Fairtrade International has released a new digital tool, Plot Insights, to help its certified coffee and cocoa cooperatives meet the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The free platform is designed to assist producer organizations in managing the complex geolocation data and risk analysis necessary to prove their products are deforestation-free ahead of the regulation's enforcement.
The EUDR, which requires large operators to comply by the end of 2024, mandates that companies importing commodities like coffee provide verifiable evidence that their products did not originate from land deforested after 2020. Plot Insights enables cooperatives to upload farm plot data, receive instant feedback on data quality, and obtain a deforestation risk analysis provided by technology partner Satelligence. This helps producers manage the significant data collection and verification burden associated with the new rules.
A key function of the tool is its ability to streamline data sharing between producers and their commercial partners. Starting in October, the platform will integrate with Fairtrade's Fairtrace transaction system, allowing cooperatives to securely attach verified geolocation data to sales contracts with exporters and importers. This feature is intended to simplify the due diligence process for buyers, who can then use the data for their mandatory compliance statements. The tool is being rolled out to over 800 certified cooperatives through Fairtrade's regional producer networks.