.png)
To enhance understanding of the steps required for implementing deforestation due diligence (DDD) processes, more than 130 representatives from the public and private sectors took part in workshops held in Jaén (Cajamarca), Tarapoto (San Martín), and Lima, Peru. The workshops were organised by PromPerú, Rikolto, World Resources Institute and Global Forest Watch on 18, 21 and 25 February 2025, as part of the second year of the DDD pilot programme. The initiative is being implemented in five regions of the country (Cajamarca, San Martín, Junín, Cusco, and Amazonas) with 17 coffee and cocoa producer and exporter organisations, aiming to comply with the requirements of the new European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
%20(1).jpg)
.jpg)
During the first year of the pilot, producer organisations interested in participating were trained in the process, while experiences and requirements related to due diligence were validated with exporting companies such as Falcon Coffees, ICAM, and Pronatec. This facilitated a comprehensive understanding of expectations and common challenges. From the outset, the process has been supported by the Cajamarca Coffee Multi-Stakeholder Platform (PMACC) and the San Martín Cocoa Technical Roundtable — both key allies of Rikolto’s Sustainable Cocoa and Coffee Programme in Peru. These platforms helped extend the initiative’s reach in provinces making the most progress towards adapting to the new regulation.
As part of this framework, the second phase of the pilot introduced a deforestation due diligence toolkit designed for producers, technicians, managers of exporting companies, and representatives of institutions linked to the value chains. This toolkit will assist producer organisations and companies in structuring their compliance with due diligence requirements, outlining all stages of the process.
The event also showcased the results of the first year of the pilot, which sought to test and refine due diligence processes with producer organisations. Participants from Cajamarca and San Martín, the regions where significant progress has been made, shared their experiences. Additionally, they received practical training on how to identify risks in the due diligence process and learned about the georeferencing service provided by the Global Forest Watch Pro platform.
.jpg)
We were given tools to systematise the regulation’s information and define, step-by-step, what is needed to comply with the regulation. By 2025, we hope to be able to identify and address plots at risk of deforestation to mitigate such cases.
These workshops and initiatives are taking place against the backdrop of significant EU policy changes, particularly the recent Omnibus Simplification Package, which introduces revisions to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). These revisions are set to redefine due diligence requirements across various industries, including cocoa and coffee, by reducing reporting obligations and altering the scope of compliance. This could influence the expectations towards cooperatives and companies, in Peru and elsewhere.
%20(1).jpg)
Implementing something new always comes with challenges for improvement. Along the way we have been understanding, involving the team, and we have been meeting the requirements. Participating in the training sessions helped us a lot to understand the process. — Carlos Angulo, Allima Cacao.
According to Oscar Inocente, one of the regional managers of the pilot, an often-overlooked issue is the collateral impact of losing access to the European market if due diligence is not met. "Losing the European market would have severe repercussions, affecting access to finance, the sustainability of companies and cooperatives, employment in the value chains, and the profitability of producers." Moreover, the obligation to sell exclusively in the domestic market—where prices are less competitive—could discourage investment in the sector by 2025. This comes after a year of remarkable growth in Peruvian coffee and cocoa exports.
Faced with this scenario, urgent actions are required but also processes. In 2024, the due diligence pilot has helped to strengthen local capacities and promote responsible practices that contribute to environmental protection and sustainable economic development, beyond mere compliance with the regulation. However, in 2025, each organisation's adaptation process will be different, as highlighted by Lith Montes, from Rikolto.
.jpg)
The resources required to comply with due diligence will largely depend on the order and prior professionalisation processes of each organisation. If they are still undergoing reprocessing or digitalisation, for instance, the cost will be higher. Due diligence does not demand many new processes for organisations already familiar with certification and export standards. In terms of capacity, it is essentially the same management model for control and technical knowledge.
In 2025, the pilot will enable participating organisations to develop risk mitigation policies and plans, join an implementation programme for due diligence management, and expand the initiative’s impact through a train-the-trainer approach in the latter half of the year.
By strengthening due diligence processes and enhancing local capacities, farmer organisations are not only securing their access to the European market but also increasing their resilience in the face of evolving sustainability requirements. Rikolto’s support in guiding cooperatives through this transition plays a key role in ensuring they can navigate compliance challenges effectively.
.png)
.jpg)