Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire), the world’s largest producer and exporter of cocoa, has made significant strides toward tracing the origins of its cocoa beans, successfully tracking 40% of last season’s production. This achievement comes amid growing global pressure to ensure the cocoa industry operates sustainably and does not contribute to deforestation, a major environmental concern in West Africa. However, these efforts coincide with delays in the European Union’s landmark anti-deforestation regulation, raising questions about the future of sustainable cocoa production and trade.
Cocoa Production and Deforestation in Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast accounts for roughly two million tonnes of cocoa production annually, making it the dominant player in the global cocoa market. Cocoa farming is a lifeline for over two million farmers in the country and a pillar of its economy, contributing billions of dollars in export revenues.
However, this economic success has come at a significant environmental cost. Over the last two decades, cocoa cultivation has fueled vast deforestation in Ivory Coast, particularly the conversion of tropical moist forest into farmland. Estimates indicate that from 2003 to 2017, approximately 1.65 million hectares of forest—accounting for around 45% of the country’s total tropical moist forest loss—were cleared to make way for cocoa plantations. The annual average deforestation rates linked to cocoa production have reached around 110,000 hectares, an area nearly equivalent to the size of New York City.
Such deforestation intensifies carbon emissions and threatens biodiversity, while degrading the natural resources that sustain local communities. The environmental pressures have increased as older cocoa trees diminish yields, prompting farmers to clear new forested areas to maintain production levels.
Tracing Cocoa Beans: A Step Toward Accountability
In response to these environmental concerns and increased global scrutiny—particularly from importing regions such as Europe—Ivory Coast has taken proactive steps to improve traceability within its cocoa supply chain.
According to a recent report, the country successfully traced the origin of about 40% of cocoa beans from the last harvest. This marked progress is critical as it allows for better monitoring of deforestation risks associated with cocoa production, enabling authorities and companies to identify whether beans come from deforested or forest-risk areas.
Through improved satellite monitoring, databases, and supply chain mapping, tracing also helps meet consumer demand for transparency and sustainability. Major cocoa exporters and multinational chocolate companies increasingly require verified sourcing to comply with corporate social responsibility commitments.
The EU’s Anti-Deforestation Regulation Delay
While Ivory Coast advances its traceability programs, the European Union—the largest global importer of cocoa products—has delayed the enforcement of its new anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR) from its initial target to December 2026.
The EUDR aims to ban the marketing in Europe of commodities linked to deforestation, including cocoa. If implemented effectively, it could create significant incentives for sustainable sourcing and reduce the pressure on forests caused by agricultural expansion.
This delay has raised alarm among environmentalists and producers alike. According to Bakary Traoré, Executive Director of the Ivorian nonprofit Initiatives for Community Development and Forest (IDEF) Conservation Association, the postponement of the law is “extremely worrying.” He stressed that while Europe holds a vital role in protecting forests through its regulations, continual procrastination undermines potential positive impacts and contributes to ongoing deforestation challenges in cocoa-producing countries.
The Regional and Global Context
Ivory Coast is not alone in facing deforestation driven by cocoa cultivation. Neighboring countries like Liberia have seen similar patterns, with cocoa expansions encroaching on primary forests despite existing legal protections.
Cocoa’s slow production cycle—taking several years for new trees to yield fruit—and farmers’ dependence on clearing new land rather than replanting old fields exacerbate forest loss. High demand for cocoa globally, particularly in Europe and the United States, fuels this cycle.
