Between consumers, brands and retailers on one side of the value chain, growers (and miner) on the other, and processors, manufacturers and traders in between, there exists a supply and demand disconnect that we call the ‘chasm’ that limits the full potential of agri- and other commodities among those who are committed to growing fibre, food, timber and mining raw materials and those who rely on the end produce and products for industry and life.

This chasm exists due to an overly complex, fragmented, highly extractive and opaque trade system dominated by outdated policies, practices and market mechanisms that have been in place for over two centuries and no longer work effectively in todays connected world.

These systems necessitate faceless and fungible transactions that purposefully obscure the upstream value chain, limit market access for many and engender market manipulations and unfair competition through the use complex of financial instruments. The outcome extracts real value, suppresses fair margins for those that grow, process and sell agri-commodities and those who use these commodities for their primary businesses such as textile manufacturers, food processors and other industries. It further perpetuates industries dependance on needless Wall Street speculators who set prices that enrich and protect their portfolios through short-term price swings that drive volatility and create market opportunities for speculators while leaving growers, industry and consumers to pay the cost.

Additionally, these systems make transparency, traceability and meaningful investment in technological and commercial advancements and social and environmental progress nearly impossible.