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Tracing cocoa, tracing power: examining the politics of traceability in Ghana’s cocoa sector under the EU Deforestation Regulation

Guerra, Lisa LU (2025) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20251
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Forests are vital carbon sinks, yet agricultural expansion remains a leading driver of global deforestation. In response, the European Union Deforestation Regulation mandates new sustainability and traceability requirements for forest-risk commodities such as cocoa. This study examines how Ghana’s cocoa sector is adapting to these demands through the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System, focusing on systemic farm-level barriers to compliance and stakeholder engagement with evolving traceability requirements. Drawing on political ecology and green governmentality, the study follows a qualitative research design involving 31 semi-structured interviews, one focus group discussion, and participant observation with cocoa-sector stakeholders in... (More)
Forests are vital carbon sinks, yet agricultural expansion remains a leading driver of global deforestation. In response, the European Union Deforestation Regulation mandates new sustainability and traceability requirements for forest-risk commodities such as cocoa. This study examines how Ghana’s cocoa sector is adapting to these demands through the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System, focusing on systemic farm-level barriers to compliance and stakeholder engagement with evolving traceability requirements. Drawing on political ecology and green governmentality, the study follows a qualitative research design involving 31 semi-structured interviews, one focus group discussion, and participant observation with cocoa-sector stakeholders in Ghana. Findings reveal that local producers face structural and institutional barriers to meeting EUDR standards; stakeholders interpret traceability in divergent ways; and the new requirements may reinforce existing power asymmetries along the cocoa supply chain. The study recommends greater support for smallholder participation in decision-making to ensure more inclusive and transparent implementation of deforestation-free policies. (Less)
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author
Guerra, Lisa LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
EU Deforestation Regulation, Cocoa Supply Chain, Traceability, Political Ecology, Sustainability Science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2025:014
language
English
additional info
The research was funded by the Craaford Foundation.
id
9192014
date added to LUP
2025-06-03 10:21:07
date last changed
2025-06-03 10:21:07
@misc{9192014,
  abstract     = {{Forests are vital carbon sinks, yet agricultural expansion remains a leading driver of global deforestation. In response, the European Union Deforestation Regulation mandates new sustainability and traceability requirements for forest-risk commodities such as cocoa. This study examines how Ghana’s cocoa sector is adapting to these demands through the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System, focusing on systemic farm-level barriers to compliance and stakeholder engagement with evolving traceability requirements. Drawing on political ecology and green governmentality, the study follows a qualitative research design involving 31 semi-structured interviews, one focus group discussion, and participant observation with cocoa-sector stakeholders in Ghana. Findings reveal that local producers face structural and institutional barriers to meeting EUDR standards; stakeholders interpret traceability in divergent ways; and the new requirements may reinforce existing power asymmetries along the cocoa supply chain. The study recommends greater support for smallholder participation in decision-making to ensure more inclusive and transparent implementation of deforestation-free policies.}},
  author       = {{Guerra, Lisa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Tracing cocoa, tracing power: examining the politics of traceability in Ghana’s cocoa sector under the EU Deforestation Regulation}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}