Innovation and Challenges in Complying with the EU Deforestation Regulation: Experiences from Volcafe and ECOM

The coffee and cocoa sector is undergoing a profound transformation with the upcoming enforcement of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) at the beginning of 2026. Beyond regulation, this shift represents an opportunity for leading companies to redefine their supply chains, integrate cutting-edge technology, and strengthen their commitment to sustainability.

Volcafe and ECOM: Perspectives from the Field

At the National Coffee and Cocoa Convention, with thanks to our sponsorRikolto, Volcafe and ECOM shared insights into their strategies and progress. Their presentations highlighted two complementary approaches: one based on education and practical implementation, and the other on strategic innovation and technological leadership.

Volcafe: Training and Collaboration as Pillars

Karol Villamil, Sustainability Manager at Volcafe, delivered a clear and detailed overview of the EUDR requirements, explaining the essential phases of the Due Diligence System (DDS): data collection, risk assessment, and risk mitigation. Beyond regulatory compliance, Volcafe emphasized its commitment to training field teams and clients to interpret risk reports and make informed decisions.

This approach is structured around the following pillars:

• Training in georeferencing tools and risk analysis.

• Strategies to address high-risk alerts, effectively communicating results and managing complex cases.

• Clear role definition within the chain: producers, cooperatives, and traders have well-defined responsibilities to prevent mixing of compliant and non-compliant products.

Volcafe Way: Structure for Compliance and Sustainability

As part of its long-term vision, Volcafe implements the Volcafe Way, a management model that integrates sustainability, traceability, and collaboration across its entire value chain. This strategy aligns directly with the EUDR requirements and allows for a structured and consistent application of the due diligence system.

In practice, this translates into:

• Rigorous traceability and transparency: Every coffee lot is traced back to its origin using georeferencing tools and digital platforms like the Volcafe EUDR Portal. This traceability ensures compliance with legality criteria and the absence of post-cutoff deforestation as defined by EU regulation.

• Support and training for producers: The model includes ongoing training programs for farmers and cooperatives to promote sustainable agricultural practices, prevent expansion into forested areas, and ensure compliance with national legislation. This education reduces deforestation-related risks and facilitates integration into regulatory compliance systems.

• Preventive monitoring and mitigation: Volcafe conducts constant monitoring through satellite imagery, technical analyses, and field audits, allowing timely detection and correction of potential issues. This proactive oversight is key to maintaining the supply chain’s integrity in line with EUDR requirements.

• Multisector collaboration: The Volcafe Way encourages effective coordination between producers, associations, operators, and clients, establishing clear communication channels and shared responsibility. This collaborative approach helps address operational and regulatory challenges while raising sustainability and compliance standards.

ECOM: Advanced Technology and a Vision for Lasting Impact

With 170 years of history and a global presence, ECOM presented a more targeted, technology-driven approach. Camila Olmedo, Regional Sustainability Manager, explained how the company operates with two distinct supply chains:

• Direct supply chain, with close contact with small producers, which facilitates traceability and compliance.

• Indirect supply chain, involving cooperatives and intermediaries, which requires additional strategies to address informality and data fragmentation.

ECOM’s standout innovation is its ERDA platform (ECOM Research Deforestation Analysis), designed to significantly reduce false positives in deforestation assessments—a common issue with traditional satellite systems. Using radar data that penetrates tree canopies and avoids weather interference, ERDA lowers these errors from 30% to just 1%, combining office analysis with on-the-ground validation.

ECOM’s methodology detects mining operations in Côte d'Ivoire. Yellow areas indicate deforestation.

Conclusions and Outlook for the Sector

The progression of the European Union Deforestation Regulation marks a turning point for coffee and cocoa value chains. Volcafe and ECOM, with their distinct yet complementary approaches, show that regulatory compliance is not only achievable but also a chance to strengthen the sector’s sustainability.

Volcafe relies on a structured model based on traceability, training, and shared responsibility, supported by tech solutions like its EUDR digital portal and georeferenced monitoring tools. ECOM, on the other hand, has developed high-precision deforestation analysis systems and promotes the digital formalization of producer relationships.

Both experiences reflect an active commitment to continuous improvement and a long-term vision that integrates social, environmental, and technological factors. In an increasingly demanding regulatory context, these types of approaches not only enable adaptation but also position companies as leaders of key transformations in global agricultural trade.

Looking ahead, it is essential for Peru’s coffee and cocoa industry to strengthen its technical capacities, foster multisector alliances, and adopt tools that ensure transparency and compliance. Future competitiveness will depend not only on price or product quality but also on the strength of environmental and social practices in the face of ever-evolving international regulations.

You can find the full presentations and videos at the following link: https://www.camcafeycacao.com/27-cnc-presentaciones