Regeneration Takes Roots: Cameroon Unveils Bold Shift In Green Economy

As global agriculture drives nearly 80 percent of tropical deforestation and climate change threatens to slash global crop outputs by up to 35 percent by 2050, Cameroon is emerging as a critical battleground for ecological regeneration and market compliance. Speaking in Yaounde on June 29, 2026 following the release of the Rainforest Alliance 2025 Annual Report, “Regeneration Takes Root,” regional experts and organizational leaders revealed that sustainable practices are no longer just environmental choices.

But strict economic necessities for Cameroonian producers targeting international markets. Especially the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation, EUDR. Which requires all operators importing high-risk commodities into the EU to prove their goods are deforestation-free, legally produced, and fully traceable.

Surge In Certified Exports

Cameroon's agricultural sector achieved historic structural milestones over the past year. According to William Mala, Rainforest Alliance Acting Country Director and Senior Manager for Landscapes and Communities, cocoa has achieved an unprecedented economic position. "Last year, cocoa accounted for 1,187 billion FCFA - it's enormous, nearly 38.5% of export revenues," Mala stated. "For the first time, cocoa surpassed oil, which is unprecedented."

This export boom is heavily underpinned by sustainability standards. Currently, 42% of Cameroon’s national cocoa production and an impressive 73% of its banana export volumes (representing roughly 160,000 tons per year) are Rainforest Alliance-certified. Mala noted that in areas like Mintom in Dja and Lobo Division of South Region, cocoa farmers adhering to these sustainable frameworks have seen their incomes practically double or even triple.

Imminent EU Deadline

The drive toward certification is accelerating ahead of tightening international frameworks. The European Union’s Deforestation Regulation, EUDR regulation - governing the market where nearly 80% of Cameroonian cocoa is shipped - will systematically apply to all sector operators by June 2027. "Companies are interested because without complying with market demands, they will disappear," Mala warned, emphasizing that certification is entirely market-driven.

Yannick Mboba, Rainforest Alliance Certification Programme Manager for Central Africa, outlined the organization's ultimate strategy: "Our ambition is to assist the authorities in certifying the entirety of national cocoa production, which is about 300,000 to 320,000 tonnes. It would be beneficial for the experience of Rainforest Alliance to serve as a lever for the government to demonstrate the compliance of Cameroonian cocoa."

Mboba explained that the certification process involves rigorous independent auditing by accredited third-party bodies active in Cameroon, including Bureau Veritas, Bureau des Normes d'Audit, and Control Union. These bodies verify adherence to strict economic, environmental, and human rights requirements across the entire supply chain.

Sustainable To Regenerative Agriculture

A defining paradigm shift highlighted during the media exchanges is the transition from sustainable agriculture to "regenerative agriculture." Ndeye N. Sarr, Rainforest Alliance Regional Communications Manager for West and Central Africa, explained that after 40 years of promoting environmental protection, the organization launched its new Regenerative Agriculture Standard, featuring 119 strict requirements.

"We want to move from just protecting the environment to regenerating the same environment, the soil, and biodiversity," Sarr said. This science-based framework focuses on actively healing soils, securing water access, and restoring lost biodiversity, rather than simply mitigating harm.