Ecuador Coffee Farmers Prepare for EU Deforestation Rules

Nearly 400 coffee producers in the Ecuadorian Amazon have adopted a deforestation-free model since 2019, combining traceability, monitoring, and certification. The initiative aims to meet the upcoming requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which prohibits products linked to deforestation from entering the EU market. Between 2022 and 2025, these farmers exported 172.5 metric tons of deforestation-free coffee, with 2025 exports alone matching the previous three years combined.

The project focuses on maintaining over 1,200 hectares of natural forest within nearly 5,000 hectares of cultivated land. It utilizes satellite imagery and a national protocol developed with the UNDP to verify forest conservation.

While successful at the local level, scaling up this model remains a challenge, requiring broader support and integration with public policies to meet increasing demand from international markets. The Ecuadorian government is currently working to map all coffee and cacao producers nationwide to aid in EUDR compliance.