trase

TRASE, short for Transparency for Sustainable Economies, is an open-data platform and research initiative that maps the global trade flows of major tropical agricultural commodities from producers to consumers. It focuses on commodities linked to deforestation risk, including palm oil, soy, beef, cocoa, coffee, and timber. TRASE aims to illuminate how production in tropical regions connects with end markets in Europe, North America, and Asia, with the goal of helping governments, companies, and civil society identify leverage points to reduce deforestation and improve sustainability.

Data and methods: TRASE compiles and integrates multiple data sources such as international trade records, import/export statistics, company disclosures, and public reports, sometimes augmented by satellite-based land-use data. The platform constructs country-to-country trade flows and, where possible, links producers to supply chains using geographic and corporate information to produce visualizations of supply-chain networks and origin footprints. It emphasizes transparency of supply chains and the ability to analyze risk and responsibility along commodity routes.

History and scope: Launched in the 2010s by researchers and environmental policy groups, TRASE has grown into a widely used resource in academic and policy discussions. It provides interactive dashboards, downloadable datasets, and maps to support analysis of commodity-driven deforestation and supply-chain risk.

Impact and limitations: TRASE has influenced research and policy discussions on transparency and deforestation risk and is used by NGOs, policymakers, and some companies. Limitations include gaps in official trade data, challenges in tracing flows to individual farms, and variability in reporting practices. It is not a regulatory database, and users should interpret results alongside other sources.