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EU's New Deforestation Rule Threatens Ethiopian Coffee Farmers' Livelihoods

A new European Union regulation aimed at combating global deforestation is creating unexpected challenges for Ethiopian coffee farmers, potentially disrupting one of the country's most important agricultural exports.

The EU Deforestation Regulation, which went into effect in June 2023, requires companies to prove that agricultural products like coffee are not grown on land deforested after December 2020. This mandate places significant documentation and verification burdens on small-scale farmers in Ethiopia, who traditionally operate with minimal bureaucratic infrastructure.

Ethiopian coffee exports represent approximately $1.4 billion annually
Over 95% of Ethiopian coffee is produced by smallholder farmers
Many farmers lack digital records or GPS tracking capabilities

Experts warn that without substantial support and technological assistance, many Ethiopian coffee producers might be effectively locked out of the lucrative European market. The regulation threatens to undermine decades of sustainable coffee production practices in regions like Sidamo and Yirgacheffe, which are renowned for their high-quality Arabica beans.

International development organizations are now working to help Ethiopian farmers adapt by providing technological training, mapping resources, and documentation support. These efforts aim to ensure that traditional coffee-growing communities can continue to participate in global trade while meeting increasingly stringent environmental standards.

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