Natural ecosystems are the world’s most important safeguards to protect the environment, maintain biodiversity and support food security. Yet, the forests, savannahs, grasslands, and peatlands are being destroyed around the globe at an alarming rate, which pleads for a call for action at every level along the value chains, from policymakers to producers and businesses.

Fighting against global deforestation and forest degradation at the international level has become a worldwide priority, and the European Union has agreed upon  a new regulation on “deforestation-free” products.

During the course of 2022, the International Trade Centre (ITC) convened four rounds of private-public consultations and development of concrete plans of actions for “Deforestation-free Global Value Chains” in priority commodities sectors, such as soy, cocoa and coffee. 

The ITC Roundtables brought together industry stakeholders and policymakers to achieve primarily the three following goals:

• Determine the state of play in key commodity sectors discussing the current situation of sourcing into the EU market, responsible sourcing practices and volumes of sustainable products. Key challenges and difficulties of sourcing sustainable/deforestation-free soy, cocoa and coffee in compliance with the newly proposed EU regulation on deforestation-free products are also discussed;

• Unpacking methodologies and approaches to support deforestation-free supply chains: an in-depth analysis and technical discussion about the existing models, technologies, their credibility parameters, and the innovative approaches explored in various sectors; in thorough review of systemic issues and gaps that have not been addressed successfully in existing initiatives;

• Discuss recommended adjustments for implementing the regulation on deforestation-free products: highlighting differences and complexities in commodity sectors; discussing impacts and implications on value chain actors staring from producers to processors and retailers; suggesting changes that would reflect the current state of play and capacities in the concerned commodity sectors.

The summaries of the four roundtable events are freely available to download at the bottom of this page.

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Background on the proposed EU Regulation on deforestation-free products:

• European Commission Proposal for a Regulation on deforestation-free products
• European Parliament Procedure File 
• Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use – UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) at the SEC – Glasgow 2021 (ukcop26.org)
• New York Declaration on Forests – Forest Declaration
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples | United Nations for Indigenous Peoples

Related documentaries:

• UNEP-WCMC documentary: “A Smallholder’s Voice” 

Related research papers:

• Research Division for Africa and Middle East Research Network Sustainable Supply Chains | WP NR. 04 AUGUST 2022 Towards a Smart Mix 2.0 Harnessing Regulatory Heterogeneity for Sustainable Global Supply Chains Philip Schleifer and Luc Fransen

• Blot, E. and Hiller, N. (2022). ‘Securing the position of smallholders in zero-deforestation supply chains’, Policy Briefing, Institute for European Environmental Policy.

• Lamy, P., Pons, Genevieve and Hub, Sophia (2022). Deforestation-free agri-food supply chains: will the new EU regulation be up to the challenge?, Europe Jaques Delors.

• OECD-FAO Practical Business Tool on Deforestation, Forest Degradation and Due Diligence in Agricultural Supply Chains.

• De Maria, M., Zanello, G., Nakagawa, L. et al., Moving towards a sustainable soybean supply chain.

• Ayompe, L., Schaafsma, M. and Egoh, B. (2020), Towards sustainable palm oil production: The positive and negative impacts on ecosystem services and human wellbeing.

• Ayompe LM, Nkongho RN, Masso C, Egoh BN (2021) Does investment in palm oil trade alleviate smallholders from poverty in Africa? Investigating profitability from a biodiversity hotspot, Cameroon.

• De Maria, M., West, C., Dreoni, I., et al., Discussion paper, How do we link local and national level measures with international policy and private initiatives on sustainable trade for agricultural commodities?

• UNEP (2021), Biodiversity and international trade policy primer: How does nature fit in the sustainable trade agenda? UK Research and Innovation Global Challenges Research Fund (UKRI GCRF) Trade, Development and the Environment Hub, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS).

• IISD & TESS, Greening Aid for Trade and Sustainable Development: Financing a just and fair transition to sustainable trade.

• IISD (2021), Voluntary Sustainability Standards, Forest Conservation, and Environmental Provisions in International Trade Policy.

• Due Diligence Requirements to Tackle Deforestation: An overview of the EU and British proposals. 
• Open letter regarding smallholders signed by over 50 organisations

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