The Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa has warned that as many as 40 per cent of African smallholder cocoa farmers could be shut out of the European market.

The group says many farmers may struggle to meet the strict rules under the European Union Deforestation Regulation.

Adeola Adegoke, the global president of the association, raised the concern at the end of a two-day Africa Cocoa and Coffee Conference in Lagos. He explained that the regulation aims to stop products linked to deforestation from entering Europe, but the cost and paperwork required could prove too heavy for small-scale farmers who lack money, technology and proper records.

Adegoke called on African cocoa-producing countries to improve their negotiating strength and build better systems to track where their cocoa comes from. He said farmers need technical and financial help so they can meet the new standards without losing access to important export markets.

The conference also discussed the rise of cell-cultured cocoa made in laboratories. Adegoke warned that growing investment in these alternatives could reduce demand for traditionally grown cocoa and create more uncertainty for farming communities that depend on the crop.

Delegates adopted the Lagos Declaration 2026, which sets out plans to raise farmers’ incomes, improve productivity and increase African ownership of the cocoa and coffee industries. Africa produces about 75 per cent of the world’s cocoa yet earns less than six per cent of the value from chocolate, with many farmers still living on about $1.20 a day.