Company profile
Smallholder farmers, predominantly women in West-Africa, often receive low prices for their products due to numerous middlemen in the traditional supply chain. This significantly limits their household income and overall quality of life, preventing them from breaking out of poverty.
Sommalife tackles this by eliminating these middlemen through its inhouse developed software, TreeSyt. This allows Sommalife to enhance traceability to farmers level, connect farmers to international markets and pay the farmers directly at their doorstep. As a result, producers earn over 20% above local market prices, while Sommalife remains price-competitive globally due to the removed commissions.
Sommalife provides pre-financing that gives smallholder farmers crucial income during off-seasons, preventing them from making desperate choices like cutting down trees for charcoal just to feed their families. This financial support breaks the cycle of poverty and environmental destruction by ensuring farmers can meet their immediate needs while preserving valuable forest resources for long-term sustainability.
Sommalife was founded in 2020 by a strong team of founders with deep local expertise, including three Dutch alumni from Delft University of Technology. The company operates with an office in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and an operational office in Ghana.
Their unique business model focuses on boosting farmer income, with impressive results: 81% of farmers report higher earnings and 83% have experienced improved living standards.
The company specializes in key agro-commodities including shea, maize, and soy, serving large global buyers. Achievements include reaching USD 5.7 million in revenue and protecting over 4,000 hectares of shea parklands, demonstrating both profitability and meaningful social and environmental impact.