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WAFI's dispatch from the intersection of agriculture and trade. Part field report, part market briefing — delivering firsthand updates on growing conditions, agronomy, and production alongside sharp perspectives on the economic forces moving global commodities. Written from both origin in Africa and our outpost in New York, Trade & Field offers a clear, practical look at how real-world conditions shape supply, pricing, and opportunity across the markets we operate in.
| Contract | Price | Chg | % | High | Low | Vol | 5D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CocoaICE · CC1 · USD/MT | 9,842 | +120 | +1.24% | 9,901 | 9,714 | 18,402 | |
| Arabica CoffeeICE · KC1 · USD/lb | 3.187 | +0.026 | +0.83% | 3.210 | 3.155 | 24,118 | |
| Robusta CoffeeLIFFE · RC1 · USD/MT | 5,312 | −10 | −0.18% | 5,388 | 5,290 | 9,841 |
| ID | Farm | Variety | Qty | Asking $/lb | Grade | Type | Status |
|---|
| ID | Buyer | Variety | Qty | Offering $/lb | Min Grade | Type | Status |
|---|
| Trade ID | Time | Variety | Grade | Qty | Exec Price | Seller | Buyer | Type | Doc |
|---|
| ID | Party | Side | Variety | Qty | Price | Status | Date |
|---|
WAFI's dispatch from the intersection of agriculture and trade. Part field report, part market briefing - delivering firsthand updates on growing conditions, agronomy, and production alongside sharp perspectives on the economic forces moving global commodities. Written from both origin in Africa and our outpost in New York, Trade & Field offers a clear, practical look at how real-world conditions shape supply, pricing, and opportunity across the markets we operate in.
Version 1.0 · August 2026 · These rules govern how this market runs. They are written to be read. Every participant agrees to them by trading here, and every amendment will be dated and announced.
The market in one paragraph: Sellers post real goods with the price they want. Buyers post what they will pay, backed by a real deposit. Every Friday at 12:00 GMT the market clears: the system finds the single price where the most goods change hands, and every matched buyer and seller trades at that same price. Sellers who asked less and buyers who offered more all receive the better shared price. No speed advantages, no games.
The Exchange is for commercial participants: farmers, cooperatives, exporters, and businesses that buy commodities in the course of their trade. By registering you confirm you are acting in a business capacity and that any purchase or sale is intended for actual physical delivery. This is not a venue for financial speculation: there is no leverage, no short selling, no cash settlement, and no derivative products. Participants complete identity verification before their first trade settles, and WAFI screens all participants against applicable sanctions lists.
An order on this book is a commitment, not a probe. Buy orders are backed by the deposit described in Section 5. Orders rest on the book until the next clearing unless cancelled, and repeated posting-and-cancelling to distort the picture of supply or demand is prohibited conduct under Section 7. What you list must exist: sellers must have the goods, or a specific incoming harvest honestly described as such.
The market clears every Friday at 12:00 GMT (the schedule may change with notice; the countdown on the Trade page is authoritative). At clearing, for each variety, the engine computes the single price at which the greatest quantity can trade — where supply meets demand. Every matched trade in that variety executes at that one clearing price. Within the clearing, matching follows price then time: better-priced orders match first, and among equal prices, earlier orders match first. Orders may fill partially; unfilled quantity remains on the book for the next session. Between clearings, the “if it cleared now” figures shown on the Trade page are indicative and not guaranteed.
Sellers declare variety, grade, moisture, screen size, defects, cupping score, and certifications when listing. Buyers state their minimum acceptable grade. The engine will never match a lot below a buyer’s stated minimum. Declared specifications form part of the trade contract: delivering materially below declaration is a default under Section 6.
On matching, the buyer’s 25% deposit applies toward the trade and the balance of 75% is due before shipment, on the timeline stated in the trade confirmation. Payments are processed by Stripe; WAFI does not hold participant trade funds in its own accounts. Failure to pay the balance when due is a default: the deposit may be forfeited in favor of the affected seller, net of processing costs, and the defaulting account is suspended pending review. The platform’s fees are published on the fee schedule; there are no undisclosed charges.
Disputes follow a written procedure, not an argument. A buyer disputing quality or delivery must file within 14 days of receipt with evidence (photos, counts, and where available an independent assessment). Remaining payments freeze while the dispute is open. Where a sealed pre-shipment sample exists, it is the reference standard. Outcomes follow the trade contract: replacement, price adjustment, or refund. Both parties’ records reflect the outcome. Disputes that cannot be resolved on the platform escalate to arbitration as provided in the Terms of Use.
To file a dispute: email disputes@wafi.co from your registered address with the trade ID, what was expected versus received, and your evidence. You will receive an acknowledgment within 2 business days and remaining payments on the trade freeze from the moment of filing.
The following end accounts: posting orders without intent to trade (spoofing); trading with yourself or affiliated accounts to fake activity (wash trading — the engine also blocks self-matching automatically); misrepresenting goods, identity, or licenses; interfering with the platform; and using the Exchange for any unlawful purpose, including sanctions evasion. WAFI may cancel orders, void unsettled trades, suspend accounts, and report unlawful conduct.
WAFI companies may sell their own production on the Exchange — always under their real, disclosed names, never anonymously against members. The operator does not trade on non-public order information, does not front-run the book, and does not take positions against participants. Fees are published. The clearing engine’s rules are exactly as described in Section 3, applied identically to everyone, including WAFI itself. Market data shown on the platform is real: exchange reference prices, weather, and FX come from live sources, and where data is thin the platform says so rather than decorating.
WAFI may halt the market to protect participants — for a technical fault, suspected manipulation, or an external event. A halt and its reason are shown on the platform. Orders resting during a halt are not cancelled unless announced. Scheduled clearings that fall within a halt occur at the next scheduled time after reopening.
The Rulebook is versioned. Material changes are announced on the platform and by email to active participants at least 7 days before taking effect, except emergency changes for market integrity, which take effect immediately and are announced with reasons. Continued trading after a change takes effect is acceptance of it.
This Rulebook is incorporated into the Terms of Use. It describes market mechanics and conduct; it does not change WAFI’s role as stated there: WAFI is a listings, matching, and payment-facilitation platform and is not a party to the underlying sale of goods.
Trade / Field is operated by WAFI (West African Farmers Initiative). By creating an account or using this platform, you agree to this Participant Agreement, which incorporates the Exchange Rulebook by reference. Where this Agreement and the Rulebook address the same subject, the more specific provision governs. Please read both before you place your first order.
This platform is available only to persons acting in a business capacity: producers, cooperatives, exporters, and commercial buyers of physical commodities. By registering, you represent and warrant that you act in the course of a trade or business and that every order you place contemplates actual physical delivery of goods. The platform offers no leverage, margin, cash settlement, options, or other derivative products, and you agree not to use it for financial speculation.
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York. Any dispute between a participant and WAFI arising out of the platform that cannot be resolved informally within 30 days shall be finally resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, seated in New York, New York, in English, before a single arbitrator. Each party bears its own costs except as the arbitrator awards. This clause does not apply to disputes between buyers and sellers about their underlying trades, which follow the Rulebook’s dispute procedure and the terms of the applicable trade confirmation. Note: this arbitration provision is a working draft pending review by WAFI’s counsel.
The single most important thing to understand: WAFI introduces buyers and sellers of coffee and cocoa and facilitates payment between them through Stripe, a third-party payment processor. WAFI does not guarantee the quality, delivery, or condition of any product traded on this platform. Once two orders are matched, the underlying sale of goods is between the buyer and the seller. WAFI's role is limited to the introduction, the payment facilitation described in Section 5A, and the trade documentation we issue.
Trade / Field is a listings and matching platform. Farmers, cooperatives, and exporters post sell orders; buyers post buy orders. Our matching engine connects compatible orders based on variety, grade, and price. Trade / Field also provides supporting market data — pricing, origin weather, and compliance information — to help both sides make informed decisions.
You must provide accurate, current information when creating an account, including your real name or organization name and your location. This information is used to identify you on the order book and cannot be edited freely once an order is placed — it is drawn directly from your account profile so that every order is traceable to a real, verified party.
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.
When you post a sell order, you are representing that you have the legal right to sell the product described, that your stated grade, quantity, moisture content, and other details are accurate to the best of your knowledge, and that any certifications or EUDR compliance information you provide is true.
When you post a buy order, you are representing that you have a genuine intent and the ability to purchase the product described at the stated terms if a match occurs.
When two orders match, both parties receive a trade confirmation setting out the agreed terms — variety, grade, quantity, price, and the payment schedule described in Section 5A. The buyer and seller remain directly responsible for:
Payment, however, runs through the platform. See Section 5A.
How payment works. When a match is confirmed, the buyer pays a deposit of 25% of the total trade value through the platform's Stripe checkout. The remaining 75% balance is due no later than seven (7) days before the scheduled shipment date stated in the trade confirmation, also paid through the platform. A trade does not proceed to shipment until the balance is paid in full.
Who processes your payment. All payments are processed by Stripe, Inc. WAFI does not see or store your card number, bank details, or any other payment credentials. By paying through the platform you also agree to Stripe's terms of service and privacy policy.
Deposit terms. The deposit secures the trade for both sides. If the buyer fails to pay the balance by the deadline stated in the trade confirmation, the trade may be cancelled and the deposit may be forfeited to the seller, less platform and processing fees. If the seller withdraws or fails to make the goods available for shipment, the deposit is refunded to the buyer in full.
Refunds. Refunds for a cancelled trade are issued to the original payment method through Stripe. Refund timing is governed by Stripe and the buyer's card issuer or bank, typically 5–10 business days. Payment processing fees may be non-recoverable and are not WAFI's liability where a trade fails due to a party's non-performance.
Disputes over goods. Payment through the platform is not a warranty of the goods. If a dispute arises over quality, quantity, or condition after shipment, that dispute is between the buyer and the seller, subject to any inspection or arbitration terms in their trade confirmation. Do not use a card chargeback in place of the dispute process; chargebacks filed in bad faith may result in account suspension.
Currency and fees. Trades are settled in USD unless the trade confirmation states otherwise. Any platform facilitation fee will be disclosed before you confirm a match.
Trade / Field is provided on an “as-is” basis. We do not guarantee that any listing is accurate, that any match will lead to a successful trade, that pricing or market data displayed is error-free, or that the platform will be available without interruption. You use this platform, and act on any match it produces, at your own risk.
We reserve the right to suspend or remove any account found to be in violation of these terms.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, WAFI and its operators are not liable for any loss, damage, or dispute arising from the underlying sale of goods in a trade formed through this platform, including disputes over quality, delivery, or contract performance between buyers and sellers. With respect to payments, WAFI's liability is limited to the correct handling of the payment flow described in Section 5A; WAFI is not liable for processing delays, holds, or errors attributable to Stripe, card networks, or banks. In all cases, WAFI's aggregate liability in connection with any trade shall not exceed the platform fees WAFI actually received for that trade.
We may update these Terms of Use as the platform evolves. Material changes will be reflected here with an updated date. Continued use of the platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.
Questions about these terms can be directed to info@wafi.co.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal data Trade / Field collects, why, and what rights you have over it. WAFI (West African Farmers Initiative) is the data controller for information collected through this platform.
Payment information: Payments on the platform are processed by Stripe, Inc. Your card or bank details are entered directly into Stripe's checkout and are never seen or stored by WAFI. What WAFI receives and retains from Stripe is limited to transaction metadata: the trade it relates to, the amount, the payment status (deposit paid, balance paid, refunded), and a Stripe transaction reference. This metadata is necessary to operate the trade lifecycle.
For users in the UK and EU, we process your personal data on the basis of contractual necessity (we need your name, location, and order data to provide the marketplace service you signed up for) and, where applicable, your consent (for example, when you agree to these terms at signup).
Your name, location, and order details are visible to other users of the platform — this is inherent to how an open order book works. Your email address is not publicly visible; it is used only for account access and match notifications, and is shared with a matched counterparty's order confirmation only to the extent necessary to facilitate contact after a match.
We do not sell your personal data to third parties.
Platform data is stored using Supabase, a third-party database provider. Email notifications and trade confirmation documents are sent via Resend, a third-party email delivery provider. Payments are processed by Stripe, Inc., which handles your payment credentials under its own privacy policy and security certifications (PCI DSS Level 1). All three providers process data on our behalf or as independent processors under their own commitments.
If you are located in the UK, EU, or another jurisdiction with equivalent data protection law, you have the right to:
To exercise any of these rights, contact info@wafi.co. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe, and in any case within any timeframe required by applicable law.
We retain your account and order data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, your open orders are withdrawn and your profile data is removed; historical trade records may be retained where necessary for legitimate business or legal purposes, such as resolving a dispute referenced in that trade. Transaction records, including payment metadata, may be retained for longer periods where required for tax, accounting, anti-fraud, or other legal obligations.
Trade / Field uses only the technical session data necessary to keep you logged in. We do not use third-party advertising trackers or analytics cookies at this time.
We may update this Privacy Policy as the platform evolves. Material changes will be reflected here with an updated date.
Questions about this policy, or requests relating to your personal data, can be directed to info@wafi.co.