The Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA) has warned that up to 40 per cent of African smallholder cocoa farmers could lose access to the European market over their inability to meet compliance requirements under the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The association’s Global President, Adeola Adegoke, raised the concern at the end of the two-day Africa Cocoa and Coffee Conference in Lagos, where stakeholders called for stronger African participation in shaping international trade policies.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Adegoke said many smallholder farmers lacked the financial resources, technology and documentation systems needed to comply with the regulation’s traceability requirements.
He explained that although the EUDR was designed to prevent commodities linked to deforestation from entering the European Union market, its implementation could place significant pressure on small-scale farmers.
Adegoke called on African cocoa-producing countries to strengthen their negotiating positions and provide farmers with the technical and financial support needed to meet the requirements without losing access to key export markets.
The conference also examined the potential impact of cell-cultured cocoa technologies on traditional cocoa farmers, with Adegoke warning that increased investment in alternative production methods could affect demand for conventionally grown cocoa.
He urged African governments to assess the economic and social implications of the emerging technologies and develop policies to protect farmers’ livelihoods.
As part of efforts to establish a common continental position, participants adopted the Lagos Declaration 2026, which outlines commitments to improve farmers’ welfare, increase productivity, promote sustainability and expand African ownership of the cocoa and coffee industries.
The conference also produced the Lagos Pact, which proposes reserving the terms “cocoa” and “coffee” for farm-grown products, introducing mandatory “Cell-Cultured Product” labelling at the Codex Alimentarius, and imposing 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.
More than 200 delegates, including government representatives, researchers, development partners, commodity associations, private businesses and media practitioners, attended the conference.
Presenting figures on Africa’s position in the global cocoa and coffee industries, Adegoke said the continent 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 daily.
The declaration commits participating countries and stakeholders to coordinated action in eight areas: planning and coordination, unity and governance, farmers’ welfare, productivity, sustainability, traceability and product identity, value addition and finance, and people’s welfare.
Participants also pledged to strengthen farmers’ cooperatives, invest in research and extension services, protect forests, promote climate resilience, expand local processing and develop African brands.
They further called for improved access to markets through the African Continental Free Trade Area to ensure that a greater share of the value generated by cocoa and coffee remains within the continent.
The commitments are aimed at strengthening Africa’s position in global cocoa and coffee value chains while protecting smallholder farmers from emerging trade barriers and technological disruptions.