Team Europe Initiative

The Team Europe Initiative (TEI) on Deforestation-free Value Chains is a coordinated strategy by the EU and its Member States, Germany, the Netherlands, France amongst others, designed to support global ambitions on decoupling agricultural production from deforestation in partnership with various stakeholders.

Through these activities and flagship projects, the EU and its Member States promote the inclusive and just transition of sustainable value chains, especially for smallholders and low-income countries. They do this by supporting partner governments with creating enabling framework conditions for corporate action to minimise deforestation, reducing risks in complex value chains and crowding-in private sector investments in sustainable agribusinesses. This initiative also supports smallholders with forest preservation and assists indigenous peoples and local communities with protecting their rights.

The Hub for Deforestation-free Value Chains serves as a vital platform for improving outreach and coordination and disseminating knowledge to jointly tackle deforestation and forest degradation.

SAFE (Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems) contributes to an inclusive transformation towards deforestation-free, sustainable and legal supply chains for selected raw materials in the EU: Palm oil, cattle, soya, coffee, cocoa, rubber and timber.

SAFE works towards sustainable agricultural production and improved living conditions for smallholder farmers while protecting forest boundaries. The project is implemented in Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ecuador, Indonesia, Peru, Zambia, Uganda and Vietnam as well as at regional and global levels. SAFE provides technical support, strengthens capacity, builds traceability systems, supports reliable partnerships and promotes exchange, cooperation and learning between a wide range of stakeholders.

SAFE is co-financed by the EU, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also hosts the secretariat of the new Team Europe initiative Deforestation-free Value Chains.

One of several projects that SASI is implementing as part of the TEI to promote deforestation-free supply chains is the EUDR Engagement project. The project is called: Engagement with Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to raise awareness and promote better understanding of the EU approach to reducing EU-driven deforestation and forest degradation. 

It is integrated into the BMZ-funded global programme ‘Sustainability and Value Added in Agricultural Supply Chains’, which is part of the special initiative ‘Transformation of Agricultural and Food Systems’. On behalf of the BMZ, the programme promotes sustainability in selected agricultural value chains. SASI is responsible for the operational management and technical coordination of the EUDR engagement project, while GIZ projects in five partner countries are responsible for the actual implementation of activities on the ground. The aim of the project is to improve understanding of the EUDR in the five Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. In these countries, the project is working on behalf of the EU and the BMZ to promote a better understanding of the EUDR. By providing information in the form of films or factsheets, high-level events and facilitating dialogue with key stakeholders and commodity experts, the EUDR is to be explained in a comprehensible manner and any concerns that arise are to be discussed and addressed. In addition, a multiplier training programme for smallholder farmers will be set up in the global component, which will be piloted in Thailand and Malaysia. In addition, short films will be produced for smallholder farmers and policy makers.

The project is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and EU funds. 

The Global Programme “Sustainability and Value Added in Agricultural Supply Chains” (AgriChains) contributes to better living and working conditions for people in agricultural supply chains and a healthy planet for everyone. It promotes equality and inclusivity across supply chains such as cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, and soy.  

Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), AgriChains operates in 24 partner countries. As a flagship project of the Team Europe Initiative (TEI), AgriChains promotes eco-friendly farming practices and corporate sustainability, empowering smallholder farmers to increase production and income while protecting forests and biodiversity. 

AgriChains collaborates with global companies, civil society, and governments to address poverty, inequality, deforestation, and climate change. It supports the implementation of regulations like the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) and the EU Supply Chain Directive (CSDDD) through coordinated actions among public, private, and civil society partners. Through the tailor-made global policy approach ‘FIT for FAIR’, consulting the EU Delegations in Southeast Asia (‘EUDR Engagement’), and numerous technical measures and private sector cooperations, AgriChains supports the introduction and implementation of these regulations in producing countries. 

Key activities include working with partners on verification and forest monitoring systems, offering training to producers, supporting regulatory compliance, and implementing certification schemes. These efforts ensure sustainable and fair implementation of regulations, providing smallholders with a perspective in global supply chains and improving market access and income for producers.