Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML
Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML
Kaffeeplantage in Peru, die mit ForestGuard eine Open Source-Lösung für den Nachweis entwaldungsfreier Lieferketten umsetzt.
© bluebeat76 - stock.adobe.com

ForestGuard

Open-source software solution approach for demonstrating deforestation-free (coffee) supply chains considering regulatory and financial requirements

© bluebeat76 - stock.adobe.com

ForestGuard

Blockchain for deforestation-free coffee supply chains

ForestGuard - entwaldungsfreie Lieferketten Logo
© ForestGuard

The need for information is constantly growing. Adequately reporting on the implementation of the Anti-Deforestation Regulation and the status quo over time, as well as deriving potential recommendations for action, requires a wealth of information from companies and their supply chains. However, this information is currently either not available at all or not in sufficient quantity, quality, reliability, tamper resistance, or manageability.

The goal of the ForestGuard project is to propose an application-oriented approach for demonstrating deforestation-free supply chains. Information from various stakeholders and sources along supply chains is structured and brought together while preserving data sovereignty, in order to create digital transparency and efficiency through the integration of various technologies such as distributed ledger technology. Specifically, a scalable, open-source solution approach is being developed using the example of a coffee supply chain. Through a pilot implementation, it will be validated how this solution approach supports the various stakeholders of the supply chain in complying with the EU Anti-Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

Overview

ForestGuard

Duration: 01.11.23 to 31.01.25

Target Country: Peru

Subject Area: Cross-cutting Technologies

Funding Focus: Feasibility Study, Pilot and Model Projects

 

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More Information

 

© BMUV

BMUV

Learn more about the project.

 

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Presentation

Presentation on previous project results.

 

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Zeit Wissen Congress 24

Max Austerjot am sprechen auf dem Kongress Zeit Wissen
© Phil Dera
Bühne mit der Frage im Hintergrund Wie können wir schneller Klima- und Umweltschutzmaßnahmen umsetzten auf dem Kongress Zeit Wissen 2024
© Phil Dera
Zuhörer auf dem Kongress Zeit Wissen
© Phil Dera

Since 2013, the ZEIT WISSEN Congress - Courage for Sustainability has focused on scientists with a particularly long-lasting commitment or a breakthrough in knowledge transfer - committed, established companies or initiatives with a consistent focus on sustainability - young entrepreneurs with innovative, scalable business models that have sustainability firmly anchored at their core - players who have made an exemplary contribution to changing our society.

This year, Dr. Maximilian Austerjost was invited to take part in a panel discussion on the topic of »How can we implement climate and environmental protection measures more quickly« .

There, he presented the ForestGuard project to show that technological innovations such as blockchain and AI can make a major contribution to sustainable supply chains. Rapid implementation, testing and obtaining feedback from stakeholders, as practiced in the project, increases the speed and likelihood of success of climate and environmental protection measures.

ForestGuard at the 2024 Annual Conference of the Export Initiative for Environmental Protection

Gruppenbild mehrerer Personen bei der Veranstaltung EXI-Jahrestagung
© ZUG - Toni Kretschmer
Roman Koller spricht bei der Veranstaltung Exportinitiative Umweltschutz
© ZUG - Toni Kretschmer
Plakat der Exportinitiative Umweltschutz GreenTech Made in Germany
© ZUG - Toni Kretschmer

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) hosted the 2024 Annual Conference of the Export Initiative for Environmental Protection at the beginning of September - around 100 participants accepted the invitation.

The annual conference of the Export Initiative for Environmental Protection (EXI) took place on September 5 and 6 at the premises of the project sponsor ZUG gGmbH in Berlin. Representatives from the GreenTech sector, research and educational institutions, NGOs, related ministries and partner organizations attended the two-day event and took the opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge.

Roman Koller, head of the ForestGuard project, participated on behalf of Fraunhofer IML to discuss the opportunities of combining open-source software, green tech and transparency in supply chains and provide information about the ForestGuard project in several keynote speeches and in discussions with the participants. In addition to technical innovations, the focus was also on practical challenges, such as the follow-up financing of projects to enable practical transfer.

ForestGuard on site – For the European Green Deal on coffee plantations in Peru

Gruppenfoto mit den Kaffeebauern in Peru
© Fraunhofer IML
Gruppenfoto mit denKaffebauern und die Kaffeebohnen werden präsentiert
© Fraunhofer IML
Projekt ForestGuard- Entwaldungsfreie Lieferketten, Landschaftsfoto der Kaffeeplantagen in Peru
© Fraunhofer IML

As part of the »ForestGuard« project funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV), a scientific team from Fraunhofer IML set off for Pichanaki in the Junín region of the Peruvian rainforest in mid-July. The objective was to investigate ways and means of verifying deforestation-free (agricultural) supply chains using coffee as an example. Deforestation-free supply chains will become mandatory for manufacturers and traders of various agricultural products, including coffee, when importing, exporting and making them available on the EU market from December 30, 2024. The Fraunhofer IML is investigating how the implementation of this EU anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR) should take place and how it can be supported.

The team accompanied the entire process chain on site, from coffee cultivation and harvesting on the local coffee plantations, to wet processing, drying and quality control, through to packaging and preparation for shipping to Europe. Initial solution approaches and concepts were validated and many insights from the coffee farmers' everyday lives were also recorded, which will be fed directly into further development. In order to gain first-hand impressions and understand the processes, the institute's employees were also able to participate in the coffee harvest and reforestation measures.

The EUDR and the ForestGuard project were presented at additional information events. A series of interviews with coffee farmers and employees of the local coffee cooperative, which pools the high-quality, hand-harvested coffee from over 600 farmers in the region, provided in-depth insights into the processes and the impact of the EUDR on smallholder producers in the country of origin.

The research visit made it clear that the successful, honest and fair implementation of such regulations from Europe requires concrete support and a realistic view of the specific conditions on the ground. For the Institute and the project team, this is both an encouragement and an obligation to successfully implement ForestGuard. 

Second consortium meeting of the project "ForestGuard"

Gruppenfoto Konsortialtreffen des Forschungsprojekts ForestGuard - Entwaldungsfreie Lieferketten bei Schirmer Kaffee GmbH, Dortmund, zur Umsetzung der EU Anti-Entwaldungsverordnung mit Blockchaintechnologie.
© Fraunhofer IML
Rundgang Konsortialtreffen des Forschungsprojekts ForestGuard - Entwaldungsfreie Lieferketten bei Schirmer Kaffee GmbH, Dortmund, zur Umsetzung der EU Anti-Entwaldungsverordnung (EUDR) mit Blockchaintechnologie.
© Fraunhofer IML
Präsentation Projekttreffen ForestGuard - Entwaldungsfreie Lieferketten am 17.05.2024 in Dortmund
© Fraunhofer IML

The  »ForestGuard« research project, which is facing the challenge of implementing the standards for transparency and security of deforestation-free products required by the European Anti-Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) using blockchain technology, has successfully completed its first phase.

The consortium meeting took place on 17 May 2024 at the offices of Schirmer Kaffee GmbH in Dortmund. The results of the first project phase were presented here, which included the collection of requirements and the development of technical concepts. The attending project partners enriched the presentations with valuable information, suggestions and insights.

The participants included well-known personalities from industry and research, including Mr Markus Zombek, Managing Director of Schirmer Kaffee GmbH, Ms Nilgün Parker from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), Dr Matthias Polak from Zukunft-Umwelt-Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH, Dr Klaus Wirbel and Mr Dirk Heim from the REWE Group, Ms Katrin Töpfer from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) and Univ.-Prof. Dr habil. Dr h. c. Michael Henke.

The importance of deforestation-free products in the context of sustainability was clearly highlighted by the constructive discussions and the commitments of the project partners. A particular highlight of the meeting was the guided tour of Schirmer Kaffee's production facilities, which gave the guests a practical insight into the processing of coffee.

In the further course of the project, a visit to coffee farmers in Peru who are also affected by the EUDR is planned. There are also plans to make the software components developed within the framework of  »ForestGuard« available as an open source solution in order to give small and medium-sized enterprises easier access to the tools they need to comply with the EUDR.

ForestGuard

Gruppenfoto vom 29. Januar 2024, dem ersten Projekttreffen des vom Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz geförderten Projekts ForestGuard - Entwaldungsfreie Lieferketten am Fraunhofer IML in Dortmund
© Fraunhofer IML
Vortrag vom 29. Januar 2024, dem ersten Projekttreffen des vom Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz geförderten Projekts ForestGuard - Entwaldungsfreie Lieferketten am Fraunhofer IML in Dortmund
© Fraunhofer IML
Vortrag Konferenzraum vom 29. Januar 2024, dem ersten Projekttreffen des vom Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz geförderten Projekts ForestGuard - Entwaldungsfreie Lieferketten am Fraunhofer IML in Dortmund
© Fraunhofer IML

On the 29th of January 2024, the first project meeting of the »ForestGuard« project funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) took place at Fraunhofer IML in Dortmund.

 

The aim of »ForestGuard« is to support directly affected companies in the EU as well as stakeholders in producer countries in complying with the requirements of the European Union's Anti-Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). By comprehensively integrating data across the entire supply chain - from plantation to trade - transparency and traceability of important, EUDR-relevant information is ensured using the example of a coffee supply chain.

The implementation of blockchain technology creates a »single point of truth« (SPoT) that guarantees the unalterable integrity of the data. The control of access enables targeted insights for companies or authorities, while the decision in favour of open source solutions significantly supports the scalability of the system.

 

Together with representatives of the BMUV, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the partner companies Rewe Group and Schirmer Kaffee GmbH, the challenges of the EUDR were analysed and discussed in more detail. Initial interim results and the focus of the project were also discussed. In addition to the focus on transferability to other EUDR-relevant products, the almost 30 participants particularly emphasized the open source nature of the »ForestGuard« solution approach as a counterweight to commercial approaches.

 

In addition to the positively received interim results, strategic planning steps for the upcoming implementation phase in the summer were also discussed. The support provided by the BMUV and the close cooperation with experienced industrial partners emphasise the relevance of »ForestGuard« in the context of global environmental change and the great pressure on companies to take action to achieve greater sustainability and transparency in supply chains, which is reflected in the EUDR, among other things.

 

A guided tour through the research halls of the Fraunhofer IML and the Chair of Materials Handling and Warehousing (FLW) at TU Dortmund University completed the productive exchange in the afternoon. A follow-up meeting in spring is already being planned.