How do European due diligence requirements translate into the realities of the Colombian agricultural sector? What progress has already been made, and what challenges remain? And what role can Colombia play as a regional reference for the operationalisation of zero-deforestation and responsible supply chains?
These questions were at the centre of the latest exchange and field visit in Colombia organised under the FIT for FAIR project, implemented by Confecámaras and Preferred by Nature, with the support of Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia (MINCIT), ProColombia and the German Development Cooperation GIZ.
Over three days, more than 60 representatives from government institutions, producer organisations, academia and the private sector from Colombia and Europe came together to exchange experiences and strengthen cooperation on transparent and zero-deforestation supply chains in the coffee and cocoa sectors in the context of new European Due Diligence Legislation.
Turning Dialogue into Practical Action
The event “Building Trust: Colombia and Europe for Responsible Supply Chains” (Cultivando confianza: Colombia y Europa por cadenas responsables) created a direct exchange between producers, exporters, government representatives and European operators. Participants discussed practical experiences with traceability systems, sustainability requirements and market expectations linked to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The discussions highlighted the significant progress already achieved in Colombia. Existing tools such as the SICA coffee traceability system and ongoing producer trainings are helping strengthen transparency, and support operators in fulfilling due diligence requirements.
The exchange also demonstrated the value of bringing together perspectives from across the supply chain. European companies shared practical insights from operationalisation processes, while Colombian stakeholders highlighted local experiences and innovations already in place on the ground. This dialogue helped identify concrete opportunities for collaboration and mutual learning.
This study tour has been very important because we were able to learn from success stories where coffee and cocoa producers have begun to adopt new technologies and apply good labour and environmental practices.
Learning Directly from Producers
Field visits to coffee and cocoa farms in Lebrija, Santander, allowed participants to see firsthand how Colombian producers are already implementing good agricultural practices and strengthening traceability processes.
Participants observed strong examples of farm management, environmental stewardship and producer engagement. At the same time, the visits helped identify areas where additional technical support and documentation tools could further strengthen compliance processes and market access opportunities.
A key takeaway from the visits was that many producers already apply responsible practices in the field. Continued collaboration and capacity building can help translate these efforts into systems that support meeting new due diligence requirements.
Showcasing Colombian Good Practices
The visit also highlighted inspiring examples such as the work of the Carlota Foundation, which has developed structured approaches to traceability and sustainability in the cocoa sector.
Participants emphasised that experiences like these demonstrate Colombia’s growing success in achieving sustainable and deforestation-free value chains. They also provide practical learning opportunities for other actors across Latin America working toward similar goals.
Impact Highlights
- Strengthened exchange between Colombian producers and European operators on practical due diligence operationalisation and sustainable sourcing.
- Increased visibility of Colombian traceability systems and good practices in coffee and cocoa supply chains.
- Enhanced understanding of local realities and challenges through direct field engagement.
- Identification of concrete opportunities for continued cooperation and capacity building across the supply chain.
The activities demonstrated how dialogue, technical exchange and field-based learning can help build stronger partnerships between Colombia and Europe — supporting more transparent, resilient and deforestation-free value chains.
We would like to thank participating private sector representatives — including Cargo Lines (France), Kafedata EU (Belgium), LUX CAFÉ (Spain), ESPIGA EXPORTS (Spain), MACALEA (Germany), GENTIUM CAPITAL CONSULTING (Croatia), CACAOFÉ (Slovakia), DM Romania (Romania) and Col-Spirit (Germany) — for contributing their perspectives and supporting a constructive exchange between European operators, producer organisations and public sector stakeholders.
