DIGITAL FOOD SYSTEMS EVIDENCE CLEARING HOUSE 

Implemented in:

Colombia, Mexico

Primary users:

Food system component(s):

Food system activity/ies:

Type(s) of digital intervention:

More information
https://www.extensio.mx

Extensio provides smallholder farmers with critical information for decision making via SMS and WhatsApp. The powerful digital platform captures weather data, parcel-level information, best agricultural practices, market knowledge and transforms it into automatic or pre-programmed SMS and WhatsApp messages customized to the needs of each farmer.

Description

Extensio is a certified B-Corporation, providing smallholder farmers with critical information for decision making via SMS and WhatsApp. For this, the company developed and operates a powerful digital platform, which captures weather data, parcel-level information, best agricultural practices and market knowledge and transforms it in automatic or pre-programmed SMS and WhatsApp messages customized to the needs of each farmer.

Estimated number of active users:

  • At inception: 4000
  • At time of last report: 19000

Evidence of impact

Since start of operations in 2016:
* Real time mobile communication service for the most isolated farmers in Latin America;
* Certified B-Corp, selected “Best for the World 2019” for our impact in our farmers’ lives and in the activities of our institutional clients;
* 19,000 farmers as direct users of the service;
* 336,000 lives impacted in 3 countries: Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador;
* 12% revenue increase for smallholder farmers.

➥ Economic impact: 

Increased yield, Increased transaction cost

➥ Environmental impact: 

Increased efficiency in agro chemical use, Increased resilience to climate shocks , Increased access to weather information, Increased access to agricultural information services in real time

➥ Social impact: 

I do not know

➥ Technical impact: 

Increased technology adoption, Improved information dissemination

➥ Impact on overall efficiency

Increased efficiency by 0-25%