Conference Day 1
Thursday, February 13, 2025

8:00 AM: Registration and Morning Coffee

9:00 AM: Welcome by Organizer

9:10 AM: EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR): Overview and Compliance Strategies
A comprehensive overview of the EUDR, covering key commodities, implications for companies in the EU and exporting countries, outlining strategies for effective compliance, including due diligence and traceability requirements.

9:40 AM: Achieving Deforestation-Free Supply Chains: Progress and Challenges
Achievements in managing deforestation-free supply chains across palm oil, paper, board, tea, soy, and cocoa sectors.

10:10 AM: Morning Networking Tea Break

10:50 AM: EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products: Implications for Global Supply Chains, Lessons Learned and Future Outlook
The impact of EUDR on commodities and strategies for compliance and market access, examining lessons learned from early adopters and projecting future trends in sustainable sourcing and consumer demands.

11:20 AM: Impact of Infrastructure Investments on Supply Chain Transparency
The role of investments in infrastructure and technology in enhancing traceability and accountability in sourcing practices.

11:50 AM: Policy Instruments for Promoting Deforestation-Free Practices: Effectiveness and Challenges
Policy instruments beyond EUDR and their effectiveness in promoting sustainable land use and mitigating deforestation risks in global supply chains.

12:20 PM: Technology and Innovation in Deforestation Monitoring: Enhancing Transparency and Accountability

12:50 PM: Lunch & Networking

2:00 PM: Deforestation Exposure of EU27: Navigating Compliance and Mitigating Risks under the EUDR
The impact of EU imports on global deforestation, compliance challenges, differences in deforestation exposure among EU countries, and key enforcement roles, strategies to reduce legal and reputational risks and comply with the new regulations.

2:30 PM: The Importance of Deforestation-Free Practices for Smallholder Farmers: Respecting Rights and Sustaining Communities

3:00 PM: Deforestation-Free Finance: Tools and Frameworks
Leveraging resources to implement and manage zero-deforestation targets within investment portfolios, including mitigating reputational risks, meeting stakeholder expectations for transparency, addressing legal compliance issues, and contributing to global climate and nature commitments.

3:30 PM: Demystifying EUDR: the Role of Certified and Recycled Materials

4:00 PM: Afternoon Networking Tea Break

4:30 PM: Panel Discussion: The State of Deforestation: Trends and Challenges
Current global deforestation rates, the most affected regions and the primary drivers behind deforestation, emerging challenges in conservation efforts, including political, economic, and social factors that complicate deforestation reduction, the latest trends and obstacles in the fight against deforestation.

5:10 PM: Panel Discussion: From Commitment to Action: Case Studies of Successful Deforestation-Free Supply Chains
Experiences and strategies in achieving and maintaining deforestation-free supply chains through detailed case studies, the practical steps taken, the challenges faced, and the innovative solutions implemented to ensure responsible sourcing.

5:50 PM: Day 1 Closing Remarks

Conference Day 2
Friday, February 14, 2025

8:30 AM: Morning Coffee

9:00 AM: Welcome by Organizer and Event Chairman

9:10 AM: Legal Frameworks, Compliance, and Enforcement in Global Deforestation
Challenges and successes in international law enforcement against global deforestation.

9:40 AM: Transparency and Public Disclosure in Deforestation-Free Initiatives
Transparency and public disclosure in ensuring accountability and fostering trust in deforestation-free supply chains.

10:10 AM: Morning Networking Tea Break

10:40 AM: Smallholder Inclusion in Deforestation-Free Initiatives: Opportunities and Support Mechanisms
The role of smallholder farmers, examining challenges and solutions in integrating them into deforestation-free supply chains, emphasizing capacity-building and financial support.

Gert van der Bijl, Senior EU Policy Advisor, Solidaridad Network

11:10 AM: Innovative Technologies in Monitoring and Reporting Deforestation
The latest technologies and their role in monitoring deforestation and promoting transparency.

11:40 AM: Deforestation-Free Certification: Standards and Compliance
The role of certification schemes and independent verification in ensuring deforestation-free practices in global supply chains.

12:10 PM: Financial Mechanisms for Supporting EUDR Compliance: Investment and Funding Opportunities
Financial instruments and investment opportunities aimed at supporting companies, especially SMEs, in meeting the financial demands of EUDR compliance.

12:40 PM: Lunch & Networking

2:00 PM: Navigating EUDR Compliance: Challenges and Solutions in Utilizing Open Forest Data

2:30 PM: Indigenous Land Rights and Deforestation: Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Solutions
The pivotal role of respecting and supporting indigenous land rights in combating deforestation.

3:00 PM: Harnessing Geospatial Data for Deforestation-Free Supply Chains: Navigating Challenges and Driving Transparency
Challenges in mapping perennial crops, implications for smallholders, and limitations of current open datasets for due diligence, strategies to enhance forest data accuracy, align with regulatory standards, and promote sustainable agriculture.

3:30 PM: Afternoon Networking Tea Break

4:00 PM: Panel Discussion: Enforcement and Compliance: Challenges in Implementing Deforestation-Free Regulations
The complexities of enforcing deforestation-free regulations and ensuring compliance across diverse industries and regions, the legal, logistical, and technological challenges faced by regulators and businesses alike, include the role of geolocation, traceability systems, and international cooperation in effective enforcement.

4:40 PM: Panel Discussion: Measuring Impact and Progress: Metrics for Assessing Success in Deforestation-Free Goals
Effective methodologies and metrics for measuring the impact and progress of deforestation-free initiatives, the importance of accountability and transparency in tracking success, exploring various tools and frameworks used to assess environmental, social, and economic outcomes.

5:20 PM: Day 2 Closing Remarks