African cocoa, coffee farmers face possible exclusion from EU market, group warns

The Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA) has issued a warning that up to 40% of African smallholder cocoa farmers may be excluded from the European market due to their inability to meet the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This regulation aims to prevent commodities entering the EU from contributing to deforestation.

COCEFAAA's Global President, Adeola Adegoke, raised this concern during the Africa Cocoa and Coffee Conference in Lagos. He highlighted the challenges faced by smallholder farmers, particularly those lacking the necessary financial resources, technology, and documentation systems to comply with the regulation's traceability standards.

Adegoke stressed the need for African cocoa-producing countries to enhance their negotiating positions and improve traceability systems to shield farmers from potential disruptions in international trade. The conference also addressed the emergence of cell-cultured cocoa technologies and their potential impact on traditional cocoa-producing communities.

Participants adopted the Lagos Declaration 2026, a set of commitments aimed at improving farmers' livelihoods, boosting productivity, and increasing African ownership of the cocoa and coffee industries. Key issues discussed included reserving the terms "cocoa" and "coffee" for farmed products, advocating mandatory "Cell-Cultured Product" labeling at the Codex Alimentarius, and proposing a one percent adaptation levy on revenues from cell-cultured products to support smallholder farmers through the Common Fund for Commodities.

The Lagos Declaration 2026 also emphasizes the need for stronger cooperation among African cocoa- and coffee-producing countries to ensure the continent has a greater voice in shaping international trade policies and standards.