Our second chance for EUDR compliance
This opinion article is written by Elisa Criscione
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has sparked a lot of debate across the coffee industry and beyond. On the surface, most of us can agree that the intent—to prevent deforestation and promote sustainable sourcing—is commendable. But turning this goal into practical measures has been particularly challenging. For those working at the end-market level, compliance with the EUDR means you need to rethink how you do things—how to manage data, interact with your supply chains, and adopt new technologies. These changes require financial investments, and in a climate of fluctuating prices and limited opportunities for investment, this adds extra pressure to companies already dealing with tight cash flows.
Although they aren't explicitly mentioned in the regulation, actors in producing countries are just as critical to making this work. Producers, aggregators, and exporters will need to gather all the necessary data to assure buyers that their coffee is deforestation-free. This is no small task, especially given the limited financial resources available to many of them and the time needed to do this work.
To contribute to the solution, tech providers are offering a range of tools to help with compliance—but figuring out which tools to use can be overwhelming for coffee stakeholders. Our recent assessment of over 60 digital tools showed that while many have similar features, the differences that lie in the nuance of the technology can complicate decision-making. Mismatched tools or different ways to handle compliance along the same value chain can lead to duplicated efforts, with stakeholders often needing to use multiple systems to meet due diligence requirements.
All these layers of complexity have led to a growing pushback against the EUDR enforcement timeline, prompting the European Union (EU) to reconsider its initial deadlines. The delay has brought mixed reactions—some companies already well on their way to compliance are frustrated by the postponement, while others have breathed a sigh of relief at the prospect of more time to prepare. In reality, the EU itself was lagging behind in providing the comprehensive guidance and platforms needed for compliance by January 2025. The extra time benefits everyone, but it definitely shouldn't be a reason to put off preparations.
Despite the challenges and ongoing uncertainty, this moment offers a unique opportunity for strategic planning. It’s a second chance for companies and organizations to prepare properly, thinking along with their partners and allies. For example, an importing operator might connect with suppliers to understand their progress with data collection and their plans for exporting and sharing the data. This collaboration will allow all parties to assess whether their systems are compatible and interoperable. If they are not, they could explore together what options might streamline this process.
The delay is also an opportunity for companies to form strategic partnerships. Cooperatives and producer organizations, for instance, could engage with tech providers to pilot data collection solutions that best meet their needs. By testing and refining these tools before full-scale adoption, they can ensure that their data collection processes are efficient. Organizations might also consider forming alliances within the coffee community to share best practices and reduce compliance costs—such as by collectively investing in digital tools that benefit multiple stakeholders.
Of course, these adjustments take time and require companies to work together to find solutions, so the time to act is now. Delaying actions risks last-minute scrambles. By using this extended timeline wisely through co-creation and open dialogue, we can not only achieve compliance but also build a more resilient, sustainable coffee sector where technology plays a supporting but essential role.
Elisa Criscione
Elisa is the Founder and CEO of Digital Coffee Future. Her expertise lies on coffee digitalization and the assessment of integration of strategic digital tools for companies and organizations.