TCB & EU: Building EUDR Readiness for Tanzanian Coffee Exporters

TCB & EU: Building EUDR Readiness for Tanzanian Coffee Exporters

The event brought together 40 coffee exporters, alongside representatives from eight government agencies and ministries, and technical partners. Through information sharing, dialogue, and practical demonstrations, participants explored systems and tools that will help exporters enhance due diligence, improve data collection, and ensure Tanzanian coffee remains competitive and compliant in the European market.

The Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) and the European Union (EU) Delegation in Tanzania, in partnership with the European Forest Institute (EFI), the International Trade Centre (ITC), Emerging Markets International (EMI), and Bizy Tech, convened a two-day event in Dar Es Salaam to strengthen Tanzania's coffee export readiness under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

The event brought together 40 coffee exporters, alongside representatives from eight government agencies and ministries, and technical partners. Through information sharing, dialogue, and practical demonstrations, participants explored systems and tools that will help exporters enhance due diligence, improve data collection, and ensure Tanzanian coffee remains competitive and compliant in the European market.

A key highlight of the event was the presentation of the ongoing National Coffee Registry and the new TCB Coffee Profiling App, specially developed to collect farmer and farm data including EUDR relevant information such as farmer geolocation, deforestation-free status, and other legality aspects. Building on the successful TFRA app for fertilizer subsidies, the Coffee Profiling App has undergone multiple iterations, field testing, and improvements to ensure accuracy and reliability. Data collected is validated before being stored in the National Farmer Registry, after which a farmer card is issued.

The event also highlighted the role of the private sector in this transformation. Discussions explored how public-private partnerships in data collection can strengthen the registry, and how exporters can both contribute to and benefit from the Coffee Profiling App and Registry. By engaging actively, exporters can ensure they have access to verified, EUDR-compliant farmer data while also supporting the broader sustainability agenda of the Tanzanian coffee sector.

Speaking at the event, the EU Delegation stressed that compliance with the EUDR is not only a trade requirement but also an opportunity for Tanzania's coffee sector to demonstrate sustainability, transparency, and global competitiveness. "The EU is proud to partner with Tanzania in this journey. By investing in digital tools and transparent systems, Tanzania's coffee sector is taking important steps to show that it can meet international standards while also strengthening the livelihoods of farmers at home," said Marc Stalmans, Head of Cooperation from the EU Delegation.

TCB echoed this message, underscoring the importance of the registry for both market acceptance and farmer support. TCB Director General, Primus Kimaryo noted that "Developing a farmers' registry is required by law. We have made several attempts, but the EUDR has given us the market push to build it properly and to collect crucial new data needed to provide extension services to our coffee farmers, such as farm geolocation information. This is a significant milestone for our sector and our farmers."

The event demonstrated Tanzania's commitment to sustainable and traceable coffee production, ensuring continued access to the EU and other responsible markets and reinforcing the country's reputation as a producer of high-quality coffee