Dimitra partners with NACCU to digitally equip Kenyan coffee farmers for EU deforestation-free trade rules 

KENYA – Dimitra, a global provider of agricultural technology and sustainability solutions, has partnered with the National Coffee Cooperative Union (NACCU) to launch a nationwide digital compliance platform for Kenya’s coffee sector.  

The initiative targets more than one million smallholder farmers represented by NACCU, enabling them to meet the European Union’s upcoming deforestation-free import rules. 

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which takes effect on December 31, 2025, will require all coffee exported to Europe to be fully traceable and certified as deforestation-free.  

Exporters must provide GPS mapping, forest cover verification, and legal documentation. With Europe accounting for more than half of Kenya’s coffee exports, compliance is essential to safeguard farmer livelihoods and the country’s coffee economy. 

Through the partnership, Dimitra will deploy its Connected Coffee application, which enables farmers to digitally register their farms, map land parcels with geolocation data, complete deforestation risk assessments, and generate compliance-ready reports.  

The system also includes carbon accounting and ESG reporting features, expanding opportunities for access to premium buyers and sustainability-driven markets. 

To maximize accessibility, the app will support both English and Swahili and function offline, addressing connectivity challenges in coffee-growing regions such as Meru, Kipkelion, Kiambu, Nyeri, and Mt. Elgon. NACCU will leverage its cooperative networks to assist with farmer onboarding, training, and technical support. 

Jon Trask, CEO of Dimitra, emphasized the dual significance of the initiative. “This partnership with NACCU not only prepares farmers and cooperatives for compliance with European environmental standards, it also advances Kenya’s broader goals of aligning agricultural exports with international sustainability frameworks,” he said. 

NACCU CEO Festus Bett highlighted the importance of inclusivity in the project, stressing that smallholders must remain integral to the global value chain.  

“In a time when digital exclusion threatens to widen inequality in global trade, this partnership demonstrates that with the right technology and grassroots coordination, it is possible to bring millions of smallholder farmers into global compliance,” Bett said. 

The collaboration marks a proactive move to shield Kenya’s coffee exports from regulatory disruptions while unlocking opportunities in carbon markets and ESG-focused investment.  

It also reinforces the country’s commitment to aligning agricultural exports with global sustainability standards and strengthening competitiveness in international markets. 

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