March 24, 2025
A holistic approach to EUDR: Effective compliance includes on-the-ground realities—Insights from our field trip to Colombia
There is a major difference between analysing compliance from behind a desk and experiencing it in the field. To establish a lean, efficient, and reliable process for EUDR compliance, it is essential to align the regulatory requirements of European importers with the on-the-ground realities at the origin where commodities are grown. But what does this actually look like in practice?
To find out, our Partnerships Manager Nina recently travelled to Colombia, where she immersed herself in the day-to-day realities of coffee producers, assessing the challenges they face in navigating deforestation monitoring and risk mitigation.
On-Site assessment of risk analysis at Cumbres' coffee plantations in Antioquia, Colombia
While European importers rely on satellite risk analyses to verify compliance, local producers often find themselves in the dark, unsure of how these assessments impact their operations or what steps they can take to mitigate potential risks. Recognising these challenges, our partner, Cumbres—an innovative Colombian specialty coffee supplier—took a proactive approach to better understand the specific implications of EUDR. Their goal was to ensure that compliance measures are not only effective, but also feasible for producers on the ground.
Together with Cumbres' agronomic engineer, Sergio, and marketing coordinator, Daniel, Nina spent several days at Cumbres' coffee plantations in Antioquia, a region with a mix of long-established specialty coffee farms and newly cultivated land. Equipped with maps, drones, and cameras, they went into the fields to inspect specific plots flagged by satellite analysis as potential risk areas. This enabled them to verify data accuracy, gain a deeper understanding of local conditions, and refine risk mitigation measures tailored to the realities on the ground.
"Being on the ground in Colombia, I witnessed the dedication and commitment of the people sustaining these supply chains. Compliance should not be a rigid, top-down process dictated solely by European standards—it must be grounded in the realities at the source, ensuring that producers are not just subject to regulations but actively empowered to be part of the solution. Only by aligning regulation with practical integration we can build an effective system that drives lasting, sustainable impact and enables companies to source deforestation-free volumes without unintentionally excluding suppliers or causing artificial raw material shortages.”
Nina Saskia Pachur, Partnerships Manager at Seedtrace
Helping suppliers reduce compliance risks: What European buyers need to know
The findings from our on-site assessments highlight a crucial takeaway: compliance is not just about meeting regulations—it’s about ensuring that the right data is collected, understood, and used effectively. While satellite analyses are a valuable tool, they are not infallible, and without proper documentation, suppliers risk being mistakenly classified as non-compliant due to false deforestation risk indicators.
To bridge this gap, European buyers play a key role in supporting suppliers on how to structure and provide relevant land-use data. By working collaboratively, companies can engage suppliers to integrate clear documentation processes into their existing operations, making compliance both more efficient and more accurate.
Practical steps for suppliers to ensure compliance:
- Proactively document land-use changes: Suppliers should systematically record activities such as shade tree removal, plantation rejuvenation, and modifications within agroforestry systems to provide clear evidence of responsible land management.
- Excluding verified agricultural plots from satellite analysis: Plots that were legally classified as agricultural land in 2020 can be excluded from further satellite analysis. However, this exclusion requires verified proof through satellite analysis and supporting documentation. At the same time, it remains crucial to continue monitoring regional forest changes via satellite analysis to detect and prevent any illegal deforestation in the area.
- Define plots accurately: Suppliers should delineate farm boundaries carefully, ensuring that non-agricultural areas such as conservation zones and residential properties where no plantation takes place are excluded. This prevents these areas from being mistakenly flagged as deforestation risks.
- Recognise the limitations of AI-based risk assessments: AI models used in satellite risk analysis play a crucial role in identifying potential deforestation risks by highlighting areas where deforestation might have occurred. However, these models are only one step in the overall assessment process and are not infallible. Misinterpretations can occur, leading to false risk classifications. To ensure an accurate and fair evaluation, collaboration with the suppliers is crucial.
About Cumbres
Cumbres is a direct-trade coffee producer based in the high-altitude mountains of Antioquia, Colombia. With over 100 years of experience and four generations of coffee-growing tradition, the company is deeply rooted in heritage while committed to sustainable and innovative practices. Cumbres is known for its meticulous post-harvest processes and dedication to quality, delivering unique, traceable coffees with authentic Colombian sensory profiles to markets around the world. Currently, they have 22 varietals planted of especially coffee with 1 million trees in production. It is according to their statements the largest producer of Bourbon Chiroso in Colombia.
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