Project
Identify and assess technologies to support traceability in the coffee and palm oil value chains in Colombia
This project aims to provide comparative advice on technologies that growers of these two commodities can adopt to ensure the sustainability and traceability of their products. The adoption of such technologies will contribute to complying with the requirements of the upcoming EU deforestation-free value chain regulation.
Deforestation and forest degradation are important drivers of climate change and loss of biodiversity. The European Council and Parliament agreed to pass a regulation prohibiting the import into the European Union of products linked to deforestation. The initiative targets seven commodities and their derivate products: palm oil, beef, timber, coffee, cocoa, rubber and soy, and implies that only products grown on land “that has not been subject to deforestation or forest degradation after 31 December 2020” will be allowed into the European Union. Coffee and palm oil are some of the flagship products of Colombia and two of the most exported agricultural products to the EU market. More than half a million Colombian families rely on coffee production, while the palm oil industry provides nearly 200.000 jobs in the country. Hence, these farmers will be substantially impacted by the upcoming legislation in the short term.
This project aims, therefore, to provide comparative advice on technologies that growers of these two commodities can adopt to ensure the sustainability and traceability of their products.
To achieve this, we will answer the following specific research questions/objectives:
- What are the hotspots/leverage points that shall be addressed to increase sustainability and inclusivity of the production systems to minimise the expected impacts of the deforestation EU regulation? (phase 1)
- Provide an assessment of different technologies for traceability of the agricultural products of concern and implications and cost of their adoption (phase 2)
- Provide a comprehensive analysis of the solutions that can help minimise the impact of the upcoming EU deforestation-free value chains regulation on the coffee and palm oil value chains in Colombia and recommendations on how to implement traceability technologies (phase 3)
The adoption of such technologies will contribute to complying with the requirements of the upcoming EU deforestation-free value chain regulation.