Farmers in Ethiopia's Sidama region are now grappling with the urgency to comply with European Union regulations aimed at safeguarding the environment. The E.U. rules, set to take effect at the end of this year, demand rigorous documentation tracing the origins of coffee shipments to ensure they do not come from deforested land.
As the largest coffee-consuming bloc globally, the E.U.'s move reflects a wider push for sustainable agricultural practices. However, critics argue that this regulation introduces a "green squeeze," disproportionately affecting small-scale farmers in developing regions who have had little role in contributing to climate change. Dejene Dadi, leader of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, voiced the struggles surrounding the swift adaptation to this regulatory framework, emphasizing the need for support: “It’s very challenging and costly, and we don’t have any help.”
With less than a year until compliance is mandatory, many Ethiopian farmers are left in a state of uncertainty as they strive to meet the new requirements amid financial and logistical challenges.
As the largest coffee-consuming bloc globally, the E.U.'s move reflects a wider push for sustainable agricultural practices. However, critics argue that this regulation introduces a "green squeeze," disproportionately affecting small-scale farmers in developing regions who have had little role in contributing to climate change. Dejene Dadi, leader of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, voiced the struggles surrounding the swift adaptation to this regulatory framework, emphasizing the need for support: “It’s very challenging and costly, and we don’t have any help.”
With less than a year until compliance is mandatory, many Ethiopian farmers are left in a state of uncertainty as they strive to meet the new requirements amid financial and logistical challenges.
