Digitalization and child labour in agriculture
Exploration of blockchain and GIS for child labour risk monitoring in cocoa production
Description
Digitalization and child labour in agriculture is a research-based resource designed to examine how blockchain and GIS can strengthen child labour risk monitoring in the cocoa sector. In particular, the resource assesses the potential role of blockchain technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in collecting and sharing data on cocoa-growing areas in Ghana, and how this could contribute to monitoring and ultimately preventing child labour in those areas. During an inception mission undertaken by FAO in Ghana, open consultations with various stakeholders in the cocoa sector led to the identification of a number of Key Data Elements (KDEs) to inform the design of a blockchain system, with the objective to facilitate real-time, cost-efficient and collaborative monitoring of the risk of child labour in cocoa-growing areas in Ghana.
Technology
The resource highlights blockchain for data recording and GIS/remote sensing for mapping cocoa-growing areas and climate-related risks.
Target
The resource is beneficial to academics, civil society, public sector institutions, and rural development stakeholders. The document has been downloaded 1 100 times as of December 2025.
Business model
The resource is publicly accessible and free of charge as part of FAO’s knowledge products.
Impact
The resource provided a structured data framework supporting risk estimation in cocoa-growing communities. With smallholder cocoa producers being the most vulnerable actors within this value chain, the implementation of technological monitoring systems is not a clear-cut route. The report highlighted that participation and engagement depend not only on the perception of the advantages to farmers and community, but also on issues that impact the adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) such as availability, affordability, and literacy and effective use.
Partners
Wageningen University & Research (WUR)
Four Betters
Better life
