Sustainable cocoa growing in Ghana, how can EUDR be an opportunity in a challenging sector?

Cocoa farming, along with (illegal) mining, logging, and other agricultural activities are key contributors to deforestation in Ghana. Typically, farmers clear tropical forests to plant new cocoa trees rather than adopting land reuse practices or increasing the productivity of established farms. Illegal mining adds to the problem, destroying more cocoa farms each year. Many struggling farmers sell their land to illegal miners, who use harmful chemicals that pollute water and soil, making it hard to grow any crop for years. However, mining is not the only challenge in the cocoa sector. Farmers also face issues such as inadequate income, diseased trees, and low cocoa yields, all of which contribute to child labor in the sector. To some, the EUDR feels like an unwelcome addition to a large list of existing challenges. As a result, it leads to many critical questions. Did the EUDR come too late? Since 2000, Ghana’s tree cover has decreased by 24%. And who is going to pay the price for ...