Geospatial Data Sharing Protocol - Tracing the origins of commodities for deforestation-free commodity value chains
What is Geospatial Data Sharing Protocol?
Pioneered by Preferred by Nature, and co-created with prominent certification schemes and corporations, the Geospatial Data Sharing Protocol stands as a digital compass for businesses.
The Protocol provides a systematic set of digital ‘rules’ to transfer and share geospatial points or polygons and other data, ensuring that each transaction of physical goods comes with an attached ‘geospatial envelope’.
The Protocol is intended to be a voluntary standard for providing a uniform means for sharing geospatial data. This...
The Protocol is intended to be a voluntary standard for providing a uniform means for sharing geospatial data. This...
How geospatial data empowers sustainable sourcing
Discovering the journey of your raw materials
The story of every product is written by its journey. In today’s world, businesses are not just tracing a product's journey for insightful tales but also to ensure they tread responsibly, meeting the demands of both the market and regulatory bodies. A crucial part of this narrative is geolocation – where the raw material was sourced from. This geospatial data acts as the very backbone for companies aspiring to align with zero- deforestation commitments. Without knowing the origin, it is impossible to conclude if the material has caused deforestation or derived from controversial sources.
The emergent need for geospatial insight
The recently enforced EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has set a pace for companies to move quickly. Organisations impacted by the regulation - as well as other stakeholders committed to ensuring their raw materials do not originate from controversial sources - need to trace back to the very locations (points or polygons) of production – whether it is wood, cocoa, coffee, rubber, soy, palm oil, or cattle. Such precision requires collating geospatial data from multiple harvesting sites, especially since many products pool raw materials from different locations. Thus, the challenge is not just about collecting but effectively managing, sharing, and communicating this data.
The Protocol in action
The Geospatial Data Sharing Protocol serves as a voluntary standard aimed at enabling a consistent method of sharing geospatial data via data package (“envelopes”). It is designed to simplify the transfer of geospatial information and related data throughout value chains.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The GDS Protocol serves as a voluntary standard aimed at enabling a consistent method of sharing geospatial data. It is designed to simplify the transfer of geospatial information and related data throughout value chains. The protocol sets forth key requirements, emphasising attaching data to physical goods transactions, using distinct identifiers, data structuring, and deploying spatial indexing systems.
Recent private sector developments, including the EU Deforestation Regulation draft, have highlighted the need for streamlined methods to transfer geospatial information and related metadata through supply chains. Given the substantial data associated with individual products, a unified, efficient method became imperative. Our consultations with various certification schemes and major trading corporations indicated significant interest in a common approach that could satisfy not only EU regulation requirements but also enhance traceability for other commodities and supply chains.
The Protocol appeals to a broad spectrum of organisations interested in sharing geospatial data relevant to harvesting sites for agricultural and forest commodities. This includes private companies, certification schemes, multi-stakeholder coalitions, governmental traceability systems, IT service providers, and other key players like academic or research institutions.
The Protocol was designed with the distinct needs of smaller enterprises in mind. By standardising the sharing of geospatial data and metadata, it provides a streamlined approach for small businesses to efficiently share data, such as harvest site polygons, with various companies, thereby conserving both time and resources. Furthermore, it is anticipated that tools tailored for smallholders, like phone apps that align with the Protocol, will soon emerge.
Absolutely. The Protocol is designed to accommodate the EUDR's requirements concerning the geolocation of harvesting plots. Although the regulation itself does not mandate a specific method for data transmission, the responsibility for selecting such a method lies with suppliers and their customers. It is crucial to note that while the Protocol addresses certain aspects of the EUDR, solely relying on it doesn't guarantee full compliance.
No, there are no licensing or other fees for using the protocol. It is available as open-source and can be freely used by anyone who finds it useful. However, organisations may incur costs related to updating their software systems to receive, process, and transmit data in accordance with the protocol.
While Preferred by Nature will not be crafting specific software solutions for the Protocol's implementation, we are considering the creation of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) or other supporting tools to aid organisations in seamlessly implementing the Protocol and optimising their geospatial data handling.
Yes, Preferred by Nature is committed to ensuring a smooth adoption of the GSD Protocol. We will be organising periodic webinars, and training sessions, and providing online resources, this FAQ, and guidelines on our website to assist stakeholders throughout their implementation journey.
Absolutely. Feedback is essential for the continuous improvement of the Protocol. We have established a dedicated channel for stakeholders to submit feedback, report challenges, or suggest enhancements. Please contact Chloé Viala at cviala@preferredbynature.org.
We anticipate periodic reviews of the GSD Protocol based on stakeholder feedback and evolving industry needs. While we don't have a fixed timeline for the next version, any significant changes or updates will be communicated well in advance to ensure stakeholders have ample time to adapt.
This document outlines all the frequently asked questions related to the Geospa...
This document outlines all the frequently asked questions related to the Geospa...
Behind the Protocol:The Creation Saga
Conceived between June and September 2023, with the endorsement of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) under the Forest Data Partnership, this Protocol is a result of collaborative effort. Assisted by experts across forestry and agricultural sectors, the initial draft was shaped by team of tech experts from different certification schemes and international corporations, later opened for wide consultation.
From certification schemes to commercial giants, a plethora of organisations have lent their expertise, making this Protocol robust and relevant. We would like to thank specifically the following organisations with which we’ve had direct interaction, and which have contributed precious input to the first version of the Protocol:
Certification schemes, international organisations, NGOs and multi-stakeholders initiatives
EFI (European Forest Institute)
EC-JRC (Joint Research Centre of the European Commission)
Fairtrade
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), leading the DIASCA (Digital Integration of Agricultural Supply Chains Alliance) initiative
ISEAL
Linux Foundation / AgStack
Rainforest Alliance
RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil)
SBP (Sustainable Biomass Program)
WRI (World Resources Institute)
Commercial organisations
Chainpoint / Source Intelligence
Enviva
Iba (Indústria Brasileira de Árvores)
IKEA
iov42
James Griffiths (consultant)
John Simeone(consultant)
LiveEO
Louis Dreyfus Company
Smurfit Kappa (representing CEPI)
Stora Enso
Join the movement
As the protocol finds its roots in the industry, our vision is to continually evolve, refine, and expand its scope. We are committed to ensuring that businesses not only trace their product’s journey but also embark on a sustainable path themselves.
FAO and Preferred by Nature are committed to continuing to support the protocol development and are currently looking into field tests, as well as the development of APIs that can support companies handling data according to the protocol and preparing technical guidance.