Ivory Coast has traced the origin of nearly half of its cocoa beans for the 2024–25 season as the West African nation moves to comply with the European Union’s landmark anti-deforestation law, according to a new sustainability report. The Cocoa Barometer, published by the VOICE Network, revealed that around 40% of Ivorian cocoa harvested during the last season was traceable — a major step in the global chocolate industry’s efforts to curb deforestation and improve transparency in supply chains.
As the world’s largest cocoa producer, Ivory Coast supplies about two-thirds of its beans to the European Union, making compliance with the EU’s upcoming Deforestation Regulation crucial for maintaining market access. The law, originally set to take effect on 30 December 2024 but delayed by a year amid industry pushback and political resistance within the bloc, requires companies importing commodities such as cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, and beef to prove their products are not linked to deforestation.
The EU regulation is part of a broader push to address global forest loss, holding businesses accountable for tracing products back to specific plots of land. Once enforced, companies will need to provide geolocation data for the origin of their cocoa, along with proof that it was produced legally and without causing deforestation after 2020. Non-compliant products risk being barred from the European market.
The Cocoa Barometer’s findings suggest that Ivory Coast — which has long faced international scrutiny over illegal cocoa farming in protected forests — is taking measurable steps to reform its sector. The report credited the government’s digital traceability initiatives, including a new cocoa sales and purchasing system that links farmers, buyers, and exporters through a centralised database.
According to Reuters, VOICE Network director Antonie Fountain said Ivory Coast’s progress marks an important shift in how cocoa is sourced and documented. “The country is expected to trace significantly more beans this season,” he noted, adding that the new digital framework provides a foundation for full traceability within a few years.
Under the government’s new system, about 900,000 of the country’s one million cocoa farmers now hold digital identification cards. These IDs are designed to integrate with the traceability platform, allowing authorities to monitor production volumes and origins more accurately while ensuring farmers are formally recognised within the supply chain. The move also helps address long-standing concerns about child labour, unregistered farmers, and opaque trading practices that have historically undermined sustainability efforts in the sector.
Ivory Coast and its neighbour Ghana, which together supply roughly 60% of the world’s cocoa, have both faced mounting pressure from the EU and international buyers to clean up their supply chains. The two countries introduced a joint “Living Income Differential” in 2019 to boost farmers’ earnings, but progress on sustainability has been uneven. With the new EU law looming, traceability has emerged as a defining issue for the global chocolate trade.
The Ivorian government has pledged to achieve full traceability for all cocoa exports by 2027. Officials say the digital platform will not only support compliance with the EU regulation but also help the state collect more accurate data on production and boost farmer incomes by reducing the influence of middlemen.
However, challenges remain. Many smallholder farmers still operate in remote areas with limited digital access, and the cost of implementing traceability systems is significant. Industry stakeholders, including major chocolate manufacturers and exporters, have urged the EU to provide transitional support to avoid supply disruptions and to ensure small producers are not excluded from the European market.
The one-year delay in the EU law’s implementation is expected to give producers more time to adjust, though environmental groups have criticised the postponement as a setback for global deforestation goals. Still, experts note that countries like Ivory Coast are using the additional time to strengthen institutional frameworks and gather the necessary data to meet compliance requirements.
For cocoa-dependent economies, the stakes are high. The EU remains the single largest destination for Ivorian cocoa, and any export barriers could have far-reaching implications for farmers and national revenue. Yet, the traceability reforms may ultimately yield long-term benefits by positioning Ivory Coast as a leader in sustainable cocoa production and restoring its reputation in global markets.
“Traceability is no longer optional,” Fountain said. “It’s becoming a passport for market access. Ivory Coast’s progress shows that with the right policies and digital tools, large-scale transformation of agricultural supply chains is possible.”
As the EU prepares to enforce its deforestation rules in 2025, Ivory Coast’s drive to trace its cocoa offers a glimpse into the future of sustainable commodity trade — one in which transparency and environmental stewardship will determine who thrives in the global market.
