With the December 2025 deadline for the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) fast approaching, industries around the globe are racing to meet the new due diligence requirements. This regulation is reshaping the way organizations collect data, track their supply chains, and demonstrate transparency — especially in sectors like forestry, agriculture, and port operations.
This week’s update explores key developments in EUDR compliance, groundbreaking research on biodiversity and forest carbon storage, and how ports are embracing both innovation and resilience in the face of global shifts.
The EUDR aims to eliminate products linked to deforestation from the EU market, demanding strict traceability of commodities like coffee, cocoa, soy, palm oil, wood, rubber, and cattle. Companies must now provide geolocation data for production areas and verify that their supply chains are deforestation-free. For many, this regulation represents a huge challenge — but also an opportunity to lead on sustainability.
Apical, a major palm oil producer, has emerged as a leader in EUDR preparedness. By developing a robust management and traceability system, the company has successfully completed several trial shipments to the EU that are fully compliant with EUDR standards. Their approach demonstrates the feasibility of deforestation-free supply chains and provides a framework for others to follow.
In Kenya, the race is on. A government-led initiative is geo-mapping thousands of smallholder coffee farms in just two months. The aim is to meet EUDR’s traceability requirements before the December deadline, ensuring that farmers maintain access to European markets. This massive effort highlights the importance of accessible, field-ready data tools that can collect GPS data reliably, even in remote areas.
Forests are central to global carbon capture efforts — but recent research shows that their ability to absorb CO₂ may be under threat. Biodiversity, climate stress, and fire damage are reshaping how forests function, and how they should be managed.
New research analyzed thousands of tropical forest plots and found that forests with strong animal biodiversity can store up to four times more carbon. This is because animals help disperse seeds of large, carbon-dense tree species. As reported by MIT News, these findings underscore the ecological value of protecting not just trees, but entire forest ecosystems.
According to a report from Axios, the world’s forests are becoming less effective at absorbing carbon. Events like megafires, droughts, and illegal logging have degraded vast areas, weakening forests’ ability to act as a carbon sink. This trend is alarming for global climate targets and emphasizes the need for advanced monitoring tools and early intervention practices.
A study backed by NASA and conducted by Columbia University reveals that burned areas of the Amazon remain hotter and under greater stress for decades after the fire. This chronic stress reduces the forest’s ability to recover and store carbon long-term. The findings highlight the long-lasting impacts of forest fires and the need for proactive restoration policies.
Ports are under pressure to modernize — not just for productivity, but also to reduce emissions and improve resilience to natural threats. Here’s how global ports are rising to the challenge.
Located in Scotland, Sullom Voe is piloting a project to improve energy efficiency across port operations. With a £500,000 government grant, the port is investing in automation, predictive maintenance, and renewable energy sources to reduce its environmental footprint. These efforts mirror a larger shift in the maritime industry toward smart, low-carbon infrastructure.
Green Energy Resources has announced the deployment of two new Liebherr LHM 550 electric mobile harbor cranes. These machines support faster loading/unloading while cutting emissions and complying with new European environmental regulations. Beyond capacity, they represent a critical shift toward electrification in port logistics.
In recent news, several coastal ports were forced to suspend activity due to tsunami threats. A video from ANC News showed port workers swiftly executing emergency protocols to secure vessels and equipment. The event underscores the importance of flexible, cloud-synced systems that can maintain operational awareness even during disasters.
You may have seen “FSC regulations” trending in industry alerts. However, most current updates refer to South Korea’s Financial Services Commission and its cryptocurrency policies — not the Forest Stewardship Council. We’re monitoring the FSC (Forestry) space for relevant developments and will report back with any changes affecting sustainable wood certification.
Between EUDR enforcement, carbon science breakthroughs, and port innovation, it’s clear that compliance and sustainability are now intertwined with competitiveness. Across industries, the ability to collect accurate field data — geolocated, timestamped, and report-ready — is becoming a defining advantage.
At Eskuad, we’re proud to support teams in the forestry, agriculture, and logistics industries with a platform built for the field. Our offline-first forms, AI-powered automation, and seamless MagikSync™ technology make it easy to meet global compliance standards — even in the most remote environments.
Need to get your team ready for the EUDR? Eskuad can help you:
Explore our guide: The Future of Field Operations: Traceability and Digital Transformation
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