Bridging African and European Trade Through Sustainable Agri-Food Commodities: Toward a Just and Green Transition

Europe's ambitious green transition, embodied by the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy, introduces new regulatory frameworks such as the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR). This landmark regulation seeks to eliminate commodities linked to deforestation from EU supply chains. While crucial environmentally, it poses risks of inadvertently excluding smallholder farmers and producers in Africa, who constitute over 250 million smallholders and collectively represent approximately 65% of Sub-Saharan Africa's population and 23% of its GDP. Hence, the success of such policies hinges on fostering inclusive sector transformation that supports rather than penalizes small-scale producers.

Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative (ASCI): A Model for Inclusive Sustainability

To address these complexities, the Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative (ASCI) provides a unifying framework centered on responsible production principles co-developed by African producer countries. ASCI prioritizes sustainable development of critical commodities including cocoa, rubber, palm oil, and coffee, empowering African nations to lead in defining sector governance that safeguards livelihoods and natural resources, especially tropical forests.

ASCI builds on foundational commitments such as the Marrakesh Declaration and the Africa Palm Oil Initiative (APOI), which engage countries like Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria in aligning commodity expansion with forest conservation goals. Recent milestones include legislative reforms and institutional innovations: for instance, Liberia enforces Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for land developers, Ghana has established the Tree Crops Development Authority regulating key commodity chains supported by a $100 million World Bank facility, and Edo State in Nigeria has implemented a new forest law accompanied by a dedicated Forestry Commission aimed at halting deforestation and restoring degraded landscapes.

Economic and Environmental Co-Benefits from Sectoral Transformation

Sustainable commodity production creates jobs, stimulates rural economies, and embeds climate resilience into agricultural landscapes. Efforts to diversify food production systems enhance national food security and buffer communities against climate variability. The strategic orientation of commodity plantations—such as designating palm oil development zones in the savannahs rather than forested areas in the Republic of Congo—illustrates proactive reconciliation of economic growth and ecosystem integrity.

Private sector commitments, guided by frameworks like Produce-Protect-Rehabilitate, compel companies to secure sustainability certifications, integrate smallholders in supply chains, maintain protected forest areas, and invest in restoration efforts amounting to significant shares of their concession lands.

The Imperative for International Support and Partnership

Scaling the impact of ASCI and similar initiatives requires robust technical assistance and financial investment to transform visionary frameworks into operational realities. European nations, as key trade partners and investors, play a pivotal role in facilitating market access, capacity building, and innovative financing that collectively underpin a just transition.

Sustainable agri-food trade between Africa and Europe must be viewed as a shared responsibility. Trade policies and programs need to align incentives, bridge knowledge gaps, and foster multi-stakeholder engagement encompassing governments, civil society, indigenous communities, producers, and the private sector.

Strengthening Africa-Europe Trade Dynamics: Recent Trends and Statistics

Trade between Africa and Europe in agri-food commodities remains substantial and dynamic. For example, South Africa's agricultural exports reached approximately US$3.36 billion in Q1 2025, with the EU capturing roughly 23% of this market share. Key exported products include fruits such as grapes, apples, and pears; processed goods like wine and fruit juices; and staple commodities including maize and sugar.

Conversely, the EU exports significant volumes of cereals, dairy, and processed foods to African markets, creating a bilateral trade relationship that underscores mutual dependence and opportunity.

Toward a Collaborative Green Economy Future

The path forward involves dynamic collaboration to balance Africa's developmental priorities with Europe's sustainability ambitions. Effective cooperation can safeguard millions of smallholder livelihoods, ensure stable and ethical supply chains, and protect Africa's rich tropical forests—critical carbon sinks in the global climate system.

By aligning sustainable commodity production with trade policies and investment frameworks, Africa and Europe can jointly unlock resilient agricultural value chains that promote economic inclusion, environmental stewardship, and food security for generations to come.