Kenya’s coffee sector may not need to worry about deforestation compliance under the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), as the country’s coffee cultivation is generally not linked to forest clearing. However, Kenya must still provide clear proof that coffee is being produced without deforestation in order to maintain access to the lucrative EU market.
The EUDR mandates that all coffee and other commodities entering the EU must be deforestation-free, comply with local laws, and be fully traceable to the farm level. For coffee growers, this means showing that no forested land was cleared for cultivation after December 31, 2020.
To help Kenyan coffee producers meet these requirements, the EU is working closely with local stakeholders. Experts have already assessed the situation on the ground and found that Kenya’s coffee-growing practices generally meet the regulation’s environmental criteria. The challenge now lies in demonstrating that compliance through proper documentation and digital systems.
Kenya’s coffee industry is largely composed of smallholder farmers, many of whom operate under cooperatives. These cooperatives are being encouraged to take the lead in gathering the required information, easing the burden on individual farmers. Since the documentation process can be bureaucratic and resource-intensive, the EU is offering support through technical assistance and global surveying technologies. These systems can help cooperatives map farms and confirm that no deforestation has occurred, ensuring compliance without overwhelming small-scale producers.
The EU is also engaging with Kenyan government officials to explore ways of streamlining the compliance process. By working together with ministries and cooperatives, the aim is to establish a system that allows the country to maintain access to the EU market without putting undue pressure on farmers. The objective is to allow farmers to focus on growing coffee, while cooperatives and authorities handle regulatory documentation.
Despite Kenya’s favorable position regarding deforestation, the broader coffee sector globally faces significant disruption due to the EUDR. The regulation’s strict requirement for geolocation data and plot-level traceability presents a major hurdle for smallholder farmers in many countries, especially where land ownership records are informal or inconsistent.
Globally, smallholder farmers produce approximately 80% of the world’s coffee, but many lack the tools to generate GPS data or provide legal documentation. Exporters and cooperatives must now invest in digital mapping systems, audits, and compliance mechanisms costs that could eventually trickle down to farmers and consumers.
This shift is expected to reshape the global coffee trade. Countries with advanced traceability infrastructure, like Brazil, may gain a competitive edge, while regions with limited resources may struggle. As a result, there is concern that only larger, well-funded producers will be able to consistently meet the EUDR requirements, potentially marginalizing smaller operations.
Some coffee buyers are reportedly reducing their exposure to regions deemed high-risk for deforestation, such as parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. This shift could lead to reduced demand and greater price volatility for coffee from these areas. In response, exporters are exploring alternative markets such as the U.S., Middle East, and China, although these regions typically offer lower returns than the EU market.
In recognition of these challenges, the EU has extended the EUDR compliance deadlines. Large companies now have until December 30, 2025, to meet the requirements, while micro and small businesses have until June 30, 2026. This extension gives countries like Kenya more time to implement systems and prove compliance, offering a chance to preserve their market share in the global coffee trade.
