As part of the “Engagement with Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to raise awareness on and to promote better understanding of the EU approach to reducing EU-driven deforestation and forest degradation (EUDR Engagement)” project, a series of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) was held in Jakarta in July and August 2025 to foster dialogues and align efforts of stakeholders, specifically addressing the natural rubber, coffee, and cocoa sectors. These discussions aimed to 1) explore the implications of the European Union Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) on each sector, including the challenges and potential opportunities, and 2) outline an action plan to help smallholder farmers prepare for the application of the EUDR and its impacts.
This FGDs build upon a previously-done needs assessment was carried out to identify key challenges faced by smallholders and middlemen, the most vulnerable actors in the supply chain, particularly regarding their awareness and understanding of the EUDR’s requirements.