The Global President of COCEFAAA, Adeola Adegoke
The Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa has warned that up to 40 per cent of African smallholder cocoa farmers could be excluded from the European market because they cannot meet compliance requirements under the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
The Global President of COCEFAAA, Adeola Adegoke, raised the concern at the conclusion of the two-day Africa Cocoa and Coffee Conference held in Lagos, where stakeholders called for stronger African participation in shaping international trade policies affecting the continent’s cocoa and coffee industries.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Adegoke expressed concern that the regulation could impose significant challenges on smallholder farmers, particularly those who lack the financial resources, technology and documentation systems required to meet its traceability standards.
He said, “Up to 40 per cent of African smallholder farmers could face exclusion from the European market if they are unable to comply with the requirements.
“The EUDR is designed to ensure that certain commodities entering the European Union market are not linked to deforestation. However, concerns have emerged over the cost and complexity of compliance, particularly for small-scale farmers who may struggle to provide the necessary information to demonstrate compliance,” he added.
Adegoke stressed the need for African cocoa-producing countries to strengthen their negotiating positions and improve traceability systems to protect farmers from potential disruptions to international trade.
He called for measures to ensure that smallholder farmers receive adequate technical and financial support to meet evolving market requirements without losing access to key export destinations.
Another major issue discussed at the conference was the emergence of cell-cultured cocoa technologies and their potential implications for traditional cocoa-producing communities.
Adegoke expressed concern that increased investment in alternative cocoa production technologies could affect demand for conventionally grown cocoa and create additional uncertainty for farmers whose livelihoods depend on the crop.
He urged African countries to assess the potential economic and social implications of these technologies while developing strategies to safeguard the interests of cocoa farmers and their communities.
The conference also highlighted the need for stronger cooperation among African cocoa- and coffee-producing countries to ensure that the continent has a greater voice in shaping international trade policies and standards.
Participants adopted the Lagos Declaration 2026, a shared statement of commitments aimed at improving farmers’ livelihoods, boosting productivity and expanding African ownership of the cocoa and coffee industries.
More than 200 delegates attended the conference, representing producing countries, governments, research institutions, development partners, commodity associations, private businesses, multilateral organisations and the media.
Speaking on the challenges facing the continent’s cocoa and coffee sectors, Adegoke said Africa had the expertise and solutions needed to transform the industries but lacked effective mechanisms to scale them across the continent.
“Africa is not short of solutions. We are short of mechanisms to scale them,” he said.
The Lagos Pact outlines three key positions that African cocoa- and coffee-producing countries intend to advance at continental and international negotiations.
These include reserving the terms “cocoa” and “coffee” for farmed products, advocating mandatory “Cell-Cultured Product” labelling at the Codex Alimentarius, and proposing a one per cent adaptation levy on revenues from cell-cultured products to support African smallholder farmers through the Common Fund for Commodities.
The pact is expected to serve as Africa’s common position at the African Union Summit scheduled for February 2027.
The conference further highlighted Africa’s limited share of the value generated by its cocoa and coffee production, despite the continent’s significant contribution to global output.
According to figures presented by Adegoke, Africa produces about 75 per cent of the world’s cocoa and 12 per cent of its coffee but captures less than six per cent of the value of chocolate, while many farmers earn approximately $1.20 a day.
The Lagos Declaration 2026 commits participants to coordinated action in eight key areas: planning and coordination; unity and governance; farmers’ welfare; productivity; sustainability; traceability and product identity; value addition and finance; and people’s welfare.
Under the declaration, participants pledged to develop African strategic plans with clear responsibilities, timelines, and measurable outcomes. They also committed to strengthening farmers’ cooperatives, improving farmers’ incomes, investing in research and extension services, protecting forests and promoting climate resilience.
The declaration further calls for greater investment in local processing, stronger African brands and expanded access to markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The commitments are intended to strengthen Africa’s position in global cocoa and coffee value chains, protect farmers’ livelihoods and ensure that a greater share of the value generated by these commodities remains on the continent.