Some farmers and transformers are causing concerns about the ownership of data, exposure of trade secrets and the costs associated with the progressive start of a blockchain traceability platform by the raw material regulator, which aims to protect the Jamaica entry into the main markets. They fear that their data will be exposed to private interests while the government is carrying out pressure to digitize agricultural exports.
“None of the stakeholders is favorable,” said Jason Sharp, director of Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association.
Dr. Norman Grant, who is currently heading the JCEA, said he was planning to publish a release Thursday at all media. Grant recently completed his doctorate in the Blue Mountain Jamaica coffee sector.
“The cocoa sector, as well as the chocolate manufacturers, unanimously rejected the imposition of the blockchain,” said Clayton Williams, president of the Jamaica Cocoa Growers Association.
Jamica Agriculture Commodities Regulatory Authority, Jacra, plans to implement a traceability platform based on blockchain – nicknamed Jamsave – from this year and culminating in full deployment by the beginning of 2026.
The platform will allow Jamaica to comply with the regulations in the process of the European Union, which aims to prevent the importation of defore areas from around the world. These rules are likely to extend to other major markets around the world, said Jacra.
The system will allow buyers, in particular in the European Union, to scan QR codes on products such as coffee, cocoa, ginger, chili and turmeric to check the original details, including the location of the farm, the identity of the producers and the production measures.
The Jamsave platform will also include exports of nutmeg and coconut.
“We are of the opinion that this will contribute to some of the challenges of industry,” said the interim director general of Jacra, Wayne Hunter.
The cost structure is known for coffee, about $ 3 US per 70 kilograms, according to platform operators.
However: “The cost structure for cocoa – we are still in which we take care,” said Hunter, adding that the costs would not overload producers.
However, not everyone agrees. Some farmers and processors fear that Jamsave would compromise the ownership of data, expose trade secrets and impose new commercial costs. Nic Davis, co -founder of Oneone Cacao, expressed discomfort with the level of access granted to the agrodise.
“They will have our areas, the size of our farms. They will know the farmers we buy, and we are therefore not satisfied with a private company with access to our information, ”said Davis. “This adds another layer that is currently not necessary,” he said.
The Cocoa Farmers Association wrote to the Minister of Agriculture Floyd Green and Jacra, subjecting technical letters that describe their concerns.
Jacra’s legal manager, Scheree Miller, said the regulator had responded to the stakeholders in cocoa “line by line” to respond to their concerns.
Jacra argues that the platform is essential for compliance with the EU deforestation regulations and will position premium Jamaica cultures – like the Blue Mountain coffee and high quality cocoa – for an enlarged world scope.
“Everyone does this now. No (country) has finished it again,” said Pia Bramwell of Agrodise in an interview with the Financial glean.
“Jacra and the ministry are proactive to comply with international commercial regulations,” said Bramwell.
Agrodise was co -founded by Pia Bramwell and Courtney Bramwell, which also operates the Sherwood Coffee Estate. PIA has worked in the technology sector for years and has now been associated with Christopher Reckford, an agrodise director, to launch the platform. She defended Jamsave’s usefulness to brake counterfeit.
“The consumer can scan a bag of coffee and know his origins,” of bag bean, she said.
She estimates that the counterfeit coffee products cost the industry more than $ 380 million – a figure that many believe that the funds that Jamaica gains thanks to exports of formal coffee. Jacra said that the coffee sector had exported US $ 47.8 million over 12 months extending from 2023 to 2024. UN data put the value of Jamaica coffee exports at $ 26 million in 2024.
However, some processors fear that foreign buyers can bypass local intermediaries and directly obtain farmers. Jacra said that he did not reject fears among the interests of the sector, but stressed that only approved dealers are authorized to export.
In terms of revelation of sensitive information, Jacra indicates that processors are already accessing data in the monthly sector via the Café Cherry report.
Global markets are evolving towards strict traceability requirements. “So should we twist our thumbs?” Hunter said that while stressing that the risks are not only personal, they also have an impact on the national credibility of export of Jamaica, especially since countries like China introduce their own verification systems.
Bramwell said Jamaica does not work in a silo and has to comply to continue to make market gains.
The Jamaica coffee sector faces several production challenges, including aging trees, limited beans, climatic stress, poor rural roads and farm flight.
The average coffee farm gives 40 boxes of coffee beans per acre, or half of the target of 80 boxes fixed by Jacra. To respond to low production, the regulator offers farmers with high -efficiency factories in order to repopulate the mountain with cafes, the objective being more forest coverage and more coffee beans to market international buyers.
steven.jackson@gleanerjm.com
