By Almut Van Casteren, COO and Founder of eProd Solutions
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is more than a policy — it’s an alarm bell for global supply chains. But as the European Commission proposes a second delay, we must ask: do we jump out of bed and act, or press the snooze button and drift back into uncertainty?
For those of us working in agricultural supply chains across Sub-Saharan Africa, the stakes are high. After the first postponement, we saw a troubling shift: major commodity traders — including dominant international coffee buyers — and farmer cooperatives deprioritized EUDR compliance. Investments were shelved. Strategic partnerships paused. Confusion spread.
And yet, amidst this uncertainty, something remarkable happened.
Together with Buhler, ITC, FAO, and other committed stakeholders, we launched the Market Compliance Online training program in the beginning of this year. Over 400 SMEs across the region have already participated, gaining the knowledge and tools to meet EUDR requirements. Our next cohort began October 6, offered free of charge thanks to support from KfW/DEG and in collaboration with Buhler and the African Milling School.
At eProd Solutions, we’ve gone further. At no additional costs our clients have been ready since early 2025 to share traceability and proof of legal, non-deforested production electronically via GeoJSON files. We’ve integrated with ITC’s Deforestation-Free Trade Gateway, enabling seamless data exchange with European Operators. And we’re aligned with TRACES, the EU’s official system.
But what truly sets eProd apart is our focus on affordability and local relevance. While others rely on costly, complex tools, we’ve built on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Open Source technologies, tailored to the realities of Sub-Saharan African producers. These producers — especially Farmer-Based Organizations — know their landscapes intimately. Our platform empowers them to visualize and flag risks before data is shared, building trust and long-term relationships with European buyers.
The EUDR is not just a compliance hurdle. It’s a strategic opportunity. Organizations that have invested early in demand-supply partnerships are already seeing the benefits. Delays may buy time, but they also risk eroding momentum and penalizing early movers.
We urge policymakers to recognize the enormous progress already made. The sector is waking up. Let’s not press snooze again.
📢 Registration is now open for the first French Cohort of Market Compliance Online training, starting November 3, 2025. This free, sector-specific course equips producers, cooperatives, and SMEs with practical strategies for EUDR compliance. Delivered in partnership with Buhler and the African Milling School, and supported by KfW/DEG, the training is available at www.marketcomplianceonline.net.
🌱 Interested in a hands-on experience? Producers, cooperatives, and SMEs who want to explore EUDR compliance tools firsthand are welcome to request a free demonstration or pilot of the eProd system. This is an opportunity to see how affordable, locally relevant digital traceability can work in your context — including GeoJSON file generation, risk visualization, and integration with TRACES and the Deforestation-Free Trade Gateway. To schedule your demo or pilot, simply reach out via www.eprod-solutions.com or contact our team directly.