We Held Forums on the New European Regulation on Legality and Zero Deforestation

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On September 24 and 25, in the cities of Santa Marta and Valledupar, respectively, we held two forums on the new European Union Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) for the agro-industrial sector.

These events, organized by IDH and CREER, were supported by the Chambers of Commerce of Santa Marta and Valledupar. Together, we invited a wide range of regional stakeholders to share information and explore the impacts and key aspects of this new regulation—one that is highly relevant for producers, companies, trade associations, cooperatives, and other actors across the productive sectors in the departments of Magdalena and Cesar.

The forums consisted of two main segments. In the first, Daniel Uricoechea, Program Manager for Sustainable Palm Oil in Colombia at IDH, presented an overview of the new regulation and addressed questions from participants.

In the second part, we hosted a dialogue session moderated by César Álvarez, researcher at CREER. In Santa Marta, panelists included Red Ecolsierra, AGROSAVIA, Grupo DAABON, and the Fairtrade Initiative.

Meanwhile, in Valledupar, participants in the discussion included the Valledupar Chamber of Commerce, FEDEGAN, the Cocoa Growers Association of Perijá (ASOCOPE), and the Municipal Agriculture Secretariat of Chiriguaná.

More than 130 people took part in these events, which highlighted the importance of understanding and implementing the new European Union regulations to strengthen value chains such as coffee, cocoa, palm oil, and livestock, among others.

In doing so, CREER and IDH continue to strengthen the development of PPI Compacts in Magdalena and Cesar, and plan to hold this forum soon in the department of Huila, home to the HYLEA Andean-Amazon Corridor Compact.

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Transitional minerals

The rapid expansion of critical minerals for the energy transition and other strategic industries (agriculture, defense, technology) presents us with a paradox: the decarbonization of the planet depends on an intensification of mining activity. For CREER, this rapid expansion carries critical risks regarding human rights, local economic dynamics, and ecosystem balance. Our work focuses on analyzing these dilemmas through the lens of a just transition, promoting governance frameworks that mitigate negative impacts and ensure that the mining of “minerals for the future” is carried out under rigorous standards of sustainability, equity, and respect for fundamental rights, through dialogue among different stakeholders.

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We analyze the governance and sustainability challenges that arise in the implementation of decentralized generation models. Our work focuses on researching how local associative structures interact with regulatory frameworks and human rights standards. Through applied research, we assess the risks of rent capture, internal decision-making conflicts, and the conditions necessary for these self-management schemes to guarantee equitable and transparent participation in the territory.

Solar

With a focus on responsible land management and respect for local livelihoods, at CREER we apply our technical expertise in the photovoltaic sector to promote a solar transition with social integrity. Through the analysis of rural environments, the strengthening of local governance, and the design of participation mechanisms, we seek to ensure that large-scale deployment in Latin America not only contributes to the energy mix, but also strengthens the social fabric. Our purpose is to lead due diligence models that ensure solar infrastructure coexists with food security, strategic ecosystems, and the productive vocations of each community.

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