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An International Institute for Sustainable Development report says smallholder farmers in a survey across 16 countries face ongoing barriers to meeting buyer requirements linked to the EU Deforestation Regulation. The authors caution that the sample is uneven and not statistically representative; 74% of all respondents said stricter requirements could push farmers toward less-regulated markets.
A new report from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) finds that many smallholder farmers still lack the resources to meet buyer requirements tied to the European Union Deforestation Regulation, as the law’s scheduled application date approaches. The study surveyed and interviewed 333 farmers and producer groups in 16 countries, including coffee producers, but its authors say the uneven sample is not statistically representative.
Respondents described barriers involving land documentation, compliance costs, traceability and technical capacity. Awareness of the regulation was widespread, the report says, but awareness has not removed the practical obstacles farmers face in showing where products were produced or meeting buyer demands. The study spans several agricultural products, with coffee farmers among those included.
Across all respondents, 74% said stricter compliance requirements could push farmers toward less-regulated markets. Among coffee respondents, the share was 79%. These figures record respondents’ views, not verified rates of farmers changing buyers or markets. Some farmers told IISD they might choose buyers offering higher prices or faster payment; others said costs for mapping and traceability could prevent them from supplying EUDR-oriented buyers.
The report also describes differences between farmers connected to cooperatives, certification programs and organized international supply chains and those operating independently. Connected farmers generally reported stronger documentation, traceability, training and institutional support. Across the commodities surveyed, 84% identified government policies and programs as a needed form of assistance, followed by financial help at 78%, training and capacity building at 74%, and better information and awareness at 71%.
Market Access for Smallholder Farmers
The findings point to a potential tension between the EUDR’s environmental goals and the ability of small producers to remain in regulated supply chains. If farmers cannot meet buyers’ documentation and traceability requirements, they may lose access to those buyers or choose other markets. The report presents this as a risk of market leakage: trade could shift toward markets with weaker environmental requirements, which the authors warn could undermine the regulation’s effect.
The implications extend beyond individual farms. Smallholders are part of supply chains for products covered by the law, including coffee, cocoa, cattle, palm oil, rubber, soy and wood. The report argues that the rule’s effectiveness and credibility depend in part on whether producers can comply without being excluded. Its survey results indicate perceived risks and needs; they do not establish how many farmers will ultimately leave EUDR-oriented channels.
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EUDR Dates and Scope
Adopted in 2023, the EU regulation is intended to prevent products linked to deforestation or forest degradation from entering or leaving the European Union market. Under the schedule cited in the report, it begins applying to large and medium-sized operators on December 30, 2026, and to most micro and small operators on June 30, 2027.
The IISD report was produced through its State of Sustainability Initiatives program, which researches sustainability standards and advises governments and supply-chain actors. Its findings draw on interviews and surveys in 16 countries. The authors expressly caution that the sample is uneven, so it should not be read as a representative estimate of all smallholders or all producers of covered commodities.
“This finding highlights a critical challenge for policy-makers and supply chain actors: ensuring that the EUDR reduces deforestation without excluding the smallholders who play a vital role in global agricultural production.”
— Authors of the IISD report
Limits of the Survey Evidence
The report does not provide a statistically representative measure of compliance readiness across smallholder farmers. Its authors describe the sample as uneven, and the reported percentages reflect the views of respondents rather than confirmed changes in sales, market access or deforestation. The source material does not specify how many farmers have already been excluded from EUDR-oriented supply chains or how many will change buyers.
It is also not yet clear how support programs will be distributed, what costs farmers will face in different producing countries, or how buyers will respond to suppliers who lack required documentation. The survey’s findings identify reported barriers and requested assistance, but they do not establish whether those gaps will be resolved before the relevant application dates.
Support Before Application Dates
The next milestones are the scheduled EUDR application dates: December 30, 2026, for large and medium-sized operators, followed by June 30, 2027, for most micro and small operators. The report calls for a shared effort by governments, companies, sustainability standards organizations and development partners, with respondents pointing to public programs, finance, training and better information as support needs.
Whether that assistance reaches farmers in time, and whether buyers continue sourcing from producers who need help meeting requirements, remains unresolved in the report. The survey provides a snapshot of concerns ahead of implementation; further evidence will be needed to show how compliance and market access change as the rules begin to apply.
Key Questions
What did the IISD report find?
It found that surveyed smallholders reported barriers including land documentation, compliance costs, traceability and technical capacity in meeting EUDR-related buyer requirements. The authors caution that the sample is uneven and not statistically representative.
What does the 74% figure mean?
74% of all respondents said they believed stricter compliance requirements could push farmers toward less-regulated markets. It is a survey response about perceived risk, not a measured share of farmers who have already changed markets.
When does the EUDR begin applying?
Under the schedule cited in the report, the regulation begins applying to large and medium-sized operators on December 30, 2026, and to most micro and small operators on June 30, 2027.
Which products are covered?
The regulation covers coffee, cattle, cocoa, palm oil, rubber, soy and wood, according to the report.
What support did respondents say farmers need?
Across all surveyed commodities, respondents most often identified government policies and programs (84%), followed by financial assistance (78%), training and capacity building (74%), and better information and awareness (71%).
Source: rss
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