Overcoming Barriers in Geolocation Data: An Interview with Koltiva's GIS Expert for Deforestation Monitoring & Supply Chain Transparency
- Maria Marshella Gaviota
- May 28
- 11 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Editor's Note
Geospatial technology is transforming how companies manage supply chain transparency, providing precise, real-time data to monitor land use and detect deforestation risks. In this interview, our Remote Sensing & Climate Lead, Dimas Perceka, draws on his geospatial expertise to unpack the EUDR's requirements and showcase how our innovative solutions, particularly the Land Use Tracker (LUT), empower businesses to navigate this complex regulatory landscape. We believe that compliance is not merely an obligation but a strategic opportunity for long-term resilience and positive impact.
Executive Summary:
Geolocation as a Regulatory Foundation for EUDR Compliance: Accurate geolocation data is essential for complying with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), requiring companies to trace commodities to precise land plots and prove no deforestation occurred post-December 31, 2020. This includes mandatory traceability across all supply chain actors, with strict data format standards and detailed mapping based on plot size.
Challenges in Geolocation Data Collection and Verification: Meeting EUDR’s geolocation requirements involves overcoming significant operational challenges such as inconsistent geospatial file formats, difficulties in collecting accurate field data from remote or smallholder farms, and verifying historical land use through high-resolution satellite imagery. These complexities demand robust, interoperable, and verifiable data systems.
Koltiva’s Integrated Geospatial Solution for Transparent, Compliant Supply Chains: Koltiva’s KoltiTrace MIS platform integrates advanced geospatial intelligence, satellite data, and ground-verified field data to provide end-to-end traceability and sustainability monitoring. Featuring tools like the Land Use Tracker and FarmXtension app, it automates compliance reporting, supports detailed risk assessment, and enhances supply chain transparency—enabling companies to meet EUDR requirements while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Geolocation at the Core: Traceability Systems and Supply Chain Transparency for EUDR Compliance
Geolocation is not merely a technical requirement but a foundational element of compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Traceability to the plot of land is necessary to verify that no deforestation has taken place at the production site. To meet the regulation’s stringent due diligence obligations, companies must provide accurate geographic coordinates of the plots of land where relevant commodities were produced or harvested (European Commission).
This geospatial evidence must demonstrate that no deforestation has occurred after the established cut-off date of 31 December 2020 Under EUDR, traceability is mandatory for each batch of imported, exported or traded commodities of regulated commodities, regardless of their origin or risk classification. There are no exemptions. Each operator and trader must ensure full transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain, from origin to market. This includes addressing risks related to supply chain complexity, potential circumvention of the regulation, and the possibility of mixing with products of unknown or non-compliant origin.
Table of Index:
Geolocation at the Core: Traceability Systems and Supply Chain Transparency for EUDR Compliance
Key Challenges in Collecting Geolocation Data for EUDR Compliance
Koltiva’s Solution: Integrating Geospatial Intelligence with Traceability Systems
Enhancing Historical Context and Risk Assessment with the Land Use Tracker
Land Legality Verification and Protected Area Mapping for EUDR Compliance
Simplifying Remote Verification and Ground-Level Validation for Accuracy
Key Challenges in Collecting Geolocation Data for EUDR Compliance
One of the most significant hurdles in achieving compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is the requirement to collect accurate and verifiable geolocation data throughout complex and often fragmented supply chains. The regulation obliges all operators and traders to trace their commodities back to the exact production plot, providing precise geographic coordinates for each parcel of land involved. This level of traceability demands full visibility—not just from direct suppliers, but also from sub-suppliers and intermediaries operating at the farthest reaches of the value chain.
As businesses strive to meet these stringent requirements, navigating the geospatial data landscape presents a range of operational and technical challenges, and this is what we have covered:
Inconsistent Geolocation File Formats - Supply chain actors often capture geolocation data using various file formats such as KML, SHP, and other GIS-based systems. These formats differ in structure and compatibility, making it difficult to consolidate and standardize the data. To comply with EUDR requirements, all geolocation data must be converted into the GeoJSON format—posing a significant interoperability challenge for businesses managing large and varied datasets.
Complexities of On-the-Ground Data Collection - Collecting precise geolocation data directly from the field is particularly difficult in remote areas and smallholder-dominated supply chains. These regions frequently lack the infrastructure—such as stable mobile networks or GPS-enabled devices—necessary for reliable data capture. Smallholder farmers may also have limited digital literacy or access to mapping tools, making it difficult to gather accurate coordinates for their plots. As a result, compliance efforts may be hindered by incomplete or unreliable data.
Regulatory Requirements Based on Plot Size - The EUDR has specific requirements based on the size of the plots of land. For plots larger than 4 hectares, (for the production of relevant commodities other than cattle), geolocation has to be provided using polygons (not a unique central point with a circumference), meaning latitude and longitude points of six decimal digits to describe the perimeter of each plot of land. In contrast, for plots smaller than 4 hectares, operators (and traders that are not SMEs) may instead describe geolocation with one latitude and longitude point only. Establishments where cattle are kept can be described with a single point of geolocation coordinate. (European Commission).
Formally adopted in May 2023, the EUDR will apply to large businesses from December 30, 2025, and small businesses from June 30, 2026, following a proposed 12-month delay last year. Non-compliance incurs severe penalties, including fines up to 4% of EU turnover and market prohibition.
Koltiva’s Solution: Integrating Geospatial Intelligence with Traceability Systems
In response to the rigorous demands of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Koltiva has developed a robust solution by integrating geospatial intelligence into its end-to-end traceability platform, KoltiTrace MIS. This web and mobile-based system empowers companies to achieve full transparency across their supply chains, from seed to table. Through geolocation mapping and real-time data collection, businesses gain visibility into farm-level operations, enabling them to trace raw materials back to their origin and verify compliance with sustainability standards.
KoltiTrace MIS goes beyond basic traceability by combining geospatial data with comprehensive sustainability project management. The system supports monitoring of farm boundaries, land use changes, and deforestation risks using GPS data and satellite imagery. By connecting upstream producers with downstream buyers, the platform creates a transparent and verifiable flow of information. These data-driven insights enable companies to identify potential non-compliance early, mitigate environmental risks, and demonstrate responsible sourcing practices to regulators, partners, and consumers.
Specifically tailored to meet EUDR requirements, KoltiTrace MIS automates due diligence processes by collecting and verifying polygon or point-based geolocation data as required. It streamlines compliance workflows by generating standardized reports that align with regulatory obligations, significantly reducing manual effort and the risk of error. With its integrated capabilities, KoltiTrace not only ensures regulatory alignment but also empowers businesses to take a leadership role in promoting sustainable agriculture, ethical sourcing, and climate resilience across their value chains.
Expert Spotlight: Dimas Perceka, Remote Sensing & Climate Lead at Koltiva, on Geospatial Innovation for EUDR Compliance
At the heart of KoltiTrace MIS’s impact lies its integration of advanced geospatial technology, designed to meet the nuanced and stringent requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Implementing such robust systems demands not only robust traceability tools but also specialized expertise.To gain deeper insights into our innovative solutions and the evolving landscape of sustainable supply chains, we turn to Dimas Perceka, our Remote Sensing & Climate Lead.
In his role, Dimas leads the development and implementation of solutions addressing critical environmental challenges like deforestation and land-use change helping global agribusinesses transition toward sustainable and regulation-compliant operations. By translating complex satellite data and climate models into practical, actionable insights for businesses striving for EUDR compliance, he ensures our technological offerings are scientifically robust and directly applicable to real-world agribusiness challenges.
When asked about how Koltiva tackles the EUDR’s stringent “deforestation-free” mandate—requiring precise, commodity-specific deforestation detection, Dimas emphasized the role of Koltiva’s Land Use Tracker (LUT).
“Meeting the EUDR's precise requirements for commodity-specific insights is paramount,” he said. “Koltiva’s Land Use Tracker achieves this by employing medium-resolution satellite imagery, providing 10-meter-per-pixel clarity. These algorithms are specifically developed to detect land cover changes and identify deforestation. They analyze imagery to pinpoint patterns and rates of forest loss with high accuracy, minimizing false positives and negatives.”
Dimas added that this spatial data is processed with advanced applications, enabling LUT to deliver precise, actionable insights tailored to commodities like coffee or cocoa, directly supporting EUDR’s due diligence criteria. He enables companies to perform due diligence with a high degree of precision, directly aligning with EUDR compliance requirements. By combining technical sophistication with practical application, Koltiva’s geospatial intelligence not only enhances traceability but also helps businesses lead the shift toward more transparent and sustainable global supply chains.
Enhancing Historical Context and Risk Assessment with the Land Use Tracker
Koltiva recognizes that assessing deforestation risk requires more than just a snapshot of current conditions; it demands a comprehensive understanding of historical trends. To address this need, our Land Use Tracker (LUT) integrates advanced change detection algorithms that enable the retrieval and analysis of historical deforestation data. This capability provides users with valuable temporal context, allowing them to monitor deforestation patterns and changes in forest cover over extended periods.
By offering these historical insights, the Land Use Tracker empowers companies to gain a deeper understanding of how land use within their supply chains has evolved. This broader perspective enables a more accurate assessment of deforestation risk, allowing businesses to identify their historical exposure and make informed decisions regarding supplier engagement and responsible sourcing. Ultimately, the integration of temporal analysis into deforestation risk assessment strengthens sustainability efforts and promotes transparency across agricultural supply chains.
Dimas described how Koltiva transforms raw deforestation data into clear, actionable intelligence that companies can use efficiently.
“Converting raw deforestation data into actionable insights for EUDR compliance is a key function of our system,” he said. “GIS integration is central to LUT’s capacity to visualize and analyze deforested areas. We process audited forest cover data using spatial applications and integrate these results into the KoltiTrace MIS dashboard.” This GIS-driven approach, he noted, creates detailed maps that streamline identification of deforested regions, enhancing accuracy and clarity, essential for meeting due diligence requirements.
Koltiva emphasizes the importance of data credibility and verification in delivering reliable deforestation analysis, especially to support compliance with regulations such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). To ensure accuracy and transparency, Koltiva adopts a multi-source approach that integrates several reputable datasets.
The Land Use Tracker combines three primary deforestation data sources: Global Forest Watch (GFW), the Joint Research Centre (JRC), and the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN). Global Forest Watch utilizes frequent satellite imagery analyzed through time-series algorithms to detect changes in tree cover, enabling continuous and precise monitoring of land cover dynamics. The Joint Research Centre contributes detailed forest cover maps that support more localized and regional assessments. Meanwhile, the Science Based Targets Network provides data aligned with broader sustainability frameworks, enhancing the overall robustness of the analysis.
All of these datasets are open-source and supported by publicly documented methodologies, which guarantees verifiability and transparency at multiple scales. This comprehensive and transparent approach strengthens Koltiva’s ability to provide auditable deforestation assessments that meet the rigorous demands of regulatory compliance and responsible sourcing initiatives.
Land Legality Verification and Protected Area Mapping for EUDR Compliance
Addressing the challenge of subtle and near real-time land cover changes, Dimas explained how Koltiva improves precision through advanced algorithms.
“We recognize that pinpointing subtle land cover changes with high precision is crucial for EUDR compliance, and misclassifications are a concern,” he said. “Koltiva’s Land Use Tracker enhances deforestation monitoring by adding a Desktop Verification tool that includes historical data graphics processed using the Continuous Change Detection and Classification (CCDC) algorithm. CCDC’s time-series analysis models spectral patterns to detect minute land cover shifts, such as nascent forest loss.”
This approach ensures high accuracy, minimizing misclassifications to meet the stringent EUDR requirements.
The complex task of verifying land legality, especially identifying overlaps with protected or restricted areas, is another critical compliance hurdle. Dimas outlined Koltiva’s solution:
“We integrate spatial data from authoritative sources like the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and official maps from local governments. We maintain and expand a repository of administrative and conservation area maps, especially for regions where our field operations are active—including Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Honduras, and Ivory Coast.”
This cross-referencing allows detection of overlaps between agricultural plots and protected zones with high accuracy, providing companies a strong foundation to demonstrate compliance with EUDR’s legality criteria and mitigate supply chain risks.
Koltiva’s Land Use Tracker (LUT) is designed with advanced analytical capabilities that facilitate detailed and granular risk assessments, meeting the specific data requirements of regulations such as the EUDR. The platform offers intuitive filtering and categorization tools, allowing users to refine analysis by map type, geographic location—down to country and province levels—and commodity type. Interactive toggles enable users to display key data layers including plot locations, producer information, and plot boundaries.
Risk levels are systematically categorized into Low, Medium, or High, providing clear guidance for prioritization. In addition, the system delivers detailed insights into various land use classifications and legality assessments by cross-referencing protected areas through the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and national maps. This comprehensive approach supports users in making informed decisions based on precise and actionable deforestation risk data.
Simplifying Remote Verification and Ground-Level Validation for Accuracy
Koltiva also addresses the challenge faced by non-GIS specialists needing to verify deforestation data remotely.
“We simplify remote monitoring through our Desktop Verification feature,” Dimas explained. “Users, regardless of GIS expertise, can verify land cover changes using high-resolution satellite imagery directly from their desktop. They visually compare ‘before and after’ images to confirm forest clearing, manually validate automated alerts, and leverage detailed imagery for precise assessments.” This feature supports compliance documentation and audits by streamlining remote reviews with clear, verifiable insights, eliminating the need for complex GIS software.
Koltiva recognizes that while satellite data is invaluable for large-scale monitoring, it also has inherent limitations, such as potential misinterpretation of seasonal changes and connectivity challenges in remote areas. To ensure the reliability of deforestation risk assessments for EUDR compliance, Koltiva integrates ground-level data collection with digital tools.
“To ensure reliability for EUDR compliance, ground data is essential for validating our satellite intelligence,” Dimas noted.
KoltiTrace MIS’s FarmXtension mobile app enables field agents to collect precise farm polygon data by physically walking the plot boundaries. The app is designed to function offline using pre-downloaded maps and satellite signals, and syncs data once connectivity is restored. This ground-verified data is then overlaid with geospatial forest data in the Land Use Tracker, enhancing the accuracy and verifiability of land use change detection.
Beyond digital platforms, Koltiva places a strong emphasis on direct engagement in supply chain origins.
Dimas stressed, “While digital platforms like KoltiTrace MIS and Land Use Tracker provide crucial insights, ensuring accurate data collection, producer engagement, and capacity building in remote supply chain origins is essential.”
KoltiSkills, Koltiva’s boots-on-the-ground service, deploys trained field agents to map farm polygons, gather socioeconomic and agronomic data, and train producers on sustainable practices. This integrated approach ensures that deforestation-free claims tied to commodities are supported by auditable, ground-level intelligence, facilitating both comprehensive EUDR compliance and long-term sustainability efforts.
Take Your Next Step Toward EUDR Compliance
Navigating EUDR’s demands for traceability, legality, and sustainable sourcing is challenging, yet Koltiva’s Land Use Tracker, as showcased by Dimas, empowers businesses to overcome these hurdles with geospatial intelligence. Find out more in our upcoming webinar, Mapping Sustainability: Leveraging Geospatial Intelligence for Traceable Supply Chains, featuring Anne Rosenbarger, Global Engagement for Supply Chains at World Resources Institute (WRI), to discover strategies for integrating forest monitoring into business practices, combining technology with field engagement, and fostering producer inclusion for EUDR compliance.
🗓️ Wednesday, June 18, 2025
⏰ 10:00 CEST (UTC+1)
Featuring:
🗣️ Anne Rosenbarger, Global Engagement Manager for Supply Chains – World Resources Institute
🗣️ Fanny Butler, Senior Head of Markets, EMEA – Koltiva
More speakers to be announced!
Author: Maria Marshela, Marketing Communication at KOLTIVA
Subject Matter Experts: Dimas Perceka
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.
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