The verdict in three sentences
The EU Deforestation Regulation requires operators placing rubber on the EU market to prove every batch comes from plots not deforested after 31 December 2020, backed by geolocation and a due diligence statement. For a trader sourcing from thousands of smallholders, the weak link is upstream: cooperatives that cannot tie each weighing to a farmer and a mapped plot. Funding a supplier-side traceability tool, offline and mobile, often costs less than a single rejected container or a premium paid to a third-party platform.
What your due diligence statement needs from the field
Natural rubber from Côte d'Ivoire, now Africa's leading producer, reaches European tyre and technical goods makers through processors and traders. Application of EUDR to large operators has been postponed more than once since late 2025, yet buyers already demand due diligence files from their suppliers.
| Data required | EUDR rule or buyer practice | How it is collected upstream |
|---|---|---|
| Producer identity | Each batch linked to an identified supplier | Farmer record with photo, ID and phone number |
| Plot geolocation | GPS point for 4 ha or less, polygon above | Smartphone survey by a field agent, offline |
| Deforestation-free | No forest conversion after 31/12/2020 | Polygons checked against satellite forest maps |
| Weighing | Quantity per producer and date | Linked scale or entry, numbered delivery slip |
| Batch | Link between weighings and factory delivery | Slips grouped by truck and processing lot |
| Legality | Land rights, labour, local tax law | Supporting documents scanned per producer |
| Retention | 5 years of records | Central database, exports for the operator |
The challenge is operational: weak connectivity in rural areas, farmers working several plots, weighings noted in notebooks, and cash payments that are hard to reconcile.
Options and 2026 orders of magnitude
| Option | Indicative cost | Strengths | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier spreadsheets | Low | No change required | Not usable for a due diligence file |
| International traceability platform | 15,000 to 60,000 EUR per year depending on volume | Satellite layers built in | Per-supplier onboarding is slow, recurring cost |
| Processor-provided tool | Often free to the trader | Aligned with the processor | Data controlled by the processor, limited visibility |
| Kolonell custom, mid-sized | 6,100 to 10,670 EUR (4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA) | Farmers, plots, weighings, offline slips | 14 to 18 week rollout |
| Kolonell custom, complete | 10,670 to 22,870+ EUR (7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA) | Satellite checks, mobile payments, trader portal | Field scoping required |
A simple build, 3,810 to 6,100 EUR (2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA), is enough to register farmers and plots ahead of the season. Maintenance runs at 53, 114 or 183 EUR per month. Connectors to a specific electronic scale, satellite imagery provider or your own compliance system are priced in the quote.
Rolling it out with suppliers
The app runs offline on entry-level Android phones and syncs when a network is available. A trained agent surveys 12 to 18 plots per day. Farmer payments can go through Wave or Orange Money, creating a transaction record tied to each delivery slip. Typical plan: 3 weeks of scoping and field visits, 8 to 10 weeks of build, then a 3 to 5 week pilot with one cooperative before scaling to others. Field agents are recruited locally and trained in two days, which keeps mapping costs predictable and builds trust with farmers.
Mini case study
Pieter, head of sustainability at a natural rubber trader in Amsterdam, sources 24,000 tonnes a year, half of it from Ivorian cooperatives. A third-party platform quotes 48,000 EUR a year. Instead, he co-funds a supplier-side tool with a 1,900-farmer cooperative near San-Pédro delivering 11,400 tonnes. Mapping 2,500 plots at 15 per agent-day takes about 167 agent-days, roughly 3,800 EUR in field costs.
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With a mid-sized custom build (6,100 to 10,670 EUR) and 114 EUR monthly maintenance, year-one cost stays well under half the platform fee, and the cooperative keeps a tool it can extend to other buyers. A single container of 20 tonnes rejected for missing geolocation can mean 30,000 EUR of delayed revenue.
FAQ
Is a polygon required for every plot?
The regulation requires a polygon above 4 hectares and a GPS point below. Many operators ask for polygons on all plots because they reduce disputes during checks.
Does the app work without a network?
Yes, data entry, photos and GPS capture all work offline. Sync happens back at the village store, usually in under 2 minutes per collection day.
Who owns the cooperative's data?
The cooperative owns its database and shares exports limited to batches delivered to each buyer. Traders get the geolocation and slips they need for their statements.
Can farmers be paid by mobile money?
Wave or Orange Money payments are linked to each weighing slip. For 1,900 farmers, this removes cash transport and creates a payment trail useful in audits.
How much lead time is needed?
Plan 14 to 18 weeks including the pilot. Starting at least 4 months before peak collection avoids mapping plots mid-season.
Let's scope your project. Farmers, plots, weighings and your EUDR file: we scope an offline supplier tool and a field pilot over 14 to 18 weeks. 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.
