Enabling digital solutions for deforestation-free commodities from smallholders (DigiDeFree)

To protect forests, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) stipulates that the import of various agricultural products to European Union requires proof of deforestation-free production. This is a challenge for small-scale producers who lack information and the financial and technical means to provide proof. To maintain their market access, the project supports Mexican small-scale coffee and cocoa producers’ cooperatives through capacity building and the development of a digital tool for data generation and verification of deforestation-free production, based on the participatorily developed requirements of local stakeholders. Local promoters use the tool to support small-scale producers in implementing and verifying the deforestation-free status of coffee and cocoa. To strengthen North-South cooperation, actors along the supply chain are building a joint responsibility framework. Synergies with other projects, networks of stakeholders and the use of the ELAN platform create multiplier effects.

Project data

Countries: Mexico
IKI funding: 773,307.22 €
Duration: 10/2024 till 10/2027
Status: open
Implementing organisation: OroVerde - Die Tropenwaldstiftung
Implementing Partner: Plataforma Nuup, A.C.

ProNatura Sur

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State of implementation/results

Digital solution:
- EUDR module within Sirio solution developed and running; currently review process
- Features:
  - Structured questionnaires for producers and organizations to assess compliance with legal requirements.
  - Georeferencing of plots (points and/or polygons) directly in the field, full offline capability.
  - Automated alerts to ensure polygon quality and consistency (e.g., invalid shapes, overlapping polygons, excessively large or small areas).
  - Polygon editing within the Web Console to allow precise adjustments to data collected in the field.
  - Spatial analysis related to Protected Natural Areas.
  - Deforestation analysis through integration with the “What`s in that Plot”- tool of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations via an API.
  - Dispute resolution mechanisms (to address false positives or negatives) via the submission of additional evidence or supporting documentation (e.g., photographs, legal documents).
- Pilot projects implemented with two coffee producer organizations.
- Geodata collected on 10,744 plots, with < 1% at high risk of deforestation. Ongoing work to identify false positives and determine the actual status of those plots.
- Potential pilot to improve deforestation risk analysis with updated national coffee maps.
- Collaboration with the Thünen Institute GEOS-EUDR project to review and improve the applied deforestation risk analysis methodology.
- Collaboration on aligning current EUDR work steams in Mexico, led by GIZ and SADER.

Capacity Building:

Mapping of coffee and cocoa actors in Chiapas.
Interviews with institutional stakeholders and actors across coffee and cocoa value chains on their training needs.
Online and in-person workshops with producer organizations in Chiapas (INCAFECH) to become a regional hub for EUDR training to ensure lasting knowledge after project implementation.
Social Inclusion Plan for promoters training, capacity development manual + training materials developed.
Promoter trainings
- 05/26 EUDR requirements, agroecology and sustainability
- 06/26 Gender, youth and technology
- 09/26 Traceability, markets and digital working tools
- 10/26 Climate-change resilient production

Latest Update:
09/2026