The event brought together the Minister of Agriculture, EU Delegation representatives, the Trade and Private Sector Development and Engagement (TPSDE) Facility, the European Forest Institute (EFI), state official, private sector and civil society.

Context and importance of the EUDR
Adopted in June 2023, the EUDR aims to reduce the EU’s impact on global deforestation and forest degradation. The regulation ensures that only commodities such as cocoa, coffee, palm oil, and others that meet stringent criteria—traceability, deforestation-free production, compliance with local laws, and a verified due diligence statement—can be placed on the EU market, promoting sustainability and responsible trade. Operators and traders must conduct risk assessments to ensure negligible risk of deforestation or forest degradation since 31 December 2020.

As exporter of cocoa, coffee, and palm oil, Sierra Leone stands to benefit from aligning its production systems with the EUDR's standards. Commodities like cocoa, coffee, and palm oil are a crucial source of income for smallholder farmers.

By adhering to sustainable practices and international regulations like the EU Deforestation Regulation, Sierra Leone can ensure that commodity production not only supports livelihoods but also helps preserve the country's rich native vegetation and biodiversity. Protecting these natural resources safeguards vital ecosystems, prevents habitat loss for diverse wildlife, and reinforces Sierra Leone’s commitment to environmental stewardship for future generations.

A collaborative approach to sustainable production
While the EUDR places due diligence obligations on operators, institutions in producer countries, like Sierra Leone, play an important role in supplying credible information to facilitate compliance.

The Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Mr Henry Musa Kpaka (PhD) noted, "The EU is a key market for our commodities, particularly cocoa. We aim to boost export earnings by enhancing value chains, making it crucial to monitor the impact of the EUDR. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity : aligning with EUDR standards supports our ‘Feed Salone’ strategy, which prioritises a sustainable and resilient development model.”

The Head of Rural Development and Infrastructure Section of the EU Delegation to Sierra Leone, Mr Holger Rommen, emphasised the potential for the country to serve as a model for sustainable commodity production. "The EUDR is a great opportunity for producer countries to build strong economies while protecting their valuable natural resources. The EU is ready to work with its partner countries to make their production more sustainable and preserve their precious ecosystems for future generations and growth.”

Sector experts shared insights on leveraging tools and frameworks for meeting EUDR standards, emphasising the importance of collaboration among government, industry, and development partners.

END

To know more:

• Factsheet: Unpacking the EUDR
• Press release and guidance: EU Deforestation Regulation updates
• Video animation: Unpacking the EU Deforestation Regulation for the cocoa sector
• Cocoa insight: The role of spatial information for EUDR due diligence
• Video: Presentation of the Côte d’Ivoire 2020 Land-cover map
• Cocoa insight: Demonstrating legal compliance of cocoa production and trade