New online tool helps clarify the raw commodities behind processed products

The European Forest Institute (EFI) has launched the Commodity Converter, an open-access online tool that helps users understand how processed agricultural products relate to their original raw commodities, such as cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, rubber, and timber.

Many products traded and consumed today are several steps removed from their original raw materials. This makes it difficult to understand how much raw commodity is involved and how much land is needed to produce it. The Commodity Converter addresses this gap by translating quantities of processed products into raw commodity equivalents and by estimating the planted area required, based on available yield data.

The tool is designed to support clearer and more comparable information across complex value chains. 

The Commodity Converter brings together several elements in one place: conversion pathways that show how products are transformed from raw commodities; yield-based estimates of planted area; and downloadable summary reports that can be used for documentation and verification purposes. All calculations are visible to the user, allowing underlying assumptions to be understood.

This clarity is relevant in policy and public debates where discussions about land use, supply chains, and environmental responsibility increasingly rely on data derived from processed goods. 

The tool is intended for a wide range of users, including companies working with agricultural commodities, public authorities in regulated markets, civil society organisations monitoring supply chains, and auditors or certification bodies. It does not make judgements about sustainability or compliance; instead, it provides a shared reference point for understanding quantities and land-use implications.

The Commodity Converter is freely available online and can be used without registration.