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Today, we celebrate the International Day of Forests, established by the United Nations General Assembly. This is an opportunity to reflect on the strategic importance of forests and the urgent need to protect their biodiversity while ensuring economic development and the well-being of the communities that depend on them. 

Our approach is rational and pragmatic: it goes beyond an ideological and environmentalist vision to promote a balance between environmental protection, food security, and economic development. This balance is essential to ensuring the prosperity of entire supply chains globally, particularly in regions such as tropical forests, where economic growth remains crucial to improving the living conditions of millions of people. 

The 2025 edition is especially relevant to us as it focuses on the theme “Forests and Food”. This deep connection reminds us that forest ecosystems are fundamental to global food security and the livelihoods of millions, particularly rural communities and small-scale farmers. 

FORESTS: A RESOURCE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY  

Forests are vital to the planet and the well-being of billions of people. They regulate the climate, support biodiversity, and enrich soils, increasing the fertility of adjacent agricultural areas—home to cacao, coffee, palm oil, and spice plantations that thrive on the edges of tropical forests. 

They host pollinators essential for many crops and protect land from erosion and landslides, safeguarding communities and agricultural infrastructure. Forest basins provide 75% of the world’s freshwater, essential for agriculture, industry, and human consumption.

Forests are also a direct source of food and resources: fruits, seeds, roots, and timber. More than five billion people rely on these products for sustenance, healthcare, and daily needs, while two billion use firewood and forest-based fuels for cooking and heating. 

DEFORESTATION: A BARRIER TO RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 

Deforestation is not just an environmental or ethical issue – it is an economic and social challenge that hinders sustainable development. Every year, approximately 12 million hectares of forest are lost, with severe consequences for the climate and global greenhouse gas emissions, which account for 12–20% of worldwide emissions (FAO). 

From 2001 to 2023, Global Forest Watch reported a loss of 488 million hectares of forest cover. A significant portion of this – 22% – was directly linked to planned deforestation for agricultural expansion or infrastructure development. 

The loss of forests also negatively impacts agricultural production itself: it disrupts microclimates, reduces soil fertility, and diminishes water availability, increasing challenges for farmers and weakening the competitiveness of agri-food supply chains. 

GUATEMALA E INDONESIA: MODELS OF COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT 

The good news is that deforestation can be halted without stalling economic growth. Indonesia and Guatemala, two of the world’s top agricultural commodity exporters, demonstrate this. 

Between 2015 and 2022, Indonesia reduced deforestation by 67%, and Guatemala by 81% (World Resources Institute). This success stems from an integrated approach involving public policies, corporate investments, and technological innovation in agricultural practices. 

The palm oil sector, often criticized, is now one of the most significant examples of progress: major producers have implemented traceability systems, certifications, and more sustainable farming methods. European companies – both processors and retailers – have played a crucial role in this transformation by investing in responsible supply chains and incentivising certified production. 

MEAT AND FORESTS: A SUSTAINABLE ALLIANCE

In recent decades, the meat industry has embraced more sustainable practices to curb deforestation. In the Mediterranean, the ancient tradition of silvopastoralism harmonises livestock farming with forest conservation, fostering a mutually beneficial balance.

Spain’s Dehesas, Portugal’s Montados, and Sardinia’s Meriagos are prime examples: grazing animals help manage landscapes, reduce wildfire risks, and enhance biodiversity, while forests provide pasture and act as carbon sinks. 

In the past 50 years, Italy’s silvopastoral areas have tripled, proving that well-managed livestock farming not only preserves forests but also regenerates ecosystems – making responsible meat production a key pillar of sustainability. 

THE EUDR: A SHARED GOAL, BUT PRAGMATISM AND BUSINESS CONSIDERATIONS ARE NEEDED

Against this backdrop, the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is set to take effect on December 30, 2025. Its goal is commendable: preventing certain products sold in the EU from contributing to global deforestation while protecting forest ecosystems and the rights of local communities. 

However, the EUDR risks becoming a burden for businesses and a challenge for the development of both European and international agri-food supply chains. As often happens, Brussels’ top-down approach has overlooked the complexities and differences among supply chains and the specific production conditions of each country. 

If not applied with balance and common sense, the EUDR could become an unsustainable bureaucratic burden for thousands of businesses, undermining European competitiveness and harming precisely those developing nations that require investment to improve their agricultural practices. 

This is why we have urged the European Commission and national governments, particularly Italy, to ensure a pragmatic and gradual implementation of the regulation. 

We need dedicated technical working groups for each affected commodity – cacao, coffee, soy, palm oil, rubber – to address operational challenges alongside producers and develop effective solutions. 

Competent authorities, as the Netherlands has already started doing, must act now, using the time available before the regulation comes fully into force. Only in this way can we support businesses through this transition, prevent trade disruptions, and protect the competitiveness of European agribusiness – without compromising forest conservation.

Protecting forests does not mean halting economic growth or penalising businesses – it means investing in innovation, responsibility, and sustainable development within agri-food supply chains. This is the challenge we must face with realism and pragmatism – to secure a future that safeguards both the environment and people’s prosperity.

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