#31: Sustainability or Strain? EUDR’s Ripple Effect on Coffee Farmers with Etelle Higonnet

This episode of the Business and Society podcast features a conversation with Etelle Higonnet, founder of Coffee Watch, Yale alumna, and renowned environmental activist. The discussion centers on the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its profound implications for smallholder coffee farmers worldwide.

Main Topics Covered
EUDR Impact: The episode explains the intent and scope of EUDR, emphasizing how the regulation aims to halt deforestation linked to key commodities—especially coffee—and the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in meeting new compliance demands.

Coffee Supply Chain Realities: Listeners gain insight into poverty, labor exploitation, and the systemic issues affecting coffee growers, with Etelle breaking down statistics and stories from global coffee farming communities.

Activism and Solutions: The importance of activism in driving policy change is highlighted, alongside hope-filled examples of collaboration between NGOs, governments, and industry to foster transparency, traceability, and a transition to regenerative, farmer-centric coffee production.

Key Guest Insights
Etelle discusses the broader context of global poverty, biodiversity loss, and climate change, making the case for urgent reforms and a science-based approach to business leadership.

The episode candidly addresses obstacles such as land tenure, literacy, and technological access for smallholders, while exploring the possibility for creative solutions and capacity building.

Etelle shares concerns around compliance burdens for marginalized groups and suggests that regulatory action like the EUDR can be a catalyst for industry-wide transformation.

Closing Reflections
The interview concludes with Etelle’s book recommendations, essential leadership skills—courage and scientific literacy—and a call to action for business leaders to champion responsible sourcing and planetary well-being.

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