New online tool helps clarify the raw commodities behind processed products 

EFI’s Technical Facility on deforestation-free value chains has launched the Commodity Converter, an open-access online tool that helps users understand how processed agricultural products relate to their original raw commodities, such as cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, rubber, and timber.

Commodities covered

Commodity Converter

Many products traded and consumed today are several steps removed from their original raw materials. This makes it difficult to understand how much raw commodity is involved and how much land is needed to produce it. The Commodity Converter addresses this gap by translating quantities of processed products into raw commodity equivalents and by estimating the planted area required, based on available yield data.  

The tool is designed to support clearer and more comparable information across complex value chains. 

The Commodity Converter brings together several elements in one place: conversion pathways that show how products are transformed from raw commodities; yield-based estimates of planted area; and downloadable summary reports that can be used for documentation and verification purposes. All calculations are visible to the user, allowing underlying assumptions to be understood.  

This clarity is relevant in policy and public debates where discussions about land use, supply chains, and environmental responsibility increasingly rely on data derived from processed goods. 

The tool is intended for a wide range of users, including companies working with agricultural commodities, public authorities in regulated markets, civil society organisations monitoring supply chains, and auditors or certification bodies. It does not make judgements about sustainability or compliance; instead, it provides a shared reference point for understanding quantities and land-use implications.  

The Commodity Converter is freely available online and can be used without registration.

What the tool offers

  • Conversion engine: Converts processed product quantities into raw commodity equivalents.
  • Planted area estimator: Estimates the area required based on specific yield data.
  • Commodity trees: Understand how products are processed from raw commodities.
  • Report generator: Download summaries for verification.
© European Forest Institute
Example of the EFI Commodity Converter
Region:

Luwero, Nakaseke, Kassanda, Mubende, Bukomansimbi, Kyotera, Omoro, and Nwoya

Target group:

Smallholder farmers, traders, state and non state actors, and processors

Key activities:
  • Capacity building of smallholder coffee farmers in production practices and sustainable land use management.
  • Establishing traceability system and facilitating access to sustainable financing 
  • Facilitate inclusive business partnerships between producer organizations and supply chain actors​ 
  • Promote multi-stakeholder cooperation​ 
Commodities:
Region:

Huánuco, Ucayali, Pasco and Junín

Target group:

Public and private stakeholders, especially exporting companies, cooperatives and smallholder producers

Key activities:
  • Strengthen the supply chains to meet EUDR requirements 
  • Facilitate access to sustainable finance and knowledge exchange
  • Training of smallholders to sustainable manage their production systems 
Commodities:
Region:

Ngozi and Kayanza 

Target group:

Smallholders

Key activities:
  • Training on the use of traceability tools and support on collection of geolocation data for EUDR compliance 
  • Support the development of a national coffee sector dashboard for traceability and transparency
  • Capacity building of smallholder coffee farmers in production practices and sustainable land use management.​ 
Commodities:
Region:

Centre, South West, Littoral, South, East and West regions

Target group:

Smallholder farmers, women, youth, and indigenous peoples

Key activities:
  • Develop inclusive business partnerships with the private sector 
  • Facilitate access to finance for sustainable business models 
  • Support and train farmers in open-source traceability systems 
  • Promote multistakeholder dialogues to improve legal and regulatory provisions 
Commodities:
Region:

(Lower) Kafue Catchment Ecosystem

Target group:

Farmers and community forest management groups

Key activities:
  • Support community forest management groups in the
    sustainable management of natural resources and livelihood creation
  • Support farmers to produce soy in line with the EUDR and increase productivity, and implement transparency and traceability pilots
Commodities:
Region:

Lampung, West Kalimantan, and Central Sulawesi

Target group:

Smallholder farmers, private sector, and civil society organizations along the value chains

Key activities:
  • Empowering Smallholder Farmers and Farmer Organizations by facilitating traceability and legality, building capacity on Good Agriculture Practices (GAP), and strengthening farmer organizations, ensuring inclusive support for both men and women farmers.
  • Promoting sustainable practices and collaboration by supporting village HCV/HCS conservation efforts, testing and strengthening the National Dashboard for traceability and legality, and fostering national and regional exchanges.
Commodities:
Region:

Son La, Gia Lai ​​

Target group:

Smallholder farmers and marginalized groups

Key activities:
  • Support coffee value chain actors
  • Foster deforestation-free, sustainable, and legal supply chains
Commodities:
Region:

Yangambi Biosphere Reserve, Salonga National Park North, Salonga National Park South, Virunga National Park, Kahuzi-Biéga National Park​

Target group:

Public and private sector

Key activities:
  • Promote sustainable agricultural practices
  • Minimize forest degradation
  • Prevent deforestation
Commodities:
Region:

Provinces of Orellana and Sucumbíos

Target group:

Smallholder farmers, women, indigenous people and youth

Key activities:
  • Promoting Multi Stakeholder Dialogues
  • Improving traceabilty systems
Commodities:
Region:

Xingu territory, State of Pará

Target group:

Family farmers

Key activities:
  • Improve market access, value creation, and access to sustainable finance
  • Integrate farmers into traceability systems
Commodities:
Global activities