The publication gives an overview of the approach taken and results found by Preferred by Nature, who together with the project Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems – SAFE Ecuador, of the German Development Cooperation GIZ have conducted a national risk assessment on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and strengthened local capacities for the implementation of due diligence systems in small cocoa producer chains in Ecuador since November 2023.
Due to its strong position in the global cocoa sector, it is crucial to strengthen Ecuador’s smallholder producers. The approach adopted has facilitated their adaptation and compliance with the standards required by the European market, requirements that will intensify with the entry into force and prompt application of EUDR.
The initiative supported ten associations and their 1,300+ small producers in five provinces to strengthen their understanding of the EUDR. Working with public and private sector stakeholders, Preferred by Nature conducted training activities to perform risk analyses to identify gaps in EUDR requirements. Based on these findings, potential measures were developed to mitigate identified risks and strengthen evaluation and validation mechanisms – key steps to guide the implementation of effective actions within the framework of due diligence systems.
