Satellite Monitoring: Airbus' Solution to Sustainable Cocoa

Airbus Defence and Space has entered into a partnership with chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut to support the development of deforestation-free supply chains.

The aerospace company is providing the chocolatier with real-time satellite insights to monitor its resources and ensure environmental protection.

This collaboration could enable Barry Callebaut to maintain supply chain integrity whilst responding with agility to various demands.

Sustainable supply chain development

Airbus Defence and Space, a subsidiary of the French plane manufacturer, says that it is committed to developing sustainable aerospace solutions that contribute to a safer and more united world, with ongoing efforts to produce lighter, safer and more fuel-efficient aircraft.

The partnership with Barry Callebaut aims to advance sustainable supply chain practices within the cocoa industry.

Barry Callebaut has established strong commitments to sustainable sourcing through its Forever Chocolate programme, implementing solutions throughout its manufacturing processes.

The collaboration centres on Airbus Defence and Space's satellite-based deforestation monitoring capabilities, which will be deployed across Barry Callebaut's entire cocoa supply chain.

It will be using the space imagery-enabled Starling solution to monitor plantations, facilitating a comprehensive risk assessment across the chocolate manufacturer's global operations.

“Beyond being a trusted, data-driven solution provider, Airbus is a strategic partner for Barry Callebaut in monitoring deforestation risks,” says Juliette Cody, Director for Global Sustainability Programs at Barry Callebaut.

“The insights provided by Starling have become a cornerstone of our strategy to advance our forest positive commitments.”

These insights could provide Barry Callebaut with a greater awareness of its cocoa supply, potentially allowing the company to shift strategy and plan ahead for disruption. The satellite imagery offers full visibility into resource capabilities and sustainability practices, which could enable the company to act responsibly and mitigate future risk through necessary action today.

Geospatial monitoring technology

Starling originated as a collaborative venture between Airbus and Earthworm Foundation in 2016.

The geospatial solution measures environmental impact across supply chains, supporting companies in delivering on their deforestation-free commitments.

The technology uses satellite imagery to monitor agricultural supply chains and provide data on changes to forest cover.

It delivers accurate and actionable data to help companies engage with suppliers, mitigate risks and ensure compliance.

For Barry Callebaut, Starling provides information on all cocoa plots whilst automatically analysing supply chain data.

It produces detailed land-cover maps that can differentiate between natural forest, agroforestry, plantation and other land types, reducing the number of false positive alerts.

Eric Even, Head of Space Digital at Airbus Defence and Space, says: “We are pleased to support Barry Callebaut through the Starling solution, providing optical satellite imagery at various resolutions ranging from 10m to Pléiades Neo’s 30cm resolution.

"With real eyes in the sky, satellite imagery empowers organisations to make informed decisions and maintain transparency across global supply chains.”

AI-powered risk assessment

The solution employs AI-powered algorithms to continuously monitor changes within forest cover, spotting emerging deforestation issues and providing conversion alerts that could breach company regulations or forest policy.

Starling provides high-resolution satellite imagery at the plot level, offering thorough evidence verification to prevent the need for field investigation.

The platform also conducts risk assessments to identify at-risk areas, drawing on information from historical land use and practices.

This information could help Barry Callebaut to make informed decisions that support its sustainability goals effectively.

Starling offers reliable, real-time data insights to suppliers, which could mean that Barry Callebaut can make informed decisions to help meet its sustainability goals effectively.