Two new papers show how modeling can extend the reach of existing data, making chemical traceability more viable in sample-scarce environments and more useful for regulators, certification schemes, and companies responding to traceability legislation.

This insight summarizes World Forest ID's research into the application of chemical testing to farmed shrimp supply chains.

A new World Forest ID peer-reviewed study, published in Food Control, explores whether chemical testing, combining stable isotope ratio analysis and multi-element profiling, can verify the geographic origin of farmed shrimp on supermarket shelves. 

World Forest ID has been working with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG, Kew) since 2022 to research whether chemical testing can identify soybean harvest locations. The findings have now been peer-reviewed and published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment.

World Forest ID’s birch origin model stands as the first end-to-end example of our product testing pipeline. In 2025, we expanded its sample base with support from the European Panel Federation, and brought the model into active use.

At the end of November, World Forest ID’s Scientific Stewardship Committee met at Meise Botanic Garden in Belgium to refine the organization’s scientific strategy for 2026.

World Forest ID has partnered with Oritain to expand the accessibility of timber origin testing for companies.

World Forest ID has been working with Peruvian government agencies OSINFOR and CITEmadera to share how scientific traceability can support timber legality verification, as part of an inter-agency program to strengthen national timber testing capabilities.

Gunther Hentschel has spent more than 20 years in the timber industry helping traders stay out of trouble. He invited our Executive Director, Jade Saunders, to kick off his new podcast series, talking practically about using science to make supply chain Due Diligence simpler. 

World Forest ID has published the results of an analysis of wood samples donated by companies to verify their claimed origins. The study examines how scientific testing can strengthen corporate Due Care and Due Diligence processes, supporting greater transparency in timber supply chains and improved sourcing integrity.

Have you ever wondered why World Forest ID has collections from some countries, but not others? Lauren Phelan, Collections Manager at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, explains that it’s often due to complex treaties and tough logistics, long before anyone reaches the forest.

A 2023 paper written by World Forest ID data analyst, Dr. Jakub Truszkowski has been published by the journal, Ecological Applications.

This week marks a significant milestone as the UK Government delivers a chemical Grain Verification Scheme (GVS) as part of a new 100 Year Partnership with Ukraine. Developed in collaboration with World Forest ID, the GVS was designed to help customs officials identify stolen Ukrainian grain in international trade.

World Forest ID has received a grant from the U.S. Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to support the Alliance for Wood ID Testing, helping timber traders and retailers in strengthening their responsible sourcing practices and enhancing their Due Care obligations under the U.S. Lacey Act.

World Forest ID is partnering with ECOCOA, a “bean-to-bar” initiative that brings full transparency, from cocoa sourcing with cooperatives in Cameroon to production at their chocolate factory in Belgium.

World Forest ID Executive Director, Jade Saunders, has been awarded the 2024 Henry Arnhold Fellowship by the Mulago Foundation, given to non-profit leaders recognised for having ‘big ideas and the chops to make them happen’.

World Forest ID collaborates with Searby PLLC to integrate scientific and AI-inferred data in litigation, targeting origin misdeclaration and illicit forest product movements in Ukraine and Latin America.

CITEmadera Lima and World Forest ID are working to improve supply chain transparency in Latin America through the expansion of geolocated timber reference sample collections.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and World Forest ID are enhancing forest supply chain integrity through a new partnership that applies World Forest ID's AI-enabled origin models to prevent fraud in FSC-certified timber supply chains.

World Forest ID, supported by a grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, is piloting a project to validate the claimed origins of farmed shrimp. This initiative targets the reduction of mangrove deforestation linked to aquaculture and aims to enhance traceability in shrimp supply chains.

World Forest ID and WWF are leading an alliance of companies in a pilot project to evaluate and secure the integrity of supply chains for selected high-risk wood products.

World Forest ID has been working with Meise Botanic Garden to develop methodologies for testing traded timber, enhancing the ability for companies to trace timber products through supply chains.

This expert insight aims to explain the implications of our latest research published in Nature Plants. We introduce an AI-enabled origin model that accurately determines the origin of timber and agricultural specimens. This model supports policy and practical applications in verifying the origin of forest commodities, ensuring compliance, and protecting forests against illegal activities.

World Forest ID is delighted to highlight the publication of a research paper authored by our data and science teams in the prestigious journal, Nature Plants. This peer-reviewed study, titled "A framework for tracing timber following the Ukraine invasion," introduces World Forest ID’s AI-enabled ‘origin model’. This model represents a significant advancement in the efficient determination of the origin of agricultural and timber specimens in international trade.

In a recent episode of the "Forest For The Future" podcast, Scot McQueen, Senior Technology Officer at FSC International, and Jade Saunders, Director of World Forest ID, discussed the innovative approaches being used to verify the origins of forest products. Hosted by Loa Dalgaard Worm, this episode delves into how forensic testing and earth observation technologies are being combined to provide undisputable, cost-effective proof of product origins.

World Forest ID has created new, easy-to-follow, illustrated collection guides for wood, soy, and cocoa, helping collectors ensure samples meet our strict scientific standards.

World Forest ID, in collaboration with Dr. Naren Ramakrishnan from Virginia Tech and specialists in Earth Observation and Isotope analysis, has secured National Science Foundation funding to advance traceability of traded timber using machine learning and data science.

The European Commission is analyzing a surge in Russian birch plywood imports through secondary markets, potentially bypassing sanctions. Our tracking reveals increased exports to Turkey and Kazakhstan and the risk of misrepresented origins in the EU.

World Forest ID's new pilot project in Thailand focuses on best practices for palm fruit collection, palm oil extraction, and transport, aiming to enhance responsibility and traceability in the palm oil supply chain.

World Forest ID proudly partners with CMO to enhance responsible forestry in Sub-Saharan Africa. CMO supports small growers through FSC™ micro forest management and market access initiatives. This collaboration leverages World Forest ID's expertise to provide training and tools for sample collection in local forests.

World Forest ID data analyst, Dr. Jakub Truszkowski, has co-authored a paper presenting an innovative model using Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis (SIRA) data to identify location of harvest for timber of 'unknown origin'.

World Forest ID is supporting a project funded by the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund to develop a DNA barcoding protocol for identifying illegal timber. Led by Dr. Victor Deklerck and Dr. Sidonie Bellot, the project partners with UNIKIS in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cenarest in Gabon. This initiative aims to enhance timber identification, combat illegal trade, and train local scientists, supporting global efforts in biodiversity conservation.