AHA looks to develop plant chemistry tests to verify future provenance claims

The development and routine use of complementary plant chemistry–based techniques will strengthen the rigour, transparency, and credibility of the AHA system by enabling both internal surveillance and external validation.

The Proof of Provenance system is expected to be blockchain-based and managed by AHA, enabling surveillance at any stage of the supply chain, from sawmill to retailer. Surveillance activities will test whether provenance claims recorded on the blockchain align with independent reference data. The AHA platform already provides geolocation data at county level, and the ultimate requirement is to verify hardwood origin with accuracy equivalent to a U.S. county (approximately 25 x 25 miles).

Plant-based chemistry testing provides a credible means of verifying provenance. Using validated reference samples, wood products can be analysed at any point in the supply chain and matched to their likely geographic origin.

AHA has identified two complementary partner systems potentially capable of delivering this function with high integrity: World Forest ID (WFID) and the U.S. Forest Service’s Wood Identification & Screening Center (WISC). WFID is operational internationally as of late 2025 and WISC remains under development.

WFID is building a global collection of ground-truthed forest reference samples - meaning the wood samples are sourced directly from forests through collaboration with forest managers, indigenous communities, researchers, governments, and industry. These samples are held in secure collections and analysed using non-proprietary scientific protocols. WFID is already used by U.S. government agencies and international authorities, proving strong credibility.

AHA will work with WFID to design and implement a reference sampling program meeting international best-practice standards. Reference samples will be collected at approximately 50 harvest sites, targeting priority hardwood species based on export value. Samples will be collated, tested in ISO-accredited laboratories, digitised, and stored in a permanent U.S. reference collection accessible for ongoing monitoring. By 2026, major U.S. export hardwood species will be represented in the WFID reference set.

In parallel, AHA will partner with WISC to develop a broader hardwood provenance capability. The objective is to identify all commercially traded hardwood species (approximately 19 species) to county-level accuracy with around 90% certainty. Minimum performance targets include 100% certainty at North American origin, 95% at U.S. regional level, and 90% at state level.

WISC’s program will initially collect samples from approximately 500 counties across 37 hardwood-producing states, expanding ultimately to around 1,300 counties by 2027, covering over 99% of U.S. hardwood production. Sampling combines mill-based collections and targeted field work, with strong controls to ensure data integrity. State-level verification is expected to be operational in 2026, with county-level capability expanding by 2028.

WISC utilises Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), a handheld, non-destructive technology that measures elemental composition of wood. Because soil and climate influence tree chemistry, LIBS can determine geographic origin with high accuracy; studies show over 90% accuracy at distances of 14–70 km (9-44 miles).

Using WFID and WISC in tandem provides redundancy, credibility, and flexibility. Together, they will allow AHA to validate blockchain claims, conduct internal and external surveillance, and respond credibly to scrutiny from regulators, markets, and end users, ensuring the long-term integrity of the AHA Proof of Provenance system.

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