Climate change is placing unprecedented pressure on coffee-growing regions around the world. In Latin America, erratic weather, prolonged droughts, and shifting ecological patterns threaten crop yields and producer livelihoods. In response, KOLTIVA, a Swiss-Indonesian AgriTech company, is accelerating the digital transformation of coffee supply chains through its traceability platform, KoltiTrace.
To date, over 25,274 coffee producers across eight Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, and Colombia, have been digitally validated using KoltiTrace. These efforts are a part of the initiatives to build scalable, transparent, and inclusive sustainability solutions that are deeply rooted in the realities of farming communities. This will enable the producers and businesses to secure a long-term supply of high-quality coffee, enhancing producers’ livelihoods and community well-being, and safeguarding the environment.
“Sustainability begins with visibility,” said Silvan Ziegler, Senior Head of Markets America at KOLTIVA. “KoltiTrace is more than a digital tool—it’s a data-driven transformation that empowers producers, agronomists, and companies to make informed, impactful decisions.”
Digital Tools Empowering Producers and Agronomists
Advanced technology, such as one incorporated in KoltiTrace, enables end-to-end supply chain traceability through real-time data collection, geospatial farm mapping, validation of sustainability indicators, and automated compliance tracking. With embedded tools like FarmXtension, FarmGate, and FarmCloud, KOLTIVA equips agronomists and producers with the digital resources they need to monitor farm practices, assess environmental and social impacts, and access personalised insights.
Through integrated digital and field-based services, it could assist producers on:
- Data collection and validation on producer practices, environmental performance, and social criteria.
- Verification of regenerative farming practices
- Compliance with sustainability and certification standards
- Gender equality and inclusive participation
- Accurate and timely monitoring of productivity and risks
These efforts are essential to building resilient, ethical coffee supply chains that can withstand climate and regulatory disruptions. It will be crucial to the coffee sector where more than 80% of the crop is produced by smallholder producers cultivating less than five hectares of land—often in steep, mountainous areas where traditional shade-grown methods prevail (FAO, 2023).
KOLTIVA supports these agroecological transitions by equipping producers with digital tools to map their farms, record on-farm practices, and assess environmental impact in real-time. By bridging traditional knowledge with precision agriculture, KOLTIVA is helping transform sustainability from aspiration to measurable progress across Latin America.
Supporting Local Farming Communities
By digitising and validating thousands of smallholder coffee producers, KOLTIVA provides visibility into the often-informal agricultural landscape. This visibility opens up opportunities for producers to participate in sustainable markets, access agronomic support, and improve their income potential.
“We are learning how to use digital tools to make decisions based on data. That makes a big difference in how we manage the farm,” said one of the participating coffee producers in Colombia. “The support we receive through the program helps us grow better coffee and take care of our land.”
KOLTIVA complements its traceability platform with KoltiSkills, offering technical assistance and training in regenerative agriculture, polygon mapping for deforestation risk assessments, and hands-on support to farmers navigating sustainability standards.
“By carefully adapting our technology solutions to the specific needs of the producers, we’re not only ensuring traceability and compliance but also enhancing productivity through data-driven insights. Our goal is to equip producers with the tools to optimise their practices and achieve long-term sustainability in every aspect of their operations”, Angie Quintero added, Project Manager KOLTIVA working on several projects in Latin America.
Shaping a Transparent and Equitable Future for Coffee
By embedding traceability at the core of supply chain systems, KOLTIVA enables companies to deliver on their environmental and social goals while empowering farmers at origin.
“This milestone underscores our belief that visibility and collaboration are the cornerstones of meaningful sustainability,” said Ziegler. “Through KoltiTrace, we’re not just tracking coffee—we’re building stronger connections between producers, buyers, and consumers.”
As coffee producers face intensifying climate risks, KOLTIVA’s traceability solutions stand as a powerful ally—strengthening the sector’s capacity to adapt, thrive, and grow responsibly.
