The agricultural sector is becoming increasingly complex, especially for smallholder farmers who want to sell their produce to the European Union. The recent introduction of the European Union Deforestation -free Regulation (EUDR) imposes stricter requirements on the traceability of agricultural products to ensure that they do not contribute to deforestation. For many smallholder farmers outside the EU, complying with this regulation can be a challenge. To address this challenge, engineering firm Evan Buytendijk has now developed a geolocations-app specifically designed to support smallholders in complying with the EUDR.
TL;DR
The new geolocations app is an innovative and essential tool for smallholders who want to comply with the strict requirements of the European Union Deforestation -free Regulation (EUDR). With its user-friendly interface, offline functionality and wide availability in different languages, the app enables smallholders to effectively register their plots and ensure their access to the European market. In addition to compliance with the EUDR, the app also helps smallholders to improve their sustainability and economic stability. This is a valuable step forward for smallholder farmers worldwide who want to actively contribute to a more sustainable agricultural sector.
Why a geolocations app?
The EUDR requires EU importers to be able to demonstrate that their products come from land that has not contributed to deforestation. For smallholders , who often operate in remote areas, recording the exact location of their land is an essential step in complying with this regulation. However, accessing the necessary technologies can be difficult, especially in areas without reliable internet connections. This is where the new geolocations app comes in.
Key features of the app
The new app is specifically designed to help smallholders meet EUDR requirements. Let’s take a look at the key features this app offers:
- Offline GPS functionality: One of the biggest challenges for smallholders is the lack of internet access in many of the areas where they work. This app does not require an internet connection to function. Smallholders can easily record the GPS coordinates of their plots, even in the most remote regions. This is a crucial feature that ensures that smallholders can collect their data without having to rely on external factors such as mobile networks.
- Efficient use of GPS: To save the device’s battery life, the app only uses GPS when necessary, namely when recording the coordinates of a point. This means that smallholders can record their location without worrying about quickly draining batteries, which is especially important in areas where access to electricity is limited.
- Multi-language availability: The app is available in eight languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Hindi, and Thai. This choice of languages ensures that the app is accessible to smallholders in a wide range of countries, from Latin America to Southeast Asia. Being available in their native language allows smallholders to easily use the app without language barriers.
- Basic information recording: In addition to recording GPS coordinates, users can also enter basic information such as the country they are working in, the name of the producer, and the name of the location. This data is essential for creating a clear and usable data set that can be shared with buyers and customers.
- GeoJSON export: The app exports data in the GeoJSON format, which is fully compliant with EUDR requirements. This file can be stored locally and is ready to be shared as soon as an internet connection is available. GeoJSON is a standard format for geographic data, which means that the file is directly usable in various types of software used by consumers.
- Privacy protection: An important aspect of the app is that it does not store any privacy-sensitive data. Smallholders do not have to worry about the safety of their personal information. The app only records the essential data needed for EUDR compliance.
- User-friendly interface: The app is designed with simplicity in mind. This makes it easy for smallholders , even those with little experience with technology, to use the app. The interface is intuitive and focuses on the core functionalities, allowing users to quickly and efficiently capture and export their data.
- Free and lightweight: The app is available for free and is small in size, which means it doesn’t take up much storage space on users’ devices. This is especially important for smallholders who may have limited resources.
- Available on Android and iOS: The app is available for both Android and iOS devices, making it accessible to a wide range of users. This allows smallholders to use the app on both phones and tablets, depending on what they have available.
- Determine where the data goes: The app gives smallholders control over their own data. Once the data is captured and the GeoJSON file is generated, users can decide who to send the file to. This can be a customer, a certification body, or another relevant party.
Target groups and key countries
The app is particularly relevant for smallholders in countries outside the EU where the production of agricultural commodities such as palm oil, coffee, cocoa, soy and rubber plays an important role. These countries include:
- Indonesia and Malaysia: These countries are major producers of palm oil. Smallholders here can use the app to document the origin of their palm oil and comply with the EUDR.
- Brazil and Argentina: Soy production is an important part of agriculture in these countries. The app allows smallholders in these regions to record their production areas and demonstrate that their soy does not come from recently deforested areas.
- West African countries such as Ghana and Ivory Coast: These countries are major producers of cocoa. The app helps smallholders to verify the origin of their cocoa and to meet the strict requirements of the EUDR.
- Latin American countries such as Colombia and Peru: These countries are well-known producers of coffee. Smallholders in these regions can use the app to document their coffee production and ensure their access to the European market.
- Thailand and India: These countries have a diverse agricultural sector, including the production of rubber and coffee. The app can help smallholders here to trace their products and be compliant with the EUDR.
Benefits for smallholders
The geolocations app offers numerous advantages for smallholders :
- Access to the European market: By meeting the EUDR requirements, smallholders can continue to export their products to the lucrative European market. This is vital for their revenues and economic stability.
- Easy compliance: The app makes it easy for smallholders to comply with the complex requirements of the EUDR without having to purchase expensive or complicated technologies.
- Buyer trust: By registering their plots and sharing this information with buyers, smallholders can increase the trust of their customers. This can lead to long-term relationships and a more stable sales market.
- Improved sustainability: By accurately recording the location of their plots, smallholders can better respond to sustainability initiatives and contribute to environmental protection.
- Cost savings: The app is free, which means that smallholders do not have to incur additional costs to comply with the EUDR. This is especially important for smallholder farmers with limited financial resources.
Installing the app
To install the app, go to: https://geolocations-app.eudr.support. On Android, choose “Add to Home Screen”. On iOS, click the “Share” button, scroll down and choose “Add to Home Screen”. Open the app and choose a language before you go into the field.
