Protocol for EUDR-Compliant Coffee

1. Objective

The primary objective of this protocol is to create a robust framework that enables smallholder coffee farmers, cooperatives, and wet mills to demonstrate compliance with the EUDR regulation by proving that their coffee production does not cause deforestation. This compliance is essential for continuing to export coffee to the European Union, which has adopted stringent measures to ensure that imported commodities, including coffee, do not contribute to deforestation and forest degradation. By leveraging satellite technology and clearly defined geographic zones, this protocol provides a transparent and reliable means of tracking and demonstrating deforestation-free practices.

2. Tools & Methodology

A. Satellite-Based Monitoring

One of the key components of this protocol is the use of satellite-based monitoring to observe and analyze the potential impact of deforestation around coffee-growing regions. The monitoring system operates using two critical datasets:

• Deforestation Map: This map utilizes satellite data to continuously monitor deforestation activity, allowing authorities and stakeholders to detect any signs of forest cover loss within the relevant coffee-growing regions. The satellite data is updated on a regular basis, typically every six months, to ensure that the most accurate and up-to-date information is available regarding deforestation events.
• Coffee Land Map: The second map is the Coffee Land Map, which identifies the specific locations where coffee is being cultivated. This map is created by combining satellite imagery with ground-truthing efforts to verify the accuracy of the coffee-growing areas. Ground-truthing involves physically confirming the location and extent of coffee farms to ensure the satellite data reflects the actual situation on the ground.

B. Shade-Grown Coffee

Shade-grown coffee plays an important role in sustainable coffee production and helps reduce the impact of deforestation. Coffee farms that incorporate shade trees contribute to biodiversity, providing natural habitats for wildlife and improving soil quality. Shade-grown coffee is also linked to reduced water evaporation and helps stabilize temperatures in coffee-growing areas.

3. Coffee Wet Mills

The role of wet mills in this protocol is essential. Each wet mill will confirm their exact location and GPS coordinates, which are used to define a catchment zone of 5 kilometers around their operation. Wet mills act as the central collection point for coffee from surrounding smallholder farmers and play a crucial role in ensuring that all coffee within their supply chain complies with deforestation-free requirements.

4. Climate Smart Coffee EUDR Tool

The Climate Smart Coffee tool offers an intuitive dashboard that allows cooperatives and wet mills to monitor their compliance with the EUDR regulation. The dashboard integrates real-time data from satellite maps, offering a comprehensive view of coffee land use and deforestation risks. This tool also generates detailed reports that wet mills can submit for certification, ensuring that their coffee production is fully compliant with the EUDR regulation.

5. Get Compliant

If you are a coffee cooperative, wet mill, or farmer and are looking for guidance or support in complying with the European Union’s EUDR regulation, Climate Smart Coffee is here to help. Our tools and expertise can assist you in navigating the complexities of deforestation-free compliance, ensuring that your coffee production is sustainable, environmentally friendly, and eligible for export to the European Union. For more information about how Climate Smart Coffee can support your compliance efforts, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us by emailing coffee@sproutprotect.com. We are dedicated to working with you to build a sustainable future for coffee production.