Kenya faces a challenge in ensuring its multibillion-shilling coffee exports remain viable in the European Union market following the bloc’s implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR).
These regulations, aimed at mitigating climate change risks and preserving global forests, prohibit imports of commodities linked to deforestation after December 30, 2024. Given that the EU accounts for 55 percent of Kenya’s coffee exports, failure to comply would severely impact the country’s coffee industry. Therefore, Kenya must take proactive measures to safeguard its market share and ensure the sustainability of its agricultural sector.
First, Kenya must establish and enforce stringent regulations on deforestation specifically tied to coffee and other cash crops such as tea and flowers. Such measures should ensure that these exports are free from any deforestation activities, aligning them with the EUDR standards.
A multi-agency technical committee of experts that is already evaluating Kenya’s readiness must expedite its efforts to establish a comprehensive compliance framework. This must involve conducting field assessments to evaluate the current state of deforestation practices in coffee-growing areas and ensure that Kenya’s coffee supply chain meets the EU’s stringent requirements.
The government must leverage the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System to track coffee growers and manage data efficiently. By securing grower data and integrating it into a national system, authorities can monitor compliance with anti-deforestation regulations and identify areas needing intervention. This data-centric approach would help the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development support farmers in adopting sustainable practices while ensuring traceability and transparency in the coffee supply chain.
Kenya should also engage coffee farmers and stakeholders in intensive training and capacity-building programmes. These initiatives should focus on sustainable agricultural practices, land use management, and the importance of preserving forests.
Educating farmers and involving them in the compliance process is crucial, as it empowers them to implement changes at the grassroots level and ensures that the entire value chain works to meet the EUDR requirements. More importantly, Kenya must diversify its coffee export markets beyond the EU to reduce dependency on a single market. By exploring alternative regions like Asia, the Middle East, and North America, Kenya can mitigate the risks associated with the EUDR while continuing to grow its coffee sector.
