WHIMO: a practical tool for sharing traceability information across agricultural supply chains

Understanding where agricultural commodities come from, and how they move through supply chains, is an important part of due diligence and responsible sourcing. However, collecting, maintaining and sharing traceability information across multiple actors remains a challenge in many agricultural supply chains.

To help address this challenge, the European Forest Institute’s Technical Facility on Deforestation-free Value Chains has developed WHIMO (What Is My Origin), an open-source tool that helps supply-chain actors record commodity transactions and exchange basic traceability information as products move from origin to destination.

The tool is designed to support practical traceability by enabling users to record transactions such as purchases, collections, sales and deliveries. Each transaction can include information such as the commodity type, volume, transaction date and, where available, geolocation data linked to production areas.

One Chain, Many Hands: WHIMO Connects the Dots

WHIMO can be used by cooperatives, local aggregators, transporters, processors, traders and exporters. It is particularly relevant in supply chains where information is fragmented, incomplete or spread across different actors. Rather than requiring all information to be available from the outset, the tool allows users to progressively record and exchange data, while making any traceability gaps visible.

By supporting the collection, transfer and review of traceability information, WHIMO can help organisations strengthen their supply-chain transparency efforts and build the information foundations needed for due diligence processes.

Importantly, WHIMO does not assess deforestation risk, evaluate legality or determine compliance with regulatory requirements. Its role is to facilitate the exchange of traceability information between supply-chain actors, providing users with a clearer view of data availability and information flows.

The tool includes both mobile and web components. Transactions are recorded through the mobile application, while the web platform allows users to review records, explore basic analytics and export data for further use. As an open-source solution, WHIMO can also be adapted by organisations wishing to develop their own version according to specific operational needs and data governance requirements.

The basic concept behind WHIMO

Watch the introductory tutorial video. It explains the basic concept behind WHIMO, who the tool is for, and how it handles transaction-based traceability and data sharing.

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Más información

Additional tutorials are also available to guide users through specific steps, including how to record initial transactions, manage downstream transactions, share data and export information.

WHIMO is available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, and can be downloaded on Android and iOS devices. It has been developed by the European Forest Institute’s Technical Facility on Deforestation-free Value Chains and is featured through the TEI Hub as part of ongoing efforts to support practical approaches to traceability and due diligence in agricultural supply chains.

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