African cocoa and coffee producers are facing growing pressure to strengthen farm-tracking systems and meet new environmental standards, following a warning that thousands of smallholder farmers could struggle to maintain access to the lucrative European Union market.
The warning was raised by the Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA), which expressed concern that the cost and complexity of complying with the EU Deforestation Regulation could place vulnerable farmers at a disadvantage.
The association’s global president, Adeola Adegoke, said as many as 40 per cent of African smallholder cocoa farmers could face exclusion from the European market if they failed to meet the regulation’s requirements. The estimate was reported following the Africa Cocoa and Coffee Conference in Lagos.
Compliance Costs Raise Concerns
The EU Deforestation Regulation is designed to prevent products associated with deforestation from entering the European market. It covers commodities including cocoa and coffee, alongside cattle, palm oil, rubber, soya and wood.
Under the regulation, businesses must demonstrate that covered products are deforestation-free and have been produced in accordance with relevant laws in their countries of origin. Supply-chain operators must also provide information that enables products to be traced to the land where they were produced.
While the requirements are intended to strengthen environmental protection, compliance could prove difficult for farmers who lack access to digital mapping, reliable farm records, technical assistance and adequate financing.
For small-scale producers, the challenge extends beyond farming itself. They may need support to map their plots, establish reliable records and ensure their produce can be traced through purchasing, storage and export processes.
Without coordinated assistance, farmers who cannot provide the required documentation risk losing buyers in Europe, even where they need help primarily to demonstrate compliance.
Calls for Greater African Participation
Adegoke called on African cocoa-producing countries to strengthen their negotiating positions and improve traceability systems to protect farmers from possible disruptions to international trade.
He also stressed the need for financial and technical support to help smallholders meet changing international market requirements without being pushed out of established export channels.
The warning highlights the importance of cooperation among governments, farmer organisations, exporters and international buyers.
Governments and industry stakeholders could help close the compliance gap by supporting farm mapping, improving agricultural data systems, strengthening farmer cooperatives and providing practical guidance on export requirements.
Such interventions would help farmers understand the rules and give exporters better access to the information needed to demonstrate that their products meet European standards.
EU Deadline Approaches
The European Commission says the regulation is scheduled to apply from December 30, 2026, to large and medium-sized operators, with a later application date of June 30, 2027, for certain micro and small operators. The requirements cover relevant products placed on or exported from the EU market.
With implementation approaching, the ability of African producers to demonstrate compliance is becoming an increasingly important issue for the continent’s agricultural export sector.
For cocoa and coffee-growing communities, access to international markets is closely linked to household earnings, rural employment and the wider economies of producing countries.
Beyond Market Access
The discussions at the Africa Cocoa and Coffee Conference also addressed the emergence of cell-cultured cocoa technologies and their possible implications for traditional farming communities, according to the association’s account of the event.
The broader challenge for African producers is to respond to changing environmental and technological demands while protecting the livelihoods of farmers who depend on these crops.
Industry stakeholders are therefore being urged to pursue solutions that combine environmental responsibility with practical support for smallholders.
As European market requirements tighten, improved traceability, stronger farmer organisations and accessible technical assistance could help determine whether African cocoa and coffee producers remain competitive in one of the world’s major consumer markets.
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