Navigating data and compliance challenges facing EUDR regulation

During the past 20 years, data has been evolving exponentially and proven to be crucial for analyzing, decision making and solving all sorts of problems. Worlds sustainability organizations don´t think otherwise when managing forests and land sustainably. With technological advancements, monitoring landscapes has improved, creating opportunities but also introducing challenges for supply chain transparency and compliance with deforestation regulations.   

Key challenges identified in managing data for deforestation-free supply chains revolve around: Geo-locations and Traceability and Forest and Land Monitoring.  

When it comes to Geo-location, Data Interoperability and Standardization are fundamental for data management. These aspects help avoid inefficiencies and higher compliance costs. Standardizing data elements is essential not only for integrating and sharing datasets effectively but for uploading and storing data too. Nature's geospatial data sharing protocol aims to address these issues and simplify the way data is stored and shared. At Peterson Group, we make sure that our clients data management complies with the Natures geospatial protocol and that they can fully trace their products supply chains, from raw material to end product.   

Another important aspect to consider is Trustworthy Data Sharing: Effective data sharing across global supply chains must consider technical, legal, and ethical challenges. Developing best practices and guidelines can enhance data sharing, despite concerns over data privacy and commercial sensitivities. Ensuring the privacy and consent of farmers, especially smallholders, is critical.   

 Forest and Land Monitoring

High-resolution imagery and deep learning offer opportunities to shift from land cover to land use mapping, crucial for EUDR regulatory compliance and land use planning. Peterson Technologies provide high-end imagery solutions with built-in analytics. These allow to define whether polygons of land have been deforested in the past years or if there is a risk of affecting the land or indigenous civilizations.   

Peterson Solutions

Peterson Solutions emphasizes collaboration to address data challenges, improve traceability, and scale up monitoring efforts. By providing high resolution Satellite imagery and storing data in a solid traceability platform backed up by Blockchain, Peterson Group is on track to provide supply chain transparency and ensure compliance for EUDR regulations.  Ongoing efforts, including webinars and workshops, focus on aligning stakeholders, mapping the supply chains, identifying data gaps, and fostering collaboration across various sectors and commodities to advance deforestation-free supply chains.  

Strengthening Data Management 

To navigate these complex challenges effectively, apart from technological solutions, at Peterson Group we think it is essential to establish clear internal data management processes. This involves:  

• Implementing Robust Data Governance Frameworks: Establishing policies and procedures for data collection, storage, access, and sharing to ensure data integrity and compliance with regulations.  

• Developing Effective Data Flow Management Systems: Creating systems to handle data flows efficiently, including data integration, processing, and dissemination across various platforms and stakeholders.  

• Investing in Capacity Building: Training personnel to manage and interpret data correctly, ensuring they are equipped to handle the latest technological tools and methodologies for data analysis and management.  

• Conducting Regular Risk Assessments: Continuously evaluating potential risks associated with data handling, including data breaches, inaccuracies, and compliance issues, and implementing mitigation strategies to address these risks proactively.  

• Monitoring mitigation plans: Planning and executing risk mitigation plans to reduce risk of deforestation and help comply with EUDR.  

For more information on what EUDR is and how to become compliant, contact us via email: [email protected]  or visit https://www.petersontechnologies.com/