Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, is making only limited progress in improving traceability across its cocoa supply chain as the European Union’s anti-deforestation regulation approaches implementation. The new EU law requires companies importing cocoa and other commodities to prove their products are not linked to deforestation after December 31, 2020. However, many cocoa-growing regions in Ivory Coast still lack complete farm mapping and digital tracking systems, making it difficult to trace beans back to their exact origin. Industry experts warn that slow progress could put thousands of smallholder farmers at risk of losing access to the lucrative European market.
The cocoa sector supports the livelihoods of more than one million farming households in Ivory Coast and accounts for a significant share of the country’s export earnings. Governments, cocoa companies, and certification organisations are working to expand GPS mapping, farmer registration, and digital supply chain monitoring to meet the EU’s requirements. Environmental groups say stronger traceability is essential to curb illegal deforestation, protect biodiversity, and improve transparency in global cocoa production. However, they also stress that farmers will need greater financial and technical support to comply with the new rules without jeopardising their incomes. More