Last updated 8 months ago
The agricultural industry lacks transparency and has limited access to fair trade. Small-scale farmers face challenges in securing loans, supply chain issues, and accessing competitive markets.
Build a Business Development Service that offers farmers access to fair trade, supply chain solutions, and competitive markets with loans backed by their produce to enhance financial Inclusion
This is the total amount allocated to Business Development Service: Blockchain Solutions.
Please provide your proposal title
Business Development Service: Blockchain Solutions
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
100000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
12
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
The agricultural industry lacks transparency and has limited access to fair trade. Small-scale farmers face challenges in securing loans, supply chain issues, and accessing competitive markets.
Supporting links
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
No
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
'No dependencies'
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
No
License and Additional Information
Our project will be open-source under the MIT License, with repositories on GitHub. All smart contracts, blockchain integration modules, APIs, and the mobile/web portal frontend and backend will be fully accessible. Only third-party components remain closed. This ensures transparency, fosters community collaboration, and enables others to build on our work. By keeping core developments open, we contribute to growth, drive innovation, and support long-term sustainability within the ecosystem
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal.
Business Services
Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously funded (whether by you or others).
This project is innovative because it tokenizes agricultural products on Cardano, enabling farmers to access loans and auctions backed by real assets. It integrates supply chain transparency, ensuring traceability and trust for buyers. Beyond finance, it combines DeFi with business development services like logistics, market access, and investor matching. With open-source code and AI-powered fair pricing, it delivers a scalable, practical solution for small-scale farmers and the Cardano ecosystem.
Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.
Thank you for clarifying — here’s a corrected 500-character version that aligns with your intent:
The MVP will let farmers escrow contracts for the future sale of their crops using Cardano smart contracts. In exchange, they gain access to business development support such as logistics, market access, and potential loans backed by their produce. Investors and buyers can commit funding through these contracts, while basic supply chain traceability ensures trust. The MVP will be accessible via a public web portal, mobile app, and an open-source GitHub repository.
Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.
Success will be measured by return on investment for participating farmers and investors, the number of sellers offering future-crop contracts, the volume and value of loans taken out using tokenized produce as collateral, and the number of active investors funding or committing to purchase. Additional measures include transaction volume on the platform, growth in supply chain verifications, and overall user adoption across key regions.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Business Development Service for Agriculture
We are creating a comprehensive business development service (BDS) tailored to the agricultural sector, built on the Cardano blockchain. The platform combines Aiken-based smart contracts for legally binding agreements with a cross-platform mobile dApp (Android/iOS) to give farmers, buyers, and investors a practical and accessible tool for financing, logistics, and market access.
The platform’s foundation is a suite of smart contracts written in Aiken, optimized for efficiency, auditability, and maintainability on Cardano. These contracts manage:
Future-Crop Escrow Agreements
Farmers can lock in legally binding contracts for future crop sales, held in escrow until conditions are met.
Collateralized Lending
Future-crop agreements serve as collateral for loans. Contracts enforce repayment terms, interest rates, and default clauses automatically.
Automated Settlements
When delivery conditions are satisfied, smart contracts automatically release funds to farmers and enforce buyer rights.
Dispute Resolution Mechanisms
Escrowed contracts contain predefined rules for arbitration in case of quality disputes or delivery issues.
Revenue Generation
Each smart contract execution generates on-chain activity, increasing transaction volume for Cardano while providing fee revenue for the platform.
Accessibility is central to adoption. The platform will deliver a React Native/Flutter-powered mobile dApp, available for both Android and iOS, designed to operate in low-bandwidth and developing-market conditions. Key features include:
Farmer Dashboard
Tokenize future crop contracts.
Request loans or business development support (logistics, storage, transport, advisory).
Track repayment schedules and escrow balances.
Investor & Buyer Dashboard
Browse, fund, and commit to future crop contracts.
View risk-adjusted return profiles and expected delivery schedules.
Monitor escrow contract performance in real time.
Integrated Wallets
Direct ADA and stablecoin payments supported.
Compatible with Cardano wallets for secure transfers.
Supply Chain Tracking
Embedded QR codes and blockchain-linked identifiers for crops.
End-to-end visibility on storage, logistics, and origin.
Compliance and Verification
KYC/AML integration for all participants.
Selective disclosure of information, ensuring privacy while meeting regulatory needs.
Cardano blockchain records every stage in the crop lifecycle: production, storage, and transport. Each event is immutably timestamped, creating verifiable proof of origin and quality. This not only protects buyers but also allows farmers to secure higher prices by certifying authenticity.
Farmers receive tailored business services tied to smart contracts, including:
Logistics coordination (storage, trucking, cold-chain transport).
Market access through bulk-sale marketplaces.
Investor matching and partnership onboarding.
Advisory services to help scale operations sustainably.
Each service is linked to legally binding smart contracts for transparent pricing and accountability.
Contract Execution Fees: A fee charged per future-crop contract executed.
Loan Interest Margins: Percentage retained from collateralized lending agreements.
Transaction Fees: Each smart contract triggers on-chain Cardano transactions, directly increasing network usage.
Marketplace & Logistics Fees: Fees from coordinating deliveries and successful matches between buyers and farmers.
Subscription Services: Premium BDS support, market analytics, and advisory services.
This model establishes a self-sustaining ecosystem by:
Giving farmers liquidity and access to global markets before harvest.
Providing investors secure, transparent, and enforceable returns tied to real-world crops.
Offering buyers verified supply chains with reduced fraud and improved trust.
Driving Cardano adoption through recurring smart contract usage, increased on-chain transaction fees, and real-world asset tokenization.
In summary, the integration of Aiken smart contracts and a mobile-first dApp for Android/iOS ensures the solution is not only technologically advanced but also practically usable by small-scale farmers and investors worldwide, delivering real-world adoption for Cardano while transforming agricultural finance and logistics.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
Our project will generate measurable impact across farmers, investors, buyers, and the Cardano ecosystem, addressing both financial inclusion and blockchain adoption.
Access to Capital: Farmers can escrow future crop contracts to secure loans or upfront funding without selling land or assets.
Improved Market Access: Integration with logistics and marketplaces ensures entry into larger, more competitive markets.
Fair Pricing: AI-assisted analytics and transparent auctions protect farmers from predatory pricing, improving profitability.
Operational Support: Business development services reduce inefficiencies in storage, transport, and distribution.
Secure Investment Opportunities: Aiken smart contracts create legally binding, enforceable agreements with reduced counterparty risk.
Real-World Asset Exposure: Investors gain transparent access to agricultural commodities as collateralized assets.
Traceable Produce: Buyers benefit from blockchain-based supply chain records, ensuring verified origin and quality.
Transaction Growth: Each future-crop contract, loan, and settlement executed on Cardano increases on-chain transaction volume and network utility.
DeFi Expansion: By tying lending protocols to real-world assets, the project strengthens Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem with practical use cases.
Open-Source Contribution: All non-third-party components (Aiken contracts, APIs, mobile dApp code) will be open-source, fostering collaboration and replication across other sectors.
Ecosystem Visibility: Showcasing a live agricultural finance dApp positions Cardano as a blockchain leader in solving real-world challenges.
Return on Investment (ROI) for farmers and investors.
Number of Sellers onboarding and offering future-crop contracts.
Volume of Loans Issued and total liquidity distributed.
Number of Active Investors and Buyers funding contracts.
Transaction Volume processed on Cardano through the platform.
Supply Chain Verifications completed and recorded on-chain.
User Adoption across farmers, cooperatives, and SMEs.
The project creates a self-sustaining agricultural ecosystem where farmers receive fair access to capital and markets, investors gain secure returns, and buyers trust the supply chain. For Cardano, this translates into sustained growth in transaction activity, ecosystem adoption, and open-source innovation, driving network value and global visibility.
What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?
Our project is led by William Shelton, a proven blockchain innovator and successful Fund 8 recipient with experience delivering projects on time and within budget. William combines expertise in blockchain development with practical knowledge of supply chain systems and public policy, positioning the team to bridge technology and real-world application effectively.
Advisory Team
Jeffery Sisco, MBA – Business Advisor: Provides strategic guidance on marketplace development and growth strategies.
Danilo Parmegiani – Nonprofit Engagement Advisor: Supports institutional partnerships and stakeholder collaboration.
Seth Kaper-Dale – Social Impact Advisor: Ensures the platform promotes equity, inclusivity, and social responsibility in agricultural trade.
Validation of Feasibility
Proof of Concept (PoC): A working PoC will be deployed with a select group of farmers and businesses to validate the dApp’s functionality, user experience, and economic model before scaling.
Independent Security Audits: All Aiken smart contracts will undergo comprehensive third-party audits to guarantee robustness, compliance, and trustworthiness.
Iterative Development: The platform will be rolled out in phases, with feedback loops from early adopters to refine features and ensure real-world usability.
Milestone Title
Milestone 1: DApp Architecture and Initial Development
Milestone Outputs
Finalized DApp architecture for tokenization and auction protocols.
Development of the initial prototype enabling product listing and tokenization features for farmers.
Basic marketplace functionality, including tokenized auctions for agricultural products.
Acceptance Criteria
DApp architecture and backend system fully designed with Cardano integration.
Prototype functional for listing and auctioning agricultural products.
Early adopter feedback collected, and initial partnerships signed.
Evidence of Completion
Documentation of the DApp architecture and system design.
Screenshots and video walkthrough of the working prototype demonstrating product listings and auction functionality.
Signed partnership agreements or documented feedback from early adopters.
Delivery Month
3
Cost
30000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Milestone 2: Supply Chain Integration and Business Development Support
Milestone Outputs
Supply chain tracking system integrated with the Cardano blockchain for product traceability.
Launch of business development services, offering market access, logistics, and investor matching tools for farmers.
Onboarding of initial farmers and suppliers to access market and logistical support.
Acceptance Criteria
Supply chain tracking system operational and integrated with the platform.
Business development services available to users, providing support in market access and logistics.
Early adopters (farmers and suppliers) onboarded and using the platform’s services.
Evidence of Completion
Screenshots or video walkthrough of the supply chain tracking feature.
Reports on the business development services' launch and usage.
Testimonials or reports from farmers and suppliers using the platform.
Delivery Month
6
Cost
30000
Progress
60 %
Milestone Title
Milestone 3: Marketplace and Lending Protocol Development
Milestone Outputs
Full implementation of tokenized agricultural product auctions governed by smart contracts.
Integration of the lending protocol for farmers to secure loans using tokenized assets as collateral.
Implementation of business development features for onboarding new farmers and suppliers.
Acceptance Criteria
Fully functional marketplace allowing auctions of tokenized products and access to loans through the lending protocol.
Smart contract system for auction governance and lending operational.
Farmers and suppliers successfully onboarded and using the platform.
Evidence of Completion
Documentation of smart contracts and lending protocol implementation.
Video demonstrations of successful tokenized auctions and loan applications.
Onboarding reports of new farmers and suppliers.
Delivery Month
9
Cost
30000
Progress
90 %
Milestone Title
Final Milestone: Full Platform Launch
Milestone Outputs
Full public launch of the platform with all core functionalities, including escrow of contract for future crop sales, lending, and supply chain tracking.
Open-source repository published with all relevant project documentation, including smart contracts and APIs.
Acceptance Criteria
The platform will be fully launched and accessible to the public with an active user base. All smart contracts, code, and documentation will be published under an open-source license, ensuring transparency, collaboration, and community-driven innovation.
Evidence of Completion
Usage metrics, including platform activity, number of transactions, and loans distributed.
Publicly accessible open-source repository so the community can contribute
Delivery Month
12
Cost
10000
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Cost: 30,000 ADA
Architecture design and backend integration: 15,000 ADA
Initial testing and early-stage functionality: 10,000 ADA
Preliminary discussions with institutional partners: 5,000 ADA
Cost: 37,000 ADA
Development of smart contracts for agricultural contracts: 27,000 ADA
Testnet deployment and initial testing: 5,000 ADA
Feedback sessions with institutional partners: 5,000 ADA
Cost: 7,000 ADA
Development of basic AI tools for fair pricing and analytics: 7,000 ADA
Cost: 13,000 ADA
Project management and oversight: 8,000 ADA
Community engagement, outreach, and marketing: 5,000 ADA
Cost: 13,000 ADA
Full-scale deployment and launch activities: 10,000 ADA
Reporting and performance review: 3,000 ADA
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
This proposal represents strong value for the Cardano ecosystem by focusing the majority of funds on the most critical and high-impact areas: Aiken smart contracts (37%) and dApp architecture and backend development (30%). These two areas form the technical backbone of the platform, ensuring that all agreements, escrow systems, lending protocols, and business services are secure, transparent, and enforceable on-chain. By investing heavily in these components, we guarantee the platform can deliver real-world functionality, trust, and adoption from the outset.
The budget for marketplace integration and AI analytics (7%) is intentionally lean, designed to showcase practical tools such as fair pricing and crop value analytics without overextending resources. This ensures the MVP can demonstrate transparency and market competitiveness for farmers while keeping costs efficient.
Project management and community engagement (13%) are allocated at industry-standard levels, covering oversight, stakeholder communication, and farmer/investor onboarding. This ensures the platform will not only be technically sound but will also have a committed and active user base.
Finally, final product launch and reporting (13%) provide for a professional rollout and transparent project close-out, including performance reviews and open-source publication of smart contracts, APIs, and code. Reporting was trimmed to 3,000 ADA to maximize resources for smart contract development, striking the right balance between accountability and technical delivery.
Beyond cost efficiency, the project delivers long-term sustainability. Revenue will be generated through contract execution fees, logistics and marketplace charges, and loan interest margins, ensuring the platform can grow without ongoing external funding. Each smart contract executed also drives on-chain transaction fees, directly benefiting Cardano by increasing usage and transaction volume.
In summary, this budget is lean, efficient, and impact-driven. It prioritizes technical security, scalability, and adoption while keeping overhead minimal. The outcome is a real-world agricultural finance platform that delivers measurable ROI for farmers and investors while showcasing Cardano’s ability to power legally binding agreements, supply chain transparency, and financial inclusion. This creates ongoing value for both users and the broader Cardano ecosystem.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Project Team
William Shelton – Project Lead
Responsible for overseeing project execution, managing operations, and ensuring delivery within scope and timeline.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willpshelton/
Core Development Team
Flutter Developer (To Be Hired): Will develop the Android/iOS dApp, ensuring cross-platform usability and accessibility.
Aiken Smart Contract Developer (Engaged): Responsible for designing and implementing Cardano smart contracts governing future-crop escrow, lending protocols, and dispute resolution.
Advisory Team
Jeffery Sisco, MBA – Business Advisor
Provides strategic guidance on marketplace development and scaling strategies.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreysisco/
Danilo Parmegiani – Nonprofit Engagement Advisor
Supports institutional outreach and partnerships with nonprofit organizations.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danilo-parmegiani-aa075a40/
Seth Kaper-Dale – Social Impact Advisor
Advises on inclusion, equity, and social responsibility in agricultural trade.
Gary Minkoff – Public Policy Advisor
Provides expertise on government partnerships and public policy alignment.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyminkoff/
Edward Laporte – Legal Advisor
Provides compliance oversight and legal framework development for enforceable agreements.