Sectors / 04
Food & agriculture
We build the origin and counterparty evidence food and agricultural businesses now need to sell into the EU and to their largest buyers.
What is changing, and what it means for you.
What is changing
- The EU Deforestation Regulation applies from 30 December 2026 to cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, rubber, wood and cattle products.
- EU customers are passing its evidence requests down to suppliers worldwide.
- Buyers treat certifications as due diligence, though most only certify farm practice.
Who it affects
Exporters selling those commodities into the EU, importers of fresh produce and ingredients, and businesses supplying supermarket and own-label contracts.
The problem it creates
Plot-level geolocation usually stops at the first cooperative or collector, and a certificate does not show who owns a supplier or whether it is sanctioned. When a customer asks, the evidence is not there.
What Meridian does
We work out what is in scope, trace supply back to plot and producer, and verify the counterparties behind certified suppliers. Every link is graded, so you know what is proven.
Different businesses, different first steps.
Each starts with a defined scope and a fixed fee, set out in writing within 24 hours.
If you are
Supplying deforestation-regulated goods into the EU
Your EU customer has asked for evidence and you are not sure what you can produce.
You receive: Which products are in scope, which suppliers are evidence gaps, and what your customer will ask for.
Read: what your EU customer will ask for →
If you are
Building the evidence your customer needs
You know the gaps and need the documents assembled before 30 December.
You receive: An evidence file per product: plots, legality documents and chain records, indexed and graded.
If you are
Importing produce or ingredients
Your suppliers are certified, but you have never checked who they are.
You receive: Each key supplier’s existence, ownership and sanctions standing verified, with the gaps named.
Not sure which fits? Describe the situation
Start today at a fixed fee.
Paid upfront, delivered to a fixed scope, and credited in full against any Meridian engagement within 60 days.
If your EU customer wants deforestation evidence
EUDR Supplier Evidence Pack
Supplier guide, declaration template, plot and geolocation data sheet, evidence index and model questionnaire answers.
If a customer has sent an EUDR or CBAM questionnaire
Customer Questionnaire Response
We complete one questionnaire, up to 40 questions, from the documents you supply, with the evidence behind each answer.
If you are about to commit to a supplier
Supplier Risk Check
One supplier screened for ownership, sanctions and listed-entity exposure, including the UFLPA Entity List, set out in a two-page note.
Payments are processed securely by Stripe. For business customers; no VAT is charged. Terms of sale
Three questions, answered with evidence.
010203What we read.
- StorageCommodity origin and EUDR geolocation for each lot.
- HandlingPhytosanitary and food-safety certification.
- InboundSupplier and farm identity behind each delivery.
Standards & regulation.
The frameworks we work to in this sector.
Farm-level good agricultural practice.
Social practice risk assessment.
Manufacturer and packer certification.
Responsible sourcing module.
UK smaller-supplier approval.
Integrated farm management.
Food safety system certification.
Food safety management system.
Recognition of food safety schemes.
Food hygiene baseline.
Food fraud and threat assessment.
Traceability and withdrawal duties.
Offences and due-diligence defence.
US foreign supplier verification.
Deforestation-free due diligence.
UK forest-risk commodities.
Authorised Economic Operator.
US supply chain security.
Where we look.
The official procurement and trade sources we draw on.
UN food and humanitarian supply.
UK above-threshold notices.
Central government, above £12k.
Scottish public sector.
Welsh public sector.
Northern Ireland public sector.
EU public procurement.
Federal opportunity data.
Related thinking.
Recent notes that bear on this sector.
Your EU customer files the EUDR statement. The evidence starts with you.
Since the December 2025 revision, only the business that first places goods on the EU market files the EUDR due diligence statement. For most exporters outside the EU, that is their customer. The information behind it still has to come from the supplier, and customers will ask for it before 30 December.
EUDR applies on 30 December. There will be no further delay.
After two postponements, the EU Deforestation Regulation applies to large and medium operators on 30 December 2026. The Commission’s May review simplified the guidance but confirmed the date. Geolocation for every plot is still the requirement most supply chains cannot meet.