This brief was produced in the framework of the TRANSITIONS-PSii project (https://alliancebioversityciat.org/pr...) activities in Peru thanks to the collaboration with the local project partners, the private sector company, cocoa cooperative and farmers.

End-to-end traceability requires the cooperation of different stakeholders and a system that integrates their information needs and capabilities while providing indicators that can be used to assess agrifood value chain sustainability. Here, we show a co-development approach proved to be an effective way to meet these requirements. Co-development involved addressing participants’ diversity of perspectives, interests, and capabilities. Several challenges arose, which required adaptive planning. Translation and mediation strategies were effective in navigating this environment. The use of a compact, yet holistic, set of agroecological metrics, and implementation of iterative programming and testing cycles with end-users, were key attributes to achieving systems’ contextualization and applicability. Identifying effective incentives, and removing barriers, is key to ensuring participation in co-development processes. Enabling holistic digital traceability calls for financial sustainability schemes that do not burden producers, and practices for managing data responsibly.