Many of Africa’s most vulnerable entrepreneurs are subsistence farmers, stuck in a vicious cycle of poverty without the resources to increase their land’s productivity or their family’s income, tilling the land not for profit, but for survival. This cycle of low productivity and poverty not only limits economic opportunity, but also harms the environment. Traditional farming methods contribute to soil degradation, carbon emissions, and deforestation. However, with access to improved tools, financial support, and sustainable practices, these farmers could become central players in a regenerative agricultural movement that increases food security and combats climate change.

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) aims to reduce global deforestation by restricting imports and exports of goods linked to forest degradation. The regulation has sparked concerns from trade partners in South America and Southeast Asia who argue that it imposes heavy burdens on small producers and could disrupt global trade. The balancing act of economic and environmental impacts is critical as the EU prepares for the EUDR’s full implementation in December.