European EUDR Monitoring and Enforcement Authorities Visit Espírito Santo to Explore Sustainable Agriculture Initiatives under AL-INVEST Verde
A high-level delegation of European monitoring and enforcement authorities from Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Ireland conducted a field mission to Espírito Santo, Brazil, from December 6 to 9. The visit focused on examining traceability and sustainable agricultural practices supported by the AL-INVEST Verde programme and the state’s innovative approaches to sustainable production, particularly in alignment with the European Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR).
The visit was coordinated by AL-INVEST Verde in partnership with Espírito Santo’s Secretariat of State for Agriculture, Supply, Aquaculture, and Fisheries (SEAG). It included field visits, stakeholder meetings, and presentations highlighting Espírito Santo’s commitment to sustainability and traceability in agricultural production.
Strengthening EU-Brazil Cooperation on Sustainability
Espírito Santo’s governor, Renato Casagrande, underscored the importance of collaboration with the European Union in addressing deforestation concerns. He remarked, “This partnership strengthens our position as a global leader in sustainable agriculture while aligning with international standards like the EUDR.”
Similarly, Enio Bergoli, the Secretary of State for Agriculture, highlighted Espírito Santo’s leadership in Brazil’s sustainable agricultural practices. “This visit demonstrates our potential to showcase cutting-edge initiatives and attract investment that values sustainability,” Bergoli said.
Andrea Monaco, AL-INVEST Verde programme manager, praised the state’s efforts: “Espírito Santo holds tremendous potential to become a benchmark for sustainable practices across Latin America.”
Key Initiatives Presented
During the visit, Espírito Santo showcased its socio-environmental traceability platform, Selo Verde, developed in collaboration with the Espírito Santo Research and Innovation Support Foundation (FAPES) and the Territorial Intelligence Centre of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (CIT/UFMG). This initiative maps production areas for coffee, cocoa, and planted forests, ensuring compliance with environmental and socio-economic standards.
Representatives of the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), CECAFÉ, and Espírito Santo’s Forestry Monitoring Centre also participated, presenting tools and frameworks enabling adherence to EUDR requirements in the coffee sector.
Exploring Sustainable Practices
The European delegation visited several sites demonstrating sustainable agricultural practices. Key stops included:
- Linhares: The Women of Cacao project, promoting gender equality in cocoa production, and the cabruca system, an agroforestry method integrating cocoa trees into the Atlantic rainforest.
- São Gabriel da Palha: COOABRIEL, Brazil’s largest robusta/conilon coffee cooperative, supporting over 8,000 small-scale producers.
- Vila Valério: Demonstrations of cutting-edge sustainable coffee production practices.
- Tristão Trading in Vitória: Brazil’s first instant coffee production facility, showcasing Espírito Santo’s coffee innovation.
About AL-INVEST Verde
AL-INVEST Verde, an initiative of the European Union, promotes sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America by advancing low-carbon, resource-efficient, and circular economies. Under its second component, led by FIIAPP in partnership with IILA, the programme supports public policies, multi-stakeholder dialogues, and regulatory frameworks to enhance sustainable agricultural value chains and trade.
This mission reaffirmed Espírito Santo’s role as a key player in sustainable agriculture, bridging the gap between Latin America’s production capabilities and Europe’s regulatory standards. The initiatives presented not only underscore the region’s leadership but also strengthen global cooperation toward a more sustainable agricultural future.
