Airbus Uses Satellite Intelligence to Help Barry Callebaut Eliminate Deforestation Risks
Deforestation linked to agricultural sourcing has become increasingly difficult to track at scale, especially in regions where cocoa farming is fragmented and oversight on the ground is limited. To address this challenge, Airbus Defence and Space is supplying satellite-driven analytical capabilities to Barry Callebaut, enabling the company to independently observe land-use changes connected to cocoa cultivation.
Instead of relying on local declarations or periodic audits, Barry Callebaut now uses continuous earth-observation data to assess environmental conditions around its cocoa-growing areas worldwide. The approach shifts forest monitoring from a reactive process to an ongoing verification mechanism built on space infrastructure.
The monitoring architecture is powered by Starling, a geospatial analysis system that processes optical satellite observations captured at different spatial resolutions. By combining wide-area imagery with very high-detail views, the platform can detect subtle changes in vegetation cover and flag potential forest loss near farming zones before damage escalates.
This capability allows Barry Callebaut to examine environmental exposure not only at the level of individual suppliers, but across entire sourcing landscapes. The result is a consolidated picture of where pressure on forests is increasing and where mitigation efforts should be prioritized.
For Airbus, the project demonstrates how satellite observation can be applied beyond traditional aerospace or defense use cases. By translating raw imagery into actionable intelligence, the company enables global manufacturers to maintain visibility across complex operations that span multiple countries and regulatory environments.
Satellite-based assessment also reduces dependence on manual reporting, which can be inconsistent or delayed. Continuous observation strengthens traceability, supports internal decision-making, and provides documented evidence of environmental due diligence in regions where physical inspections are impractical.
The initiative aligns with Barry Callebaut’s long-term sourcing strategy under its Forever Chocolate commitments, which emphasize responsible production and forest protection. Integrating space-derived data into internal monitoring systems allows the company to identify environmental risks earlier and respond with targeted corrective actions.
As regulatory expectations around deforestation-free supply chains continue to tighten, satellite intelligence is increasingly becoming a core operational tool rather than an optional sustainability add-on. The Airbus–Barry Callebaut collaboration reflects this shift toward real-time environmental accountability supported by space technology.
