Ground-truthed samples with chain of custody

Ground-truthed samples
with chain of custody

The foundation of our process is the collection of georeferenced samples from forests and farms around the world. By forging partnerships worldwide with NGOs, auditors, companies and universities, we've built a robust network of independent, trained collectors. These collectors follow our protocols, which not only guarantees a secure chain of custody for every sample and its metadata, but also ensures that the samples meet the criteria for a broad spectrum of scientific techniques.

Scalable impact through
non-proprietary science

We currently develop open protocol reference modes for two scientific techniques:

Trace Element Analysis (TEA) is a method in which microscopic quantities of chemical elements in a sample are measured, typically between one and 100 parts per million. These elements are ubiquitous in the environment and different plant species absorb different amounts from the soil, varying depending on where they grow.

Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis (SIRA) works by measuring the ratios of different isotopes in a sample. Isotopic composition is influenced by climatic and environmental factors that vary in the spatial range, such as humidity, rainfall, and temperature, as well as soil composition.

Leveraging non-proprietary methods, the credibility of our reference data is ensured through replicability testing and ISO17025 accredited laboratories.

We currently develop open protocol reference modes for two scientific techniques:

Trace Element Analysis (TEA) is a method in which microscopic quantities of chemical elements in a sample are measured, typically between one and 100 parts per million. These are elements that are ubiquitous in the environment and different plant species absorb different amounts from the soil, varying depending on where they grow.

Leveraging non-proprietary methods, the credibility of our reference data is ensured through replicability testing and ISO17025 accredited laboratories.

AI spatial modeling drives data interoperability

Our approach stands out by integrating the results of multiple scientific techniques in a peer reviewed ‘origin model’, refining results by fusing chemical values that vary across the spatial range with environmental and earth observation data, available at scale and at low cost. Once a reference model has been developed, it can be used by companies, enforcement agencies and NGOs to scrutinize the claimed harvest geolocation of traded products.

Our approach stands out by integrating the results of multiple scientific techniques in a peer reviewed ‘origin model’, refining results by fusing chemical values that vary across the spatial range with environmental and earth observation data, available at scale at low cost. Once a reference model has been developed it can be used by companies, enforcement agencies and NGOs to scrutinize the claimed harvest geolocation of traded products.

Using the science to tackle deforestation

Anyone who wants to understand where a product comes from can send a piece of timber or a soybean taken from a shipping container or a processing plant, to a laboratory to measure the same chemicals that we extract from our reference samples, and compare the results with our origin models. The model identifies the most likely area of harvest within the reference sample range by seeking the closest match, and looks for statistically significant differences between the chemical values of the traded sample and reference values for the claimed location of harvest in order to challenge a claimed location.

World Forest ID works directly with enforcement agencies, companies and NGOs seeking to ensure that supply chains are clean or identify and hold accountable bad actors.

Anyone that wants to understand where a product comes from can send a piece of timber or a soybean taken from a shipping container or a processing plant, to a laboratory to measure the same chemicals that we extract from our reference samples, and compare the results with our origin models. The model identifies the most likely area of harvest within the reference sample range by seeking the closest match, and looks for statistically significant differences between the chemical values of the traded sample and reference values for the claimed location of harvest in order to challenge a claimed location.

World forest ID works directly with enforcement agencies, companies and NGOs seeking to ensure that supply chains are clean or identify and hold accountable bad actors.