The European market continues to be one of the main destinations for Peruvian cacao. According to data from SUNAT and Adex Data Trade, the European Union accounted for approximately 39.9% of the value of Peruvian exports of cacao beans and nibs in 2025, reaching US$617.8 million (Cultivate Perú, 2026). This scenario represents an important opportunity for Peruvian producers to strengthen their presence in markets that increasingly demand sustainability and transparency.

To remain competitive, producers must adapt to the new requirements of the European market, including the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in December 2026. This regulation requires companies to demonstrate that products such as cacao do not originate from deforested areas and to provide evidence of their origin. To comply with these requirements, organizations will need to strengthen their traceability systems and have information that supports compliance with the relevant requirements.

To address this challenge, WWF-Peru is promoting a process to strengthen cacao traceability together with producers, cooperatives, and other stakeholders across the value chain, with the aim of ensuring that organizations have reliable and verifiable information to respond to the new requirements of the international market.

© WWF-Peru

As part of this process, a pilot program has been implemented with two cacao-producing cooperatives in Madre de Dios: COOPSSUR and AGROBOSQUES. Although these organizations have certifications and good production practices in place, they need to demonstrate the traceability of their production and the actions they are taking to mitigate climate change.

"TrazApp is a digital tool we are promoting to strengthen traceability in sustainable production chains. Building on the experience developed in the fisheries sector, we aim to scale its use to other value chains, such as Amazonian cacao, adapting it to producers' needs. This scaling-up represents an opportunity for Amazonian producers to demonstrate the value of their work, access more competitive markets, and show that it is possible to produce cacao while conserving forests", says José Álvarez, Sustainable Fisheries Production Chains Specialist at WWF.

© WWF-Peru

Over the course of six months, more than 70 people from the two organizations have received training on traceability and used the application. Based on their experience, they have also provided valuable feedback to help adapt the application to their needs and ensure it meets their expectations.

"During this first stage, we have been very expectant and optimistic that farmers would adapt quickly, be able to use the application, and contribute to the improvements that can be made. We hope to implement it in other areas and continue advancing with all traceability records, which in our case cover the entire process, from the farm to the finished product," says Doris Milagros Fuentes Holanda, Manager of AGROBOSQUE.

Producers are expected to adopt the application during the second half of 2026 and be prepared to respond to the European Union market's new requirements. "This process has allowed producers to deepen their understanding of topics such as what deforestation-free areas mean and climate change mitigation, while also providing an additional incentive to continue their good production practices", says Kaori Wong, WWF-Peru Officer.

© WWF-Peru

Doris also notes that the application will make it easier for them to comply with the requirements for exporting to the European Union. "It will be accessible and easy to update. We are open to continuing the process and supporting it in any way necessary."

Advancing the traceability of Peruvian cacao is an important step toward enabling producers to continue exporting to the European market, a demanding market that increasingly prioritizes transparency and sustainability. At the same time, this process promotes environmental management, responsible agricultural practices, and efforts to reduce the risk of deforestation and biodiversity loss.

© WWF-Peru