The PureTrace™ Project

Connecting farmers and consumers ​through trust and accountability.

For farmers, PureTrace™ provides a simple way to document their sustainable practices, receive third-party verification, and showcase measurable improvements in soil and water health. This not only strengthens their stewardship of the land but also opens new opportunities for fair recognition, market access, and potential financial rewards for farming responsibly.
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For consumers, PureTrace™ creates a direct window into where food comes from and how it is grown. By scanning a QR code on packaging, shoppers can see the farmer’s story, real soil and water test results, and independent scores for both regenerative practices and food safety. 

  PureTrace™ aims to link regenerative farming practices with transparent consumer engagement, measurable ecological improvements, and stronger farmer livelihoods.

​ Through PureTrace™, farmers will gain new sales opportunities through verified transparency and QR-enabled traceability. 

PureTrace™ will strengthen soil and watershed health through regenerative practices by demonstrating measurable improvements in soil organic matter, microbial activity, water infiltration, and reduced nutrient runoff.

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Informing consumer choice, building trust, and empowering farmers.

Why PureTrace™?

Informed Consumer Choice

Consumers interact with this data directly through QR codes on packaging, linking them to farmer stories and independently validated outcomes.

     Imagine Sofia and Daniel, a couple shopping who pick up a sack of potatoes labeled PureTrace™ Verified Regenerative. Scanning a QR code, they instantly see a short video of farmer Max Hence explaining how cover crops keep his soil alive and compost reduces the need for chemicals.

Two simple numbers appear.
One, a Regenerative Score, reads 87/100: evidence of rich soil, strong microbial life, and healthy water infiltration.
The second, a Safe Score, reads 95/100: validation that residues are minimal and crops are clean.

     For Sofia and Daniel, an ordinary shopping trip becomes a connection with the land and the farmer. They decide to cook with these potatoes, knowing the story behind them.

Regenerative Practices

Across the United States, staple crops like potatoes and corn are often grown and sold as anonymous commodities.
While many farmers are adopting regenerative practices (improvements in soil health, biodiversity, and water quality), the benefits are rarely visible to the public, and farmers struggle to receive recognition or financial reward for their stewardship. At the same time, consumers increasingly want to know not only where their food comes from, but also how it was produced, and whether it is safe and sustainable.

    PureTrace™ addresses this disconnect by creating a transparent loop between farmer practices, ecological outcomes, and consumer trust. 

Working with small and midsize farms in the Hillandale Food Hub, this digital transparency project will test regenerative practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, and careful nutrient management on ~100 acres of potatoes and corn.

​Using blockchain-backed verification, university and third-party testing, and on-farm data collection, PureTrace™ translates complex regenerative indicators such as soil microbial diversity, carbon sequestration, water infiltration, and pollinator abundance into clear, accessible scores.

Farmer Empowerment

For years, Max’s potatoes were indistinguishable commodities. Though he invested in healthier soils and water stewardship, most buyers never saw his work. With PureTrace™, every scan of a QR code is both recognition and reward. Consumers value his choices, and the premium earned from PureTrace™-verified crops flows directly back into his farm. Those extra dollars fund pollinator strips, cover seed, and compost purchases. Instead of scraping by, Max can expand regenerative practices, and his stewardship becomes financially sustainable.

     This project is timely and globally relevant because transparency in food systems has become a critical need. 

Existing certifications often rely on broad, one-size-fits-all labels that fail to capture the nuance of place, practice, and outcome. PureTrace™ is different: it is farm-specific, data-rich, and automated, offering a replicable model that aligns ecological health with economic resilience. By piloting PureTrace™ with small and midsize farms in the Hillandale Food Hub, this project provides a pathway for both farmers and consumers to participate in regenerating ecosystems while building trust in the food system. ​