Home - Team Europe Initiative on Deforestation-free Value Chains

Photo Credit: GIZ/Nyani Quarmyne

The TEI Zero Deforestation Hub brings together public and private actors to foster collaboration and promote a just transition towards sustainable and deforestation-free value chains!

Together for Deforestation-free Value Chains

"At Ferrero, we remain fully supportive of the EUDR, which we believe is critical in protecting forests and biodiversity around the world. As we work towards the implementation of the regulation, our commitment to traceability remains steadfast, enabling us to trace our ingredients back to their origin, having a positive impact across our supply chain and helping prevent deforestation.”

Ylenia Maitino, Sustainability Global Public Affairs at Ferrero

“We hear from our partners in cocoa and coffee producing countries in Africa that the EUDR has opened space for multi-actor dialogue and helped to kick off discussions about fair prices, decent livelihoods for smallholders, secure land tenure and access to information. For many civil society organisations and smallholders, the EUDR is a source of hope and a tool to improve smallholders' livelihoods.”

Indra Van Gisbergen, International Forest Governance Campaigner at Fern

“At Hacofco, we are committed to working closely with our suppliers and customers to establish a robust due diligence system for EUDR compliance. Our goal is to meet the obligations of the EUDR while also fulfilling our clients’ expectations regarding transparency and sustainability. We recognize the importance of supporting coffee growers in Africa and other key regions to maintain sustainable access to international markets.”

Miriam Trinker, Sustainability and Supply Chain Manager at HACOFCO

"Nestlé strongly supports the objective of the European Commission to protect the world's forests and restore forests in a sustainable way. Nestlé remains supportive of the objectives of the EUDR and its successful implementation. We have worked intensively to comply with the EUDR's provisions and will continue to engage with our supply chain partners, including producers, to ensure the necessary steps towards EUDR compliance are taken."

Manuel Schuh, European Affairs Advisor at Nestlé

"We support impactful sustainability regulation and the goal of the EUDR to protect global forests. Together with our supply chain partners, we have invested heavily in the timely implementation of the EUDR. What the sector needs now is legal certainty and tangible support, e.g. regarding forest protection measures and building digital infrastructure."

Inga Meggers, ESG Compliance at Tchibo

Côte d’Ivoire

“Satellite mapping tools have become essential technical infrastructure for monitoring forests and supporting the sustainable management of natural resources. These maps and data also allow agricultural sectors to objectively demonstrate compliance with regulations at both national and international levels.”

Fernand Bale, National Bureau of Technical Studies and Development – Geographic and Digital Information Center (BNETD / CIGN), Director

"With the EUDR, the Argentinian soy sector, through the national platform VISEC, has a unique opportunity to materialize years of preparatory work and showcase to international markets the country’s ability to supply deforestation-free, fully traceable soy."

Daniel Kazimierski, ViSEC

Argentina

Colombia

“Colombia has more than 200 laws linked to the eight legality criteria in Article 2(40) of the EUDR. To address this complexity, institutions coordinated to develop the Legality Tools for Colombia. These tools facilitate understanding and verification of compliance with national regulations under the EUDR and focus the analysis on provisions truly relevant to the regulation. They also identify opportunities for simplified due diligence, for example, for coffee farmers classified as family farming, who represent 76% of producers, 97% of whom cultivate less than 5 hectares.”

Ximena Serrano, ProColombia, Sustainability Manager

"We have made several attempts to develop a farmer’s registry, but the EUDR has given us the market push to build it properly and to collect crucial new data needed to provide extension services to our coffee farmers, such as farm geolocation information. This is a significant milestone for our sector and our farmers."

Primus Kimaryo, Tanzania Coffee Board, Director General

Tanzania

Malaysia

“All Malaysian rubber production is registered and monitored through a robust traceability system known as MSNR Trace, and complies with five sustainability principles under the regulatory framework enforced by the Malaysian Rubber Board.”

Hairul Irwan Jamaluddin, Malaysian Rubber Board, Director of Economics, Licensing and Enforcement Division

"In Cameroon, the EUDR is not perceived as an additional burden, but rather as a step towards greater professionalism. One farmer told us: “Before, my cocoa had no address; today, it has a permanent home.” An exporter who was previously unfamiliar with due diligence explained: “Today, as a responsible professional, I am able to justify the origin and destination of the cocoa I sell.” Overall, The EUDR is helping accelerate professionalisation."

Maledy Omer, Interprofessional Cocoa and Coffee Council (CICC)

Cameroon

Ghana

Samuel Owusu-Acheaw, Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Information Technology Department, CMS Unit, Deputy Information Systems Manager

Welcome to the Team Europe Initiative on Deforestation-Free Value Chains

Discover our mission and get a glimpse of the work behind our flagship projects.

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Overview of Projects

Click on the country to learn more about the flagship projects.

The positions of the southern and northern hemisphere are changed on this map to encourage a change in perspectives and to counteract potential biases in world views.

Global Gateway in Action

Facts and Figures on Team Europe's Support for Deforestation-Free Value Chains

12.600

Farmers
until 2025
© Nyani Quarmyne / GIZ

12.600 farmers included in traceability tools in Burundi

In Burundi, coffee is a key source of income for millions of rural households, yet smallholder producers often face extreme poverty, low productivity, limited market access, and increasing pressure from climate change. At the same time, new international requirements such as the EUDR demand stronger traceability, posing additional challenges for farmers with limited technical and financial resources. Through the Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) Project, more than 2,000 farmers were trained in agroforestry and climate-smart agricultural practices. In parallel, nearly 14,000 coffee plots were geolocated to strengthen traceability, improve transparency, and giving farmers a better position in the value chain. This has improved producers’ access to certification and export markets, while generating higher premiums and investments in community infrastructure. The initiative demonstrates how sustainable coffee value chains can go hand in hand with forest protection while strengthening livelihoods and economic resilience.

440.000

People
until 2025

440.000 people reached in Zambia

In many rural areas of Zambia, deforestation is driven by everyday land-use practices and at times limited awareness of sustainable alternatives, to the detriment of both forest ecosystems and local livelihoods. Under the Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) Project, a community-centred campaign mobilised thousands of people across Mumbwa, Itezhi-Tezhi and surrounding districts. Through school events, roadshows and a radio drama series, the initiative combined music, games and theatre to bring forest conservation into daily life. It reached nearly 5,000 young people, over 2,500 community members, and around 431,000 radio listeners, promoting dialogue on sustainable farming and forest protection. This approach strengthened local ownership of forest stewardship and encouraged behaviour change across generations. It contributed to greater awareness of the link between healthy forests and resilient livelihoods, laying the foundation for more sustainable and climate-resilient rural communities

“What makes me proud, is how diversified my farm is. I’ve grown to a level where I compete with men in similar value chains.”

Racheal Chiyabi, Farmer in Zambia
© Luke Kasemba / GIZ

Seeds of Change: How Racheal Chiyabi Grew her Business

For over a decade, Madam Racheal Chiyabi farmed in Mumbwa District, Zambia, navigating a male-dominated sector with limited access to training, markets and decision-making power. Recurrent extreme droughts and unpredictable rainfall made it difficult to sustain and grow her livelihood. Through the Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) Project, implemented by GIZ in partnership with COMACO, she received training in climate-smart agriculture and agroforestry. With access to improved soya seeds, farmer savings groups and market linkages, she diversified her farm and strengthened her role within the value chain. As head of her cooperative, she promotes equal participation in decision-making. Her progress reflects wider impact: over 2,000 farmers have been trained in sustainable practices, while efforts contribute to protecting 450,000 hectares of community forest. Strengthened market access and local cooperation are building more resilient livelihoods and inclusive, sustainable rural communities.

37.000

Farmers
until 2025
© Nyani Quarmyne / GIZ

5 new agribusiness cluster formed in DRC with 37.000 farmers

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, cocoa and coffee farmers work in a volatile environment marked by conflict, economic uncertainty, weak infrastructure, and limited access to markets and support services. These challenges make it difficult for smallholders to organise collectively, strengthen their bargaining power, and adapt to international requirements such as the EUDR. Despite this context, the Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) Project formed five agri-business clusters bringing together 20 cooperatives, representing 37,298 smallholder farmers, nearly one third of them women. The cooperatives develop business plans, improve sustainable agricultural practices, receive training on land rights, and adapt to international regulations. As a result, 15,000 cocoa farmers can now sell directly to companies in Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands benefitting from access to international market and better prices. The project strengthens market access, organisational capacities, and supports more sustainable cocoa and coffee production. It also reinforces inclusion, resilience, and long-term participation in international value chains.

4

DPI – Due Diligence Process Implementation tools
over 2 years
© EFI

Four Tools, One Goal: How EFI Is Making the EUDR Work in Practice

Four DPI tools were developed by EFI to support countries in adapting to the EUDR. They cover the full due‑diligence chain:

WHIMO, an open-source traceability solution, collects and shares geolocation data throughout the supply chain.
GeoRoots is an open‑source toolkit to prepare and validate EUDR‑compliant geospatial data.
The Legality Navigator operationalises legality due diligence at the country level.
The Cocoa Deforestation Monitor, a forthcoming platform, enables civil society to flag deforestation alerts.

Together, these tools translate EUDR requirements into practical solutions for public authorities, supply‑chain actors and civil society. They demonstrate tangible progress by strengthening traceability, legality verification and independent monitoring—essentials for credible and inclusive EUDR implementation.

1 + 9

1 Legality Navigator
9 Legality Due Diligence tools
over 2 years

A Navigator for Due Diligence Recommendations

The Legality Due Diligence Navigator is a tool that has been in use for over two years to support companies, EU competent authorities and stakeholders in applying the EUDR legality criterion. EFI developed it as astructured framework to interpret and operationalise national legal requirements for due diligence. Using a multistakeholder approach, it turns national legal frameworks into practical due diligence recommendations for supply chain operators. The framework has been applied in nine countries across Africa and Latin America, covering cocoa, coffee and palm oil.The tools improves transparency, reliability and shared understanding of legal framework beyond EUDR implementation.

4

EUDR dry runs preparedness exercises

Rehearsing Reality: How Dry Runs Are Improving EUDR Readiness Across Three Continents

EFI facilitated four EUDR preparedness exercises – commonly known as ‘dry runs’ –in 2025 to asses preparedness for EUDR implementation and identify challenges, and potential solutions. The voluntary exercises connected EU Competent Authorities and companies importing EUDR-relevant commodities. into the EU. Simulated checks on the operators’ due diligence systems and shipments used real data and information to replicate future checks as closely as possible. The assessment also included the EU Information System for transferring geolocation data.
The four dry runs covered coffee and palm oil engaged five EU Competent Authorities and four operators. Products originated from 10 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Additional exercises will be conducted in 2026.

"To address the complex challenges of the global cocoa value chain, policies and investment should be evidence-based and rooted in rigorous analytical work."

Alessandro Marini, West and Central Africa Service Chief
© FAO

Filling in the Blanks: 11 Studies building an Evidence Base for Fairer Cocoa

Limited availability of socio-economic and environmental data constrains decision-making in the cocoa value chain, affecting the design of targeted and sustainable interventions.
Under the Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, the FAO Investment Centre carried out 11 key analytical studies covering topics such as living income, cocoa pricing, child labour, deforestation, agroforestry systems, cocoa processing, European consumer markets and global value chain analysis to strengthen the evidence base across major producing and consuming countries.
This work contributes to inform policy dialogue, investment planning and more targeted interventions. As a result, stakeholders can make more informed, sustainability-oriented decisions, contributing to greater policy coherence and a more resilient and sustainable global cocoa value chain.

From Satellite to Supply Chain: Tracing Deforestation-Free Cocoa in West Africa

The entry into force of the EUDR establishes standards for deforestation-free cocoa entering the EU market, creating challenges for producing countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon. Since 2022, the FAO Investment Centre, in close collaboration with the European Forest Institute and the Joint Research Centre, has supported technically and financially both countries under the Sustainable Cocoa Initiative (SCI). The initiative helped equipping them with operational tools,to monitor deforestation-free cocoa supply chains,strengthened capacities in geospatial mapping, land-use monitoring, traceability systems, and due diligence. Training on satellite imagery, forest-risk assessment, and early warning systems was combined with the adoption of ARS 1000 certification standards. The initiative gives access to verifiable data, improves readiness for EUDR compliance, supports smallholder livelihoods, strengthens land governance and contributes to protecting forest ecosystems.

40.000

farms mapped during the pilot phase
since February 2023
© GIZ

40.000 Farms, One System: Ghana's Cocoa Traceability Pilot Bears Fruit

The EUDR requires companies to prove that key commodities such as cocoa are not linked to deforestation and uphold human rights. This pressures producing countries such as Ghana to ensure transparent cocoa supply chains. Together with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) the Sustainable Cocoa Program has piloted the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System that digitally traces cocoa from farm to port. The pilot phase mapped 40,000 farms and registered over 20,000 farmers in the Assin Fosu district. During the 2023/2024 lean season, the system enabled purchase, grading, and export of over 1,230 bags. That equals 77.3 tons of sustainable cocoa; enough for nearly 1 million standard 100-gram chocolate bars or over 1.5 million cups of hot chocolate.

24

Bi-regional Dialogues on Sustainable Value Chains
since October 2021
© Al INVEST Verde

Lost in Translation: Aligning Latin America and the EU on Sustainable Value Chains

Different sustainability standards and regulatory requirements make it difficult for countries to align with the EUDR, especially regarding traceability and legality.
To address this, 24 bi-regional dialogues between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean have been organised by AL-INVEST Verde since October 2021. They brought together public authorities, private sector, experts, and value chain actors to exchange knowledge and promote best practices. A key pillar has been the EU-LAC Agri-food Dialogues, with the support of the European Commission Directorate-General for International Partnerships and European Commission Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, fostering cooperation across sectors such as cocoa, coffee, beef, leather, and wood. These dialogues strengthen mutual understanding, improve policy coherence, and support more transparent and deforestation-free value chains, contributing to more sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems.

5

Brazilian states supported in implementing the SeloVerde platform
since February 2023
© Al INVEST Verde

The Missing Link: Closing Brazil's Traceability Gap

Reliable data remains a bottleneck for sustainable production. In Brazil, dispersed information and disconnected systems have limited the ability to track commodities, assess risks, and ensure compliance with the EUDR across diverse value chains. With support from AL-INVEST Verde, the SeloVerde platform is being scaled across five states since February 2023: Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Tocantins and Acre. It connects data across coffee, cocoa, soya and cattle supply chains, integrating automation, risk analysis and system interoperability. SMEs, cooperatives and public institutions are equipped to generate and use traceability data more effectively. The result: clearer visibility of supply chains, stronger verification of legal compliance, and improved monitoring of deforestation risks. This strengthens the foundation for transparent, sustainable production and supports Brazil’s alignment with international market requirements.

1.969

Stakeholders certified in traceability within the Ecuadorian cocoa value chain
since May 2025
© Al INVEST Verde

From 1.969 Trainers to 30,000 Operators: Scaling Cocoa Traceability Across Ecuador

In Ecuador, fragmented data systems and limited coordination across the cocoa value chain have made it difficult to ensure reliable traceability and compliance with emerging sustainability requirements such as the EUDR. To bridge this gap, a “Training of Trainers” project led by AL-INVEST Verde and Agrocalidad has been implemented across nine provinces since May 2025, covering coastal, highland, and Amazon regions. A total of 1,969 stakeholders have been trained and certified, including actors from the public, academia, civil society, and cocoa cooperatives and companies. Trainers replicate their knowledge locally, strengthening capacities in traceability, geo-referencing, and EUDR compliance. They also support registering up to 30,000 operators in the GUIA system and field verification of geolocation data for 3,000 cocoa plots. This cascading approach improves coordination, enhances data quality, and strengthens compliance. It contributes to more transparent, deforestation-free cocoa production while supporting a more resilient and inclusive cocoa value chain in Ecuador.

2.000+

Stakeholders engaged
2023–2025

From Brussels to Bangkok: Building EUDR Readiness Across Southeast Asia

Limited awareness and differing interpretations of the EUDR have made it challenging for stakeholders in Southeast Asia to understand and prepare for new due diligence and traceability requirements. Between 2023 and 2025, more than 2,000 representatives from governments, producer organisations, smallholder groups, businesses, academia and civil society participated in 60 high-level and technical outreach events across five countries. Organised by EUDR Engagement, these dialogues clarified requirements, explored practical traceability solutions, and enabled exchange across sectors. By bringing diverse voices together—including smallholders and SMEs—the initiative fostered a shared understanding of deforestation-free production in practice. It also informed national policy discussions and fed regional insights back to European decision-makers.

The expansion of agricultural areas drives up to 90% of deforestation worldwide. This poses an imminent threat to our planet’s biodiversity, climate, and the well-being of communities worldwide.

Mission

ZERO

DEFORESTATION

The mission for a world with zero deforestation requires a transdisciplinary approach. This can only be achieved sustainably and equitably if governments, the private sector, academia, civil society and local communities join forces.

Activities

There is no “silver bullet” to halt global deforestation, but we consider these non-exhaustive activities as a viable approach.

Given the global nature of deforestation, the European Union together with its partners aim to intensify the engagement with consumer and producer countries in an effort to jointly address the root causes of deforestation and safeguard the planet’s invaluable forests.

Commitment

Strengthening corporate commitments and implementation to minimise deforestation in agricultural value chains, e.g. through sustainability investments and proactive engagement with local stakeholders

Production

Developing and promoting policies to incentivise sustainable production and contribute to deforestation-free land-use planning, e.g. through strengthening producer organisations, providing EUDR training, and investing in cooperative infrastructure to facilitate improved market access

Land-use

Promoting sustainable land-use practices, e.g. by enhancing farmers’ land tenure security and providing training and documentation for customary landholders, especially for women

Research & Technology

Investing in research and technology, such as geolocation, as well as transparent and traceable value chains, e.g. by promoting inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to improve traceability, sustainability, and efficiency across supply chains

Support Communities

Supporting indigenous and local communities in their sustainable agricultural and forest management efforts, e.g. through technical assistance in sustainable practices and Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes

Strategy for this Team Europe Initiative

The Team Europe Initiative on Deforestation-free Value Chains is a joint effort by the EU and its Member States designed to support global ambitions on decoupling agricultural production from deforestation in partnership with various stakeholders in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Through these activities and flagship projects, the EU and its Member States promote the inclusive and just transition of sustainable value chains, especially for smallholders and low-income countries. They do this by supporting partner governments with creating enabling framework conditions for corporate action to minimise deforestation, reducing risks in complex value chains and crowding-in private sector investments in sustainable agribusinesses. This initiative also supports smallholders with forest preservation and assists Indigenous peoples and local communities with protecting their rights.

This Hub for Deforestation-free Value Chains serves as a vital platform for improving outreach and coordination and disseminating knowledge to jointly tackle deforestation and forest degradation.

On the EU Deforestation Regulation

The European Union (EU) is an important market for agricultural commodities with a deforestation risk. EU citizens no longer want to contribute to deforestation through their consumption, instead they want to be part of sustainable and transformative change.

As a contribution to the European Green Deal, the EU has adopted the new EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) that aims to minimise the Union’s contribution to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide, thereby contributing to a reduction in global deforestation.

The new EU Deforestation Regulation is a milestone in the fight against deforestation and forest degradation. It focuses on the value chains of the seven commodities that have the biggest impact: palm oil, beef, soy, coffee, cocoa, natural rubber, and wood.

What smallholders need to know about the EUDR in 5 Minutes

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What policymakers need to know about the EUDR in 5 Minutes

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Operators established in the EU who place relevant products on the EU market will need to exercise strict due diligence to ensure that the products are:

Deforestation-free

not produced on land that was degraded or deforested after 31 December 2020

Legal

produced in line with the relevant legislation of the country of production

The Team Europe Initiative contributes to the achievement of these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

Last updated on: January 2026

Team Europe Initiative on Deforestation-free Value Chains

Welcome to the Team Europe Initiative on Deforestation-Free Value Chains

Overview of Projects

Click on the country to learn more about the flagship projects.

Global Gateway in Action

Facts and Figures on Team Europe's Support for Deforestation-Free Value Chains

12.600

12.600 farmers included in traceability tools in Burundi

440.000

440.000 people reached in Zambia

“What makes me proud, is how diversified my farm is. I’ve grown to a level where I compete with men in similar value chains.”

Seeds of Change: How Racheal Chiyabi Grew her Business

37.000

5 new agribusiness cluster formed in DRC with 37.000 farmers

4

Four Tools, One Goal: How EFI Is Making the EUDR Work in Practice

1 + 9

A Navigator for Due Diligence Recommendations

4

Rehearsing Reality: How Dry Runs Are Improving EUDR Readiness Across Three Continents

"To address the complex challenges of the global cocoa value chain, policies and investment should be evidence-based and rooted in rigorous analytical work."

Filling in the Blanks: 11 Studies building an Evidence Base for Fairer Cocoa

From Satellite to Supply Chain: Tracing Deforestation-Free Cocoa in West Africa

40.000

40.000 Farms, One System: Ghana's Cocoa Traceability Pilot Bears Fruit

24

Lost in Translation: Aligning Latin America and the EU on Sustainable Value Chains

5

The Missing Link: Closing Brazil's Traceability Gap

1.969

From 1.969 Trainers to 30,000 Operators: Scaling Cocoa Traceability Across Ecuador

2.000+

From Brussels to Bangkok: Building EUDR Readiness Across Southeast Asia

Activities

Commitment

Production

Land-use

Research & Technology

Support Communities

Strategy for this Team Europe Initiative

On the EU Deforestation Regulation

The Team Europe Initiative contributes to the achievement of these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

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