Can You Afford to Ignore Geospatial Data in the Race for EUDR Compliance?

Executive Summaries 

• The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is transforming geolocation data from a value-add into a legal necessity in global trade. Companies aiming to enter or remain in the EU market must prove that their commodities are legally produced and free from deforestation—validated through precise, plot-level geolocation data. Any commodity grown on land deforested after 31 December 2020, or lacking traceability, is deemed non-compliant and cannot be placed on the EU market. Additionally, compliant products must be stored separately from those of unknown or non-compliant origin.

• Traceability to the specific plot of land is critical to verify that no deforestation has occurred at a production site. Under the EUDR, Operators must collect and submit the geographic coordinates of all production areas as part of their Due Diligence Statements. This data must be uploaded to the EU’s centralized Information System for verification.

• KoltiTrace MIS offers a robust, field-tested geospatial solution to meet EUDR compliance requirements. The platform integrates real-time mobile data collection, satellite imagery, and automated workflows to enable land-use monitoring, sourcing validation, and streamlined regulatory reporting. It also features global mapping layers and protected area overlays to ensure compliance even in complex sourcing regions.

Imagine being able to pinpoint the exact plot of land where your coffee, cocoa, or rubber was grown, right down to the GPS coordinates. Under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), this level of detail is required. The regulation mandates that companies provide precise geolocation data for commodity production areas to prove that no deforestation occurred after December 31, 2020. In this regulatory landscape, geospatial data has evolved from a niche agricultural tool into a fundamental pillar of sustainable trade.

To comply with the EUDR, which requires companies to prove that their commodities are deforestation-free and legally sourced, businesses must collect and report precise geolocation data for every plot of land where key products such as palm oil, cocoa, rubber, coffee, soy, and timber are cultivated. Why is this so critical? Because traceability begins with location. Without plot-level data, including GPS coordinates and polygon maps for areas larger than four hectares, companies cannot demonstrate compliance, assess environmental risks, or verify the true origin of their goods.

Yet despite its importance, geospatial technology remains underutilized in agriculture. A 2022 study in southern Germany found that only 14% of field farmers used satellite-derived maps (Gabriel, A., Gandorfer, M., 2023). In Brazil, although 84% of farmers used at least one digital technology in their production systems, only 20.4% used GPS and just 5.4% used digital maps (Bolfe et al., 2020).

Historically, geolocation was used primarily by sustainability frontrunners such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Rainforest Alliance, and Fair Trade to gain consumer trust and certification credibility. But with the EUDR taking full effect by December 30, 2025, geospatial verification is no longer optional. The challenge now lies in execution. Businesses must overcome data management complexity, supplier knowledge gaps, and communication barriers.

Understanding Geospatial Data and Traceability Requirements

Geospatial data plays a pivotal role in traceability by providing precise information about the location of commodity production areas. This allows companies to verify the origin of goods and ensure they are not linked to deforestation or illegal land use. With the introduction of the EUDR, using geospatial data has become mandatory to prove that a commodity does not come from deforested land and complies with local laws in order to access the EU market. For exporters and suppliers, failure to comply could mean losing access to this valuable market. Those who adapt early, however, can gain a competitive advantage by demonstrating sustainability, building trust, and securing long-term partnerships.

Companies must submit exact latitude and longitude coordinates for each production plot. For areas exceeding four hectares, polygon mapping is required to define clear land boundaries. When this geospatial data is integrated with supplier information, production volumes, and countries of origin, it enables authorities to assess environmental risks and validate compliance with the EUDR.

Without these coordinates, it becomes nearly impossible to confirm where and how commodities were produced. This makes geolocation the cornerstone of sustainable, transparent, and legally compliant trade. As emphasized in the European Commission’s EUDR FAQ, the regulation aims to eliminate deforestation-linked products from EU markets, reinforcing the urgency for companies to adopt robust traceability systems that provide end-to-end visibility from seed to table.

The Importance of Geolocation Data in EUDR Compliance

The EUDR marks a significant shift in agricultural supply chain transparency, positioning geospatial data as a mandatory requirement for accessing the EU market. Under this regulation, companies must provide verifiable evidence that their commodities are legally produced and free from deforestation. This proof must come in the form of traceability data that links each product to the exact plot of land where it was grown or harvested. Businesses are required to submit this information as part of a due diligence statement, including geographic coordinates, to an official EU Information System.

The regulation also specifies how land must be geolocated. For plots larger than four hectares (excluding cattle production), businesses must provide polygon coordinates with a precision of at least six decimal places to define the plot’s perimeter. For smaller plots under four hectares, or for cattle establishments, a single latitude and longitude point is sufficient. This structured approach promotes consistency while accounting for practical differences in farm size and commodity type.

Geolocation data is a cornerstone of EUDR compliance. It serves not only as a technical requirement, but also as a powerful tool for demonstrating environmental responsibility and corporate accountability. Its importance spans several key areas: 

• Traceability

  Geolocation data enables businesses to link products directly to the land where they were produced, a core requirement of the EUDR. This allows regulators and stakeholders to trace commodities back to their source and verify that they originate from deforestation-free areas. 

  
  

• Deforestation Verification

  With precise location data, companies can confirm that their supply chains are not associated with illegal or harmful deforestation practices, supporting EUDR’s goal to curb deforestation linked to EU-bound products. 

• Due Diligence Statements

  The regulation mandates that companies submit due diligence statements (DDS) including accurate production location information. Geolocation data is essential to support and validate these claims. 

  
  

• Data Accuracy and Format

  The EUDR specifies stringent requirements for geolocation data accuracy, including coordinates with at least six decimal places and the use of polygons for large land plots. Meeting these standards ensures credible reporting and compliance. 

  
  

• Risk Management

  Accurate geolocation data allows companies to assess and mitigate deforestation-related risks, such as non-compliance penalties or loss of market access, before they impact business operations.

  
  

• Supply Chain Transparency

  Clear and verifiable geolocation enhances overall transparency in the supply chain, building trust among regulators, business partners, and consumers.

  
  

• ESG Integration

  Utilizing geolocation data to comply with the EUDR also supports companies’ ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) commitments, reinforcing their dedication to sustainable, ethical sourcing. 

  
  

By meeting EUDR geolocation requirements, companies not only ensure regulatory compliance but also gain a strategic advantage by demonstrating transparency, reducing environmental impact, and aligning with global sustainability standards.

Leveraging KOLTIVA’s Geospatial Tools for Traceability 

To meet the stringent requirements of the EUDR, Koltiva has embedded geospatial intelligence into its comprehensive traceability platform, KoltiTrace MIS Land Use Tracker. This web- and mobile-based system enables end-to-end supply chain transparency, empowering companies to monitor operations from farm to final product. By integrating geolocation mapping, satellite monitoring, and real-time mobile data capture, KoltiTrace provides businesses with precise visibility into farm-level activities. This allows them to trace raw materials to their source, monitor land-use change, verify compliance, and validate alignment with sustainability and legal standards. The result is a scalable solution for building resilient, transparent supply chains.

Land Use Tracker V3, a key feature of our KoltiTrace MIS platform, offers the following capabilities:

• Medium-resolution satellite imagery (10-meter) for accurate and continuous land monitoring. 

• Access to a wide range of open-source maps, including those from Global Forest Watch (Tree Cover Loss), the Joint Research Center (JRC), and the Science Based Target Network (SBTN). Land Use Tracker V3 also offers our in-house, advanced land-use change detection technology, featuring a Desktop Verification tool powered by the Continuous Change Detection and Classification (CCDC) algorithm, which provides historical land-use graphics. 

• Geospatial cross-referencing of farm plots against protected or restricted zones using data from the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and verified maps from local governments. This is especially relevant for areas where our operates on the ground, such as Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Honduras, and Côte d’Ivoire. 

• Automated workflows within the KoltiTrace MIS platform that streamline the creation of Due Diligence Statements, minimizing manual errors and increasing operational efficiency. 

Curious about how geospatial intelligence is transforming supply chains? 

Discover one of our BeyondTraceability Talks webinars "Mapping Sustainability: Leveraging Geospatial Intelligence for Traceable Supply Chains ", an expert-led session unpacking how location-based data is accelerating sustainable practices and enabling compliance with regulations like the EUDR. 

Featuring insights from: 

• David Gaveau – Founder & CEO, The TreeMap & Nusantara Atlas

• Carlos Riano – Forest and Land Use Expert, European Forest Institute

• Patrick HOUDRY – Head of Sales Agriculture and Forest Solutions, Airbus Geospatial and Secure Connectivity Solutions

• Anne Rosenbarger – Global Engagement Manager for Supply Chains, World Resources Institute,

• Rene Colditz, Scientific Project Officer at the Joint Research Center, and,

• Moderated by Fanny BUTLER, our Senior Head of Markets EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) 

This session offers valuable takeaways for companies navigating complex supply chain requirements. Whether you're in sustainability, compliance, or sourcing, you'll gain tools to lead with data-driven traceability. 

Find out more here and take the next step in future-proofing your supply chain. 

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Resources: 

• Gabriel, A., & Gandorfer, M. (2023). Adoption of satellite-derived maps in agriculture: A case study in southern Germany. Precision Agriculture, 24(2), Article 99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-022-09931-1  

• European Union. (2023). Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council on deforestation-free products. Official Journal of the European Union. Retrieved May 23, 2025, from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1115/oj 

• Bolfe, É. L., Jorge, L. A. d. C., Sanches, I. D., Luchiari Júnior, A., da Costa, C. C., Victoria, D. d. C., Inamasu, R. Y., Grego, C. R., Ferreira, V. R., & Ramirez, A. R. (2020). Precision and Digital Agriculture: Adoption of Technologies and Perception of Brazilian Farmers. Agriculture, 10(12), 653. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10120653  

Author: Gusi Ayu Putri Chandrika Sari, Social Media Officer at KOLTIVA

Subject Matter Experts: Dimas Perceka, Remote Sensing & Climate Lead at KOLTIVA and Master of Engineering in Geotechnics

About Expert:

Dimas Perceka is a dedicated GIS Developer with a Master of Engineering, currently contributing to geospatial innovation at Koltiva. He brings deep expertise in spatial data management, remote sensing, satellite imagery analysis, and climate change monitoring. Dimas excels in building scalable spatial databases, developing web GIS applications. With a strong foundation in spatial analytics, he supports multi-stakeholder projects focused on sustainable development and digital traceability. Known for his adaptability and collaborative mindset, Dimas thrives in dynamic environments that demand precision, innovation, and impact.