The verdict in three sentences
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires operators placing cocoa on the EU market to prove it was not grown on land deforested after 31 December 2020, with geolocation of every plot. An Amsterdam importer whose supplier cooperatives cannot deliver this data simply cannot file its due diligence statement, and the premium of 0.08 to 0.18 EUR per kilo paid for traceable cocoa becomes pointless. A well designed traceability platform costs 38,000 to 91,000 EUR (25 to 60M FCFA) at origin, fieldwork included, and rolls out in 5 months.
The data you need from your supplier cooperatives
As the operator, you submit a due diligence statement in the EU information system. You therefore need precise, structured and verifiable data, batch by batch, from origin.
| Required data | Expected format | Field source | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPS polygon of each plot above 4 ha | GeoJSON, 6 decimals | GPS or smartphone survey | High |
| GPS point for plots under 4 ha | Latitude, longitude | Agent smartphone | Medium |
| Farmer identity | Name, ID, national farmer card number | Cooperative census | Medium |
| Date and volume of each farm gate purchase | Kg, date, warehouse | Weighing at collection | Medium |
| Bag, batch, container link | QR code or barcode | Warehouse labelling | High |
| Deforestation-free analysis | Cross-check with satellite maps | Platform | High |
| Local legality | Land tenure, child labour | Surveys and attestations | High |
For a supplier union of 9,000 farmers, that means roughly 11,000 plots to map, because a third of farmers work several fields. It is the heaviest budget line and the one to start first.
Total 2026 budget for a 9,000-farmer supply base
The software platform is only part of the cost. Fieldwork (mapping, training, equipment) weighs as much as development. Figures below are the cost at origin in Côte d'Ivoire, converted at 655.957 FCFA per EUR.
| Item | Assumption | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Plot mapping | 11,000 polygons at 1.8 to 3 EUR | 20,000 to 33,500 EUR |
| Smartphones and power banks for agents | 45 agents at 183 EUR | 8,200 EUR |
| Agent and delegate training | 6 regional sessions | 3,000 to 6,100 EUR |
| Offline collection app and web platform | Custom development | 3,810 to 22,870+ EUR |
| QR labels and warehouse printers | 300,000 bags per season | 3,000 to 7,600 EUR |
| Satellite deforestation analysis | Subscription or batch processing | 2,300 to 9,150 EUR per year |
| Hosting, maintenance and support | 12 months | 2,300 to 6,100 EUR |
| Total | 38,000 to 91,000 EUR |
Kolonell builds the custom software between 2.5 and 15M+ FCFA (3,810 to 22,870+ EUR) depending on complexity, the rest on quote: an Android collection app that works without network for several days, a web platform for management and buyers, and a GeoJSON export ready for the EUDR statement.
Features that make the difference in the field
| Feature | Why it matters | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Offline capture with deferred sync | Weak network coverage in growing areas | Essential |
| Polygon tracing by walking the boundary | Enough accuracy without professional GPS | Essential |
| Automatic overlap checks | Prevents duplicate and fraudulent plots | Essential |
| Weighing linked to farmer and plot | Blocks untraced cocoa at the warehouse door | Essential |
| Premium payments via mobile money | Financial traceability, less cash | Recommended |
| Buyer dashboard with risk score | Speeds up the importer's due diligence | Recommended |
| French and local language audio interface | Adoption by low-literacy delegates | Optional |
The realistic schedule is 5 months: 1 month of scoping and design, 2 months of development alongside the start of mapping, 1 month of pilot in 2 cooperatives, 1 month of rollout and training before the October main crop.
Mini case study
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Pieter, sourcing director of a cocoa importer in Amsterdam, buys 12,000 tonnes a year from a union of 14 cooperatives near Abidjan. He offers a sustainability premium of 0.12 EUR per kilo, conditional on complete EUDR data, and co-funds half of the traceability platform. His share: about 32,000 EUR in year one (half of a 64,000 EUR total), then 6,100 EUR per year. Without compliant data, his 12,000 tonnes, worth an estimated 60 to 90M EUR at 2026 prices, cannot legally enter the EU market. Co-funding represents less than 0.1% of the value of the volume it protects.
FAQ
Do all plots need a polygon?
The regulation requires a polygon for plots above 4 hectares, a single GPS point is enough below that. In practice many operators ask for polygons everywhere, which costs about 1.8 to 3 EUR per plot at origin.
Does the app work without network?
Yes, this is essential: agents capture data offline for 3 to 7 days and sync when they return to town. Data stays encrypted on the phone in the meantime.
Can we reuse national farmer registry data?
The Côte d'Ivoire farmer card and national census can serve as an identification base. They must be complemented by your own plot surveys, because their accuracy varies widely.
How long does mapping 11,000 plots take?
With 45 agents surveying 6 to 8 plots a day, plan on 7 to 9 weeks of fieldwork. It is best to start during the off season.
Who owns the data?
The cooperative union, by contract, with a data sharing agreement for the importer. The platform runs on a server they control, and all data can be exported to GeoJSON and CSV at any time.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of farmers, plots and warehouses in your supply base: we will price the offline collection app and the EUDR platform, with an indicative budget and a schedule aligned with the harvest. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
