A lot is at stake for coffee producers. If they cannot prove that their products meet the new European requirements, they risk losing access to the EU market.
The European deforestation regulation will apply from next year for large and medium-sized companies. Micro and small companies have until June 30, 2027.
Origin
The origin of almost all products is central, including wood, meat, grain, or food. Exporters must be able to demonstrate where their product was made. As a result, a batch of coffee must ultimately be traceable back to the farm or plot where the beans were grown.
Promotion
This results in a large-scale registration operation in coffee-producing countries. Geographic coordinates of agricultural land are collected, and farmers and plantations are digitally registered. Apps, databases, and maps must provide the data with which the origin of export batches can be verified and proven.
Geo-location
Last week, India asked coffee farmers to register via the India Coffee App. In Indonesia, systems for registration, data collection, and monitoring of the production chain are also being developed. Geo-location is used there to reinforce origin data, and producers are assisted in better mapping their agricultural land and production.
Similar preparations are underway in coffee and agricultural countries in Africa and South America. Governments, exporters, cooperatives, and other organizations are working on digital registration, training, inspections, and systems to track products throughout the supply chain. Satellite images and digital maps are also being deployed.
Small Farmers
Small farmers may especially struggle with the transition. They do not always have enough money, digital resources, or the ability to collect extensive data on their production. For this reason, producers receive guidance in registration, mapping agricultural land, and complying with the new requirements.
Modernization
At the same time, the new rules are driving modernization of agricultural and export chains in many countries. Digital registration provides more accurate information about farms and production areas and enables better control of origin.
For coffee-exporting countries, traceability is becoming a prerequisite to maintain access to the European market. The preparation is not only about exporters but starts with the individual farmer and their agricultural land. For each batch, it must ultimately be clear where the coffee comes from.