coffee practices. With a budget of USD 20.8 million, the initiative spans 22 regions, aiming to avoid 7 million tons of CO2 emissions, improve livelihoods for 440,000 people, and restore unproductive coffee gardens and Afromontane Forest. The project aligns with Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative and climate strategies, emphasizing the need for effective collaboration among stakeholders for successful implementation.

Capital: What are the objectives of the project between Dimitra and the Limu Inara Multipurpose Cooperatives Union?

Jon Trask: Importers of coffee to the European Union are starting to scale back purchases from small farmers in Ethiopia – where some 5 million farming families rely on the crop — as they prepare for a landmark EU law that will ban the sale of goods linked to the destruction of forests.

Dimitra’s Connected Coffee Platform and Deforestation Compliance Module solution is poised to alleviate the cost and difficulty of complying with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

Capital: How will the project improve the livelihoods of farmers in the region? – Dimitra Capital Newspaper

Jon Trask: The ability to supply traceability for products and prove compliance with regulations adds significant value to the coffee produced by Ethiopian farmers in the region. This not only safeguards their market access within the EU but also opens up opportunities to reach new markets that prioritize sustainably sourced products. By providing an efficient and technologically advanced way to trace and prove the origins of coffee beans, Dimitra’s technology not only supports compliance but also empowers farmers in the face of evolving market demands. The ability to safeguard local produce from market exclusion ensures that the livelihoods of these farmers will not be compromised due to regulatory decisions that lie out of their control. 

Capital: How will the project help farmers remain competitive in the commodity market?

Jon Trask: Proving compliance with regulation with traceability and immutable data regarding the farming practices of these farmers adds significant value to the coffee produced by Ethiopian farmers. This not only safeguards their market access within the EU but also opens up opportunities to reach new markets that prioritize sustainably sourced products. By providing an efficient and technologically advanced way to trace and prove the origins of coffee beans, Dimitra’s technology not only supports compliance but also empowers farmers in the face of evolving market demands.

Capital: Will you partner with other Cooperatives?

Jon Trask: Yes, we have partnered with 3 other cooperatives and are in discussions with a few more.

Capital: Will your project be on time for application of the EUDR law?

Jon Trask: Dimitra’s application already delivers end-to-end functionality for coffee supply chain as well as deforestation assessment with two Ethiopian languages already added to the platform.

The biggest challenge will be training the farmers – Dimitra trains their trainers who then go to the field for onboarding. Initial training is taking place in January, training 50,000 farmers will take many rounds of training.

Chocolate is one of the most popular sweets in the world, having evolved from a luxury to a widely consumed product. According to the Center for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI), around 7.3 million tons of chocolate are consumed annually worldwide.

Despite the global demand and popularity of chocolate, the farmers growing cacao beans face poverty and struggle to make a living, earning only an average of 6% of the final price of a chocolate bar.

Many cacao farmers struggle to find fair prices for their crops due to a lack of access to direct market channels. They often depend on intermediaries, resulting in lower incomes. Because cacao farmers work on small and fragmented farms, they lack the bargaining power to pool their resources and secure fair prices for their high-quality produce.

Blockchain-powered AgTech for cacao farmers

To address these challenges head-on and empower farmers with the tools and knowledge they need to manage their production processes, Dimitra, a leading agriculture technology (AgTech) company, has launched the Connected Cacao app.

To bring its innovative app to farmers in the region, Dimitra is working on projects with a variety of new partners, such as the Peruvian Association of Cocoa Producers (APPCACAO), Helvetas, Open Food Chain, ABRAFRUTAS and the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (SEBRAE/RR). These partnerships aim to utilize blockchain technology to help cacao farmers improve efficiency, traceability, and sustainability in their operations.

The Connected Cacao platform utilizes a combination of blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to provide a centralized platform for farmers to manage their farms, from crop planning and cultivation to harvesting, fermentation and drying. This system helps to optimize resource allocation, reduces waste and increases productivity.

Furthermore, the app’s traceability feature generates tamper-proof records of each cacao bean’s journey from farm to consumer. This transparency instills confidence in buyers, opening doors to premium markets and fair pricing.

Combating deforestation and promoting sustainability

The EU’s recent deforestation-free regulation, which requires cacao producers to demonstrate their beans are not sourced from deforestation, has also significantly burdened farmers, who now face strict environmental standards. Dimitra addresses this challenge by seamlessly integrating its new app with the company’s Deforestation Compliance Module, enabling farmers to easily track and document their land-use practices.

According to Diego Costa, Dimitra’s director of Latin America, this digital record serves as evidence of compliance:

“Connected Cacao is a pioneering platform, as cacao producers, unlike other crops, don’t have many platform options to help them in their operations. It is a chain of mostly smallholders and family farmers who need help to continue their production and export to the European Union, which was previously threatened by the EU’s new deforestation laws.”

The platform’s analytics tools also allow farmers to track their performance and make informed decisions about their operations. In addition, the app provides a knowledge hub with educational materials on cacao farming, pest management and market trends. It also encourages farmers to adopt a range of sustainable practices, including water conservation and organic farming — in line with the growing interest in buying fair trade products.

Several cooperatives and organizations in Latin America are already using the Connected Cacao app, including, Helvetas, CEPROAA, APROCAM, PANGOA, Manasaba, La Divisoria, Cacao Alto Huallaga, CAI Apasc and Satipo. All of these cooperatives are working to improve the livelihoods of their members and promote the sustainable production of cacao.

Dimitra continuously innovates its products to meet the specific needs of farmers worldwide. The company partners with governments, NGOs, farmer collectives and cooperatives to reach thousands of smallholder farmers across the globe. Dimitra works within various farming communities to identify opportunities where new technologies like blockchain and AI can make a difference.