In agricultural export sectors, access to international markets now depends on compliance with environmental and social standards. Rainforest Alliance certification is a strategic lever in this regard, strengthening the competitiveness of cooperatives and securing their market opportunities. It is with this in mind that the SOCOPETIA SCOOPS cooperative, based in Aboisso (South Comoé), has embarked on a process of identifying producers and accurately mapping its orchards. The CRIHD acted as a consulting firm to ensure the design and implementation of this technical operation between June and July 2022. The challenge was twofold: on the one hand, to produce a reliable and structured database of producers associated with the cooperative; on the other hand, to accurately geolocate farms in order to meet the traceability and environmental compliance requirements imposed by certification. The mission included designing data collection tools, conducting a pilot phase, recruiting and supervising surveyors, and using digital tools and GPS to geolocate plots. A total of 400 orchards were identified and mapped, enabling the creation of a consolidated and usable database. The results directly contributed to the certification process for orchards identified by Rainforest Alliance, thereby strengthening the cooperative's credibility and its access to formal markets. Beyond the technical exercise, this mission illustrates an essential reality: agricultural competitiveness today depends on the quality of information systems, traceability, and transparency in value chains. Here, data is not just statistics: it becomes a passport to certification and market access.
