Sep 1210 min read
Only 12% of Downstream Firms have Traceability Systems in Place, KOLTIVA Urges Inclusive Segregation to Prevent Smallholder Exclusion
- Daniel Prasetyo
- Jul 20
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 12
Only 30% of upstream and 12% of downstream companies have traceability systems in place, leaving most supply chains unprepared for EUDR enforcement.
As the EU's Deforestation-Free Regulation Takes Effect, Ensuring Product Segregation emerges as a Critical Challenge for Agribusinesses, particularly for complex, smallholder-based supply chains.
Ensuring traceability requires implementing digital systems and rigorous separation protocols in the field to prevent mixing compliant crops with non-compliant ones. This is essential under the EUDR, as any blending of non-compliant goods renders the entire shipment ineligible to the EU market
raining, coaching, and capacity building for smallholders and intermediaries, like those provided by Koltiva, are crucial to help businesses, farmers, and intermediaries adopt segregation protocols, ensuring traceability, without excluding vulnerable farming communities
Zurich, July 21st 2025 — With the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) enforcement date drawing near, global supply chains remain alarmingly underprepared to comply with its stringent traceability and segregation requirements. A 2025 Forbes analysis reveals that while zero-deforestation commitments are becoming standard practice, only 30% of upstream suppliers and only 12% of downstream actors have established systems to trace deforestation risks, putting billions in EU-bound trade at serious risk.
Among the most pressing, yet frequently underestimated, threats to EUDR compliance is the mixing of compliant and non-compliant commodities—whether through negligence or operational shortcomings across transport, aggregation, or trade activities. The regulation mandates strict separation of goods sourced from compliant versus non-compliant land, including those of unknown origin. This means commodities must remain physically segregated throughout the entire supply chain—from harvest to export. Any failure to maintain this separation could result in outright rejection of shipments at EU borders.
KOLTIVA, the Swiss-Indonesian AgriTech firm specializing in traceability and sustainable supply chains, warns that segregation— the physical and procedural separation of EUDR-compliant and non-compliant commodities—is a critical and often overlooked hurdle. Without immediate action, many agribusinesses risk losing access to the EU market altogether.
Compliant goods under the EUDR must meet strict criteria, including verified land ownership, deforestation-free status, and precise geolocation. Any commodities harvested from land deforested after 31 December 2020, or lacking verifiable traceability, are deemed non-compliant and must be entirely separated. If compliant and non-compliant products are mixed—whether from unregistered plots or unknown sources—the entire shipment will be barred from entering EU markets.
The challenge lies in the complexity of global supply chains, where intermediaries and insufficient documentation can make tracking products back to their source difficult. This is where segregation becomes essential—not just for compliance, but as a vital risk mitigation strategy
KOLTIVA supports field teams using the KoltiTrace mobile apps to ensure transparency. Its methodology approach includes three levels of traceability analysis—geospatial-only, risk-based (geospatial & surveys), and strict compliance (full field verification)—helping businesses safeguard supply chains and prevent non-compliant goods from entering the market.
Andre Mawardhi, Senior Manager Agriculture and Environment at KOLTIVA highlights the unique difficulty posed by smallholder supply chains. “Achieving full physical segregation when sourcing from smallholders is a significant challenge. These supply chains are often intricate, with many points where mixing can inadvertently happen, and there’s always a chance that some plots may not be fully mapped. Some companies may choose to exclude sourcing from smallholders to simplify compliance, but that approach risks marginalizing farmers who are essential to sustainable commodity production. Businesses must carefully balance the need for compliance with the importance of inclusion,” he says.
For smallholder farmers, segregation is even more complex. Many smallholder farmers manage multiple plots, some compliant with EUDR, others not. Without reliable segregation practices, there’s a high risk of mixing products from different plots, which could result in the entire harvest being rejected from EU markets.
“We manage more than one plot, and some have already been mapped by Koltiva,” said Rahman Sarwono, a rubber farmer in Kutai Barat, East Kalimantan. “I understand the mapping helps define plot boundaries. If we’re trained to separate harvests between mapped and unmapped plots—those that are compliant and those that are not—it will really help us, and our communities, to meet the regulation.” said Rahman who has been working to meet EUDR requirements. "As farmers, we’re committed to comply, but we also need support, training, education to do it as required by the regulation. Otherwise, even a small mistake can shut us out of the market altogether."
According to Andre, navigating this complexity requires a structured, multi-step approach. First, ensure Verified Compliance and Documentation across all supply chain actors. This includes mapping farms with legal land use, confirming the absence of deforestation risk, and complying with environmental, social, and anti-corruption standards. Physical and documented separation of materials is essential from origin to export.
Second, Implement a Traceability System to verify deforestation-free sourcing. Accurate farm polygons and digital tools, such as mobile apps, enable end-to-end tracking of rubber. Agent-assisted data collection strengthens credibility and ensures transparency across all levels.
Third, develop Segregated Handling and Storage infrastructure. Utilize dedicated warehouses, separate transportation units, and consistent labeling systems to maintain the purity of compliant materials. Clear operational controls are crucial for maintaining physical separation.
Fourth, provide Field Training and Monitoring for farmers, dealers, and suppliers to ensure that segregation practices are understood and followed. Regular monitoring must be in place to assess compliance and correct any gaps in implementation.
Indryani Bali, Project Leader for Rubber Sector at KOLTIVA, adding, "Segregation for EUDR compliance shouldn't come at the cost of smallholder inclusion. That’s why KOLTIVA focuses on building local capacity—from training farmers and dealers to equipping businesses with real-time traceability data. We’re creating systems that are both traceable and inclusive." As the EUDR enforcement date approaches, businesses must prioritize the implementation of robust segregation and traceability systems. Failure to do so not only risks non-compliance but also jeopardizes access to the EU market and the reputation of supply chain actors.
For smallholders like Rahman support from companies and governments is crucial. “We want to protect forests and meet EUDR standards,” Rahman added. “But without clear guidance, even small mistakes can cost us everything. With the right support, we’re ready to do our part—because our future and also the environment depend on it.”
===
About KOLTIVA
Offering human-centered technology and boots-on-the-ground solutions that digitize agribusinesses and help smallholder producers transition to sustainable practices and traceable sourcing, KOLTIVA is recognized as the leading global sustainable agriculture and supply chain traceability company. As a global technology provider, it constructs ethical, transparent, and sustainable supply chains, assisting enterprises in fortifying their resilience and transparency. The company helps businesses and their suppliers comply with ever-changing regulations and consumer demands worldwide with traceability solutions. Operating in more than 65 countries and fortified by a network of customer support offices in 20 countries, KOLTIVA is committed to supporting over 19,000 enterprises in establishing transparent and robust supply chains while empowering over 1,900,000 producers to increase their annual income. www.koltiva.com
Press Contacts
Daniel Prasetyo Head of Public Relations & Corporate Communication +62 8111 671 919 |
A very timely read as the EUDR deadline approaches. I wonder how scalable this level of physical segregation is, especially in commodities like rubber or cocoa with fragmented sourcing. How can buyers and regulators ensure consistency without overburdening smallholders or creating new inequalities?