Cocoa land use maps developed by Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are more accurate than widely used global datasets, according to a new assessment by the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. The findings offer chocolate companies a clearer path to compliance ahead of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which takes effect in December 2025.
The study evaluated how well existing maps help cocoa companies monitor land use, verify sourcing areas and reduce deforestation risks. The results show that national maps outperform global open-access tools, making them more reliable for due diligence, reporting and sustainable sourcing.
“This assessment highlights the importance of using the most accurate maps available — and of requiring third-party accuracy assessments from commercial providers,” said Louis Reymondin, senior scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.
Why map accuracy matters for compliance
Under the EUDR, companies must prove that cocoa entering the EU market was not grown on land deforested after 31 December 2020. To meet this requirement, businesses must provide precise, plot-level traceability and verifiable geolocation data for all cocoa sourced.
Without accurate maps, there’s a significant risk of false reporting, non-compliance, and even exclusion from the EU market.
“Inaccurate data leads to inaccurate reporting, posing a significant risk to companies, governments and producers,” said Michael Matarasso, WCF impact director and head of North America. “This work ensures everyone in the cocoa supply chain can make informed, compliant decisions.”
Inside the map assessment
The WCF and Alliance evaluated 14 land cover and land use datasets commonly used by cocoa companies. These included national maps from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as global tools like Satelligence, Dynamic World and Global Forest Change.
Each dataset was assessed against 31 criteria grouped under four categories:
Accuracy: does the map correctly distinguish between forest and cocoa production areas?
Completeness: is the dataset comprehensive and up to date?
Data management: how traceable and accessible are the data sources?
Inclusiveness: does the process include smallholder farmer input?
The analysis found that Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire’s official maps offered the highest accuracy, especially when compared with global open-access datasets.
“Establishing common standards for map quality will ensure all actors are aligned and speaking the same language,” said Dr Serge Kotchi, director of agriculture, geographic information and digital technology at Côte d’Ivoire’s Bureau National d’Études Techniques et de Développement (BNETD).
What the results mean for chocolate companies
Next steps for supply chain leaders
To prepare for EUDR, cocoa companies should:
Review and upgrade their mapping tools
Prioritise engagement with national systems in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire
Push for independent accuracy reviews of any commercial datasets used
Align traceability reporting with evolving legal and sustainability frameworks
For manufacturers and retailers, the message is clear: audit your data sources and engage with national traceability systems. WCF’s findings suggest that relying solely on global or commercial map providers is no longer sufficient — especially without independent verification of accuracy.
The report also points to wider systemic issues: Most maps do not currently include input from smallholder farmers. Many open-access datasets are not tailored to cocoa-producing regions and commercial providers should be held to independent assessments before their maps are used in regulatory reporting
Sector progress and future priorities
Since 2018, the cocoa sector has scaled efforts to improve traceability and sustainability and 43m tree seedlings have been distributed to promote agroforestry. Indeed, in 2023, 83% of cocoa in Ghana and 82% in Côte d’Ivoire was traced to plot level by participating companies.
To build on this progress, the map accuracy study is part of a broader push to create science-based, standardised tools that help companies meet regulatory and climate commitments.
“We need greater investment in improving open-access maps and developing national systems that deliver high-accuracy data,” said Matarasso. “The ultimate goal is a deforestation and GHG-free cocoa supply chain.”
With regulatory deadlines fast approaching, the sector must act now to ensure the data driving compliance efforts is fit for purpose.
