Cocoa & EUDR Webinar 2026: What Participants Said — Key Insights & Next Steps

EUNAP Team2026-03-03

### Cocoa & EUDR Webinar 2026: Strong Engagement, Clear Signals for Action The recent **Cocoa & EUDR Webinar (February 2026)** hosted under the EU‑Nigeria Agribusiness Platform (EUNAP) delivered important insights for…

Cocoa & EUDR Webinar 2026: Strong Engagement, Clear Signals for Action

The recent Cocoa & EUDR Webinar (February 2026) hosted under the EU‑Nigeria Agribusiness Platform (EUNAP) delivered important insights for stakeholders navigating the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

A post-event survey was conducted with participants to evaluate the session’s effectiveness. The results show strong engagement, high relevance to industry stakeholders, and a clear appetite for continued dialogue.

Here’s what we learned.

Overall Performance at a Glance

Seven respondents evaluated the webinar across three core metrics:

Relevance to Job/Organization: 4.29 / 5
Session Content Quality: 4.00 / 5
Overall Satisfaction: 3.71 / 5

Relevance scored highest, demonstrating that the topic directly connects with exporters, producers, and trade professionals working within the EU market.

While overall satisfaction remained strong, one low rating was attributed to technical connectivity issues rather than content quality.

What Participants Found Most Valuable

EUDR Compliance & Regulatory Clarity

The most frequently mentioned takeaway was improved understanding of:

EUDR compliance requirements
Deforestation regulations
Market access implications
Export documentation expectations

Participants clearly value regulatory clarity as they prepare for evolving EU import standards.

Certification Costs & Financial Pressure

Certification costs emerged as a key concern. Respondents noted:

Compliance expenses may disproportionately affect SMEs and smallholders
The need for cost-sharing mechanisms
Potential group certification models

This signals an opportunity for EUNAP and partners to explore financial support mechanisms or collective certification strategies.

Structural Fairness in the Cocoa Supply Chain

One important qualitative insight focused on perceived structural imbalance in the cocoa value chain.

A participant raised concerns that:

The regulatory framework may favor EU actors
Producing nations need stronger representation in negotiations
Stakeholder dialogue must be broadened

This suggests space for deeper multi-stakeholder engagement going forward.

Market Access Opportunities

Despite concerns, optimism remains strong.

Participants recognized that:

EUDR compliance can strengthen credibility
Meeting EU standards opens premium market access
Proactive adaptation may create competitive advantage

This balance of caution and opportunity reflects a mature and strategic industry mindset.

Technical Considerations for Future Events

One respondent experienced network issues during the session, which impacted their rating.

Recommendations include:

Providing full webinar recordings
Offering low-bandwidth access options
Sharing post-event compliance toolkits

Key Recommendations Moving Forward

Based on feedback analysis, the following actions are recommended:

✔ Continue the webinar series on a quarterly basis
✔ Develop practical EUDR compliance toolkits
✔ Host stakeholder negotiation forums
✔ Address certification cost concerns directly
✔ Improve technical accessibility for virtual sessions

Conclusion: A Platform Ready for Deeper Engagement

The Cocoa & EUDR Webinar was broadly well received and demonstrated that Nigerian exporters and cocoa stakeholders are actively engaging with EU regulatory shifts.

The conversation is no longer about whether EUDR matters — it is about how to comply strategically, affordably, and equitably.

EUNAP remains committed to facilitating that dialogue and translating policy into practical support for exporters.