"There are a couple key pieces to this. First, the project aims to enable farmers to ensure that they are paid the living wage that they deserve. But, this is really conceptually revolutionary because it would enable consumers to audit the supply chain which surrounds the food they eat. For years, I've been talking about how the blockchain can completely upend the way so many industries work. This project aims to give power back to, not only to farmers, but, also, ultimately, to consumers," said Richard Gardner, CEO of Modulus, a US-based developer of ultra-high-performance trading and surveillance technology that powers global equities, derivatives, and digital asset exchanges.

According to CoinTelegraph, "Seedtrace provides the platform for Koa's supply chain infrastructure. The platform utilizes the Topl blockchain to record data about the production and distribution of cocoa. Farmers use the data to know where their products have gone and how they are being used, while consumers can easily track the origin of the ingredients in their food and ensure the farmers were paid properly for their work."

"There are tangential benefits in bringing cocoa farmers further into our financial system, limiting the degree to which they are targets of crime, since they will be paid electronically. Getting them into the financial system via payments could well have outsized effects on the industry if it eventually enables them better access to the banking system, in general --- particularly, the ability to show consistent revenue, important for access to loans and other funding opportunities," said Gardner.

"Using the blockchain to revitalize the supply chain isn't anything new. Major companies, including Walmart, have already begun to introduce it into their operations. This is unique because it tackles a particular problem in a vibrant emerging economy. From this, you can see how the technology could be altered to tackle a host of problems within emerging economies in Africa and throughout the world," said Gardner.

Modulus is known throughout the financial technology segment as a leader in the development of ultra-high frequency trading systems and blockchain technologies. Modulus has provided its exchange solution to some of the industry's most profitable digital asset exchanges, including a well-known multi-billion-dollar cryptocurrency exchange. Over the past twenty years, the company has built technology for the world's most notable institutions, with a client list which includes NASA, NASDAQ, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Barclays, Siemens, Shell, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Cornell University, and the University of Chicago.

"I've always said that technology is the great equalizer. Technology doesn't care who you are or where you come from. It doesn't care about your educational or professional background. All that matters is: can you build something cool which adds value to the world? If the answer is yes, you'll be successful. That makes an investment in tech vital to the future of economies like Ghana and South Africa. Embracing tech will, most definitely, provide dividends for decades," said Gardner.