A New Era of Opportunity for Land Supply Chains

In the midst of the 21st century’s most pressing challenges—climate change, resource scarcity, and geopolitical disruptions—the land sector’s supply chains hold the key to ensuring humanity’s future. Satellites are launched almost weekly aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets, with new constellations promising unparalleled earth observation capabilities, revolutionizing how we understand the impact and value chains of sectors like agriculture, forestry, biofuels and mining at scale.

These technological advancements present a unique opportunity to address long-standing inefficiencies and risks in global supply chains. But we must act decisively.

Climate Change: A Growing Risk to Vital Sectors

The land sector—spanning agriculture, forestry, mining, and biofuels—is at the forefront of the climate crisis. The numbers paint a stark picture:

• Agriculture By 2050, food production needs to increase by 70% to meet the demands of a global population expected to reach 9.7 billion. Yet, rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns threaten yields of staple crops like wheat and maize, which could decline by up to 25% in some regions. 
• Forestry Global demand for timber and pulpwood is projected to grow by 30% by 2030, but deforestation and forest degradation risk reducing supply, particularly in biodiversity-rich regions like the Amazon. Brazil alone produces over 230 million cubic meters of industrial roundwood annually, much of which supports global markets. 
• Mining  Essential materials for renewable energy, including lithium, bauxite, and iron ore, face significant operational risks from water scarcity, extreme weather, and supply chain disruptions. The demand for these materials is projected to grow by over 500% by 2050 to meet clean energy goals.
• Biofuels The growing demand for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is projected to outpace supply by over 4 billion gallons annually by 2030. This gap underscores the urgent need for innovation in biofuel production and land-use optimization to meet decarbonization goals in aviation. 

These challenges exacerbate the imbalance between supply and demand, risking food, fiber, and energy security while intensifying global inequality.

Fragmentation and Complexity in Supply Chains

Modern supply chains are vast, fragmented, and increasingly difficult to manage. Companies face challenges in:

• Traceability Only 30% of global supply chains have adequate visibility from origin to market, leaving room for inefficiencies, non-compliance, and fraud.
• Compliance Navigating emerging regulatory frameworks is becoming increasingly complex. Brazil’s upcoming carbon market, EUDR , the GHG Protocol for the Land Sector, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and water-related commitments demand new approaches to governance and transparency. Non-compliance risks hefty financial penalties and reputational damage.
• Planning and Resilience Unpredictable disruptions—whether due to climate events, geopolitical instability, or pandemics—continue to expose vulnerabilities in supply chain planning, costing companies billions in lost revenue annually.

These inefficiencies threaten not only profitability but also the stability of the very systems that sustain global economies and communities.

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The Vision for Traceable, Resilient Supply Chains

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To meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, we must reimagine supply chains as integrated, data-driven ecosystems built on three pillars

1. Traceability at Scale
   
   • Harness real-time data, advancements in AI and climatic modeling to monitor land use, deforestation, water stress, and biodiversity risks.
   • Enable end-to-end transparency with digital ledgers, ensuring every product’s journey—from raw material to consumer—is verifiable.
2. Data-Driven Planning and Compliance
   
   • Leverage Computer vision and generative AI to create predictive models for supply, optimize resource allocation, and mitigate risks.
   • Simplify compliance with dynamic reporting tools that align with local and global frameworks 
3. Collaboration and Innovation
   
   • Build secure hubs to streamline interactions across the value chain.
   • Invest in generative AI to synthesize complex datasets, uncover actionable insights, and automate decision-making processes.
   • Maintaining interoperability across current software and technology stacks
   • Facilitate federated models and secure data sharing, ensuring privacy and regulatory compliance while enabling multi-party collaboration.

Brazil and Europe - Partners in Sustainability

Brazil and Europe exemplify the critical roles that diverse regions play in addressing global supply chain challenges.

Brazil: A Leader in Production and Sustainability

Brazil’s role as a global leader in agriculture and forestry is unparalleled, contributing:

• Over 20% of global industrial roundwood production.
• Approximately 320 million tons of grains annually, including soy, corn, and wheat.

Brazil’s ecosystems are equally critical to global sustainability. The Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal biomes store over 150 billion tons of carbon and host an estimated 20% of Earth’s biodiversity. These unique natural assets position Brazil as both a solution provider and a critical player in combating climate change.

Europe: The Standard-Bearer in Sustainability

Europe continues to lead with ambitious climate goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. Regulatory frameworks like the EUDR and CSRD are driving global momentum for transparency and accountability.

Together, Brazil and Europe demonstrate how local solutions, rooted in regional expertise and ecosystems, can contribute to addressing global challenges.

A Call to Action: Building Resilience for the Future

Building resilient, sustainable supply chains requires collaboration across all stakeholders, including producers, financiers, insurers, traders, and end customers. As companies confront growing risks and opportunities, now is the time to:

• Invest in Technology Leverage AI, new data sets, climatic modeling, and advanced traceability systems to transform operations.
• Foster Collaboration Engage stakeholders across the value chain to align goals and share insights.
• Plan for the Long Term Build resilience to withstand future disruptions while aligning with evolving regulatory landscapes.

At Marvin, we believe that the tools and knowledge exist to transform supply chains into engines of resilience, efficiency, and sustainability. It’s up to us to seize this moment, collaborate across sectors and geographies, and create a world where supply chains not only support humanity’s needs but also protect the planet.

Let’s work together to build the supply chains of tomorrow—resilient, traceable, and ready to support humanity's future.

Citations

1. FAO: Food Production Needs and Climate Challenges
2. World Resources Institute: SAF Demand and Biofuel Supply Projections
3. NASA Earth Observatory: Satellite Missions and Earth Observation Advancements
4. EU Commission: Green Deal and EUDR Implementation Updates
5. Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture: Grain and Forestry Data
6. IPCC Reports: Climate Risks and Mitigation Strategies

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