PwC, Merck, and The Hashgraph Group Pilot Cocoa Traceability System

Huo Xing Finance reports that The Hashgraph Group, with consulting and implementation support from PwC Germany, is piloting a cocoa traceability solution in collaboration with Merck. The solution integrates Merck’s M-Trust physical authentication technology with TrackTrace, a digital product passport platform built on the Hedera network, to verify the origin, authenticity, quality, recall requirements, and compliance data of cocoa from farm to consumer. Cocoa is one of the seven commodities covered by the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Under a recently extended deadline agreed upon in December 2025, large operators and traders must comply starting December 30, 2026, while micro and small operators will be subject to the requirements beginning June 30, 2027. The solution also aligns with the EU’s direction for digital product passports under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR); however, food and feed are currently explicitly excluded from the scope of ESPR, making EUDR due diligence the near-term binding requirement for cocoa. The partners note that this architecture is not limited to cocoa and can be scaled in the future to include pharmaceuticals, luxury goods, and industrial components. Husen Kapasi, Head of Enterprise Blockchain at PwC Germany, stated that the solution is verifiable and can play a critical role during food recalls or compliance investigations.