Proforest organises workshop ‘Brazil and EUDR: from pilots to large scale’ in Brasilia

On 10 December, Proforest held a workshop ‘Brazil and EUDR: from pilots to large scale’. The event, which took place online and in person in Brasilia, was attended by experts and partners from the soy, meat and leather sectors, as well as civil society. The initiative was funded by GIZ's AL-INVEST Verde and SAFE and Agrichains programmes and provided a space for dialogue between different sectors. 

For Cecilia Korber, Proforest's Project Manager, the initiative was a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, discuss challenges and build collective paths for implementing the EUDR in Brazil. ‘What made this event different was that we were able to bring together the results of dry runs carried out in partnership with companies in the soy, meat and leather chain. This aggregate was important for comparing existing solutions and the challenges facing each sector in Brazil,’ she says. ‘The event was very well attended because we were able to bring together the main players in the supply chains, government representatives and members of the embassies and the EU delegation - it is this group that will be able to take action to support Brazil in advancing traceability and transparency in these chains.’ 

The opening ceremony was attended by Proforest's Executive Director for Latin America, Isabella Freire; GIZ Brazil's project directors, Maria Olatz Cases and Petra Ascher, and the European Union's cooperation advisor. Ana Gutierrez. 

During the workshop, the results of the dry runs carried out by Proforest and sector partners Amigos da Terra - Amazônia Brasileira and Olab were presented, showing tested private solutions. 

The technical discussions brought together panelists who provided insights into the alignment of soya and meat in Brazil with EUDR requirements. The panels and group discussion session explored the role of public, sectoral and private solutions in adapting to regulatory and socio-environmental requirements. 

At the end, the next steps for EUDR implementation were also debated, with key contributions to the dialogue between sectors and countries.