Digital Skills for Cocoa Traceability in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is one of the leading cocoa producers in the Caribbean, known for its high-quality beans and strong cooperative networks. However, with the upcoming enforcement of the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR), cocoa producers face a significant challenge: ensuring their cocoa is traceable and verifiably deforestation-free. Without meeting these requirements, Dominican cocoa risks losing access to key European markets, affecting livelihoods, export revenues, and the long-term viability of the sector.

Digital traceability is rapidly emerging as a key pillar for the future of the Dominican cocoa sector. Yet, limited technical capacity in traceability tools poses a major barrier for smallholder farmers and cooperatives working to comply with the new regulation.

To support national compliance and strengthen local capacities in managing digital solutions, Cooperativa Agropecuaria y Servicios Múltiples Villa la Mata (COOPMATA), a cocoa producers' cooperative, organised a hands-on training titled, “Georeferencing for Agricultural Technicians: Preparation for Due Diligence” from March 24 to 28, 2025, in Cotuí. This brought together cooperative technicians and students from the Universidad Tecnológica del Cibao Oriental (UTECO), a public technological university, for practical training in geospatial technologies and digital traceability.

Throughout the workshop, participants were trained in Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS) use, field plot surveys, map-making, and the creation of graphs for visualization. Field exercises allowed them to georeference cocoa farms belonging to cooperative members.

The digital competencies gained through this initiative are enabling COOPMATA and its members to align with EUDR standards, ensuring that their cocoa is deforestation-free and ready for export to the European Union. Beyond regulatory compliance, the training also enhances value chain transparency, supports climate resilience by promoting sustainable land use and monitoring environmental change, and encourages youth engagement through collaboration with academic institutions.

At the end of the training, all participants were awarded certificates, formally recognizing their newly acquired competencies in digital traceability and geospatial tools.

This activity is part of COOPMATA’s project, “Strengthening the Purchasing Power and Climate Resilience of the Cocoa Value Chain.” The initiative is financially supported by the European Union (EU), the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) within the framework of Matching Grant Fund (MGF) under ‘Business Support Facility for Resilient Agricultural Value Chains” implemented by the GIZ project, Agri-Business Facility for Africa (ABF).

By promoting digital innovation and strengthening climate resilience, this initiative contributes to a more sustainable and competitive cocoa sector, one that is better equipped to meet global market demands and improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers across the Dominican Republic.