BONN, Germany, June 16, 2026 /3BL/ - A new digital system designed to help coffee and cocoa cooperatives manage, analyze and securely share geolocation data in preparation for growing due diligence requirements, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), was launched by Fairtrade today.
The EUDR requires companies to ensure their products are deforestation free before entering the European market. Geolocation data of every plot that supplies seven products coming into the EU, including coffee and cocoa, is required for importers’ due diligence obligations under the regulation. It is scheduled to take effect December 30, 2026 for large and medium operators and June 30, 2027, for micro and small enterprises.
The new system, Plot Insights, is a major step towards secure, consent-based geolocation data management. Most importantly, it enables cooperatives to retain ownership and control over their data. It also streamlines data sharing with trade partners. Plot Insights is available free of charge for Fairtrade certified cooperatives.
"Farmers are having to adopt new digital tools and map farm plots, which is an expensive burden, in order to continue to be viable suppliers to the European market,” said Brenda Marina Huerta García, Senior Advisor, Climate & Environment, Fairtrade International. “With Plot Insights, Fairtrade coffee and cocoa cooperatives have a free platform to check their geolocation data quality, receive deforestation risk analysis from Satelligence, and share data with their buyers, all built with cooperatives’ businesses in mind and to support our environmental goals towards deforestation.”
Through Plot Insights, cooperatives can upload geolocation data to receive immediate feedback and visualization on any data errors, provided by nature tech firm Satelligence. Fairtrade and Satelligence have partnered to support certified organizations in monitoring deforestation risk, providing them with data on deforestation alerts in and around cocoa and coffee plots and identifying plots located within or near protected areas, since 2023. Satelligence analysis is now embedded in Plot Insights, which makes it significantly more accessible and tangible for cooperatives.
With their deforestation risk analysis, cooperatives can take the additional steps required by Fairtrade Standards, including developing a risk mitigation plan. This includes following up on deforestation alerts or planning education and ongoing monitoring for plots that are near protected areas.
Starting in October, Plot Insights will also enable cooperatives to share geolocation data with European exporters and importers. This function will be part of Fairtrade’s sales transaction platform, Fairtrace. Cooperatives will be able to select plots and attach the relevant geolocation data – automatically converted into a format aligned with EU requirements – to a sales contract created between the cooperative, exporter and importer. The importer can download and use the data as part of their due diligence process and attach it to the due diligence statement required for import.
Fairtrade’s three regional producer networks - Fairtrade Africa, Network of Asia & Pacific Producers (NAPP), and Latin American and Caribbean Coordinator of Small Producers and Fair Trade Workers (CLAC) - are currently supporting more than 800 Fairtrade certified coffee and cocoa cooperatives in adopting Plot Insights and preparing for EUDR implementation at the end of this year.
Plot Insights is hosted within Unify, a new centralized location for the Fairtrade digital ecosystem that brings various individual systems into one place with a single point of entry. Fairtrade certified cooperatives are the first stakeholders to gain access to Unify, with additional systems and functionalities expected to be introduced over the coming year. Fairtrade plans to expand access to certified traders, retailers, and brands sourcing Fairtrade products and ingredients.
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About Fairtrade America
Fairtrade America works to rebalance trade, making it a system rooted in partnership and mutual respect rather than exploitation. It's about businesses, shoppers, farmers and workers all working together so we can all experience the benefits of trade. Fairtrade America is the U.S. branch of Fairtrade International, the original and global leader in fair trade certification with more than 30 years of experience working for fair trading practices in more than 60 countries across the globe. A non-profit 501(c)3 organization, Fairtrade America is part of the world's largest and most recognized fair trade certification program —part of a global movement for change. Learn more at fairtrade.net, and by connecting with Fairtrade America on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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