The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is reshaping global supply chains by enforcing due diligence requirements on companies dealing with commodities linked to deforestation. A critical aspect of EUDR compliance is the ability to trace the origin of agricultural commodities such as coffee, cattle, soybean, palm oil, cacao, rubber and timber, to ensure their cultivation does not contribute to deforestation.
Companies must demonstrate due diligence rather than absolute certainty. Understanding the role of verification allows businesses to present robust evidence supporting their compliance.
In this blog, we outline how Fera Science and World Forest ID (WFID) can support the verification of product provenance within complex supply chains - helping businesses meet due diligence requirements with greater confidence. Our scientific verification methods offer a practical solution for assessing the plausibility of origin, even when products are blended or processed. While scientific traceability isn’t always suitable for every product type, especially those with highly mixed or transformed inputs, we explain where and how verification works effectively and how our combined expertise can guide you through these challenges.
Understanding Verification
Verification assesses the plausibility of a given claim about the origin of a material. While pinpointing an exact source may not always be feasible, verification techniques can provide confidence in whether a material is consistent with its origin declaration.
How Fera and WFID Support Industry Compliance
Fera and WFID bring world-class expertise in analysis and traceability to support businesses navigating EUDR compliance. Our combined capabilities provide innovative solutions for determination and verification at multiple levels of the supply chain:
- Fera: With decades of experience in food safety and chemistry, Fera applies cutting-edge scientific techniques to traceability challenges. Our expertise in stable isotope analysis, DNA testing and authenticity verification provides businesses with robust tools to assess supply chain integrity.
- WFID: WFID develops the reference data and tools necessary to verify the harvest origin of timber and agricultural commodities. Through the global collection and analysis of georeferenced tree and plant samples, WFID builds AI-enabled spatial models that accurately verify the claimed provenance of traded products, helping businesses to detect misdeclarations in their supply chains.
Together, Fera and WFID offer a powerful combination of science-backed solutions that enable companies to demonstrate due diligence and strengthen their compliance strategies under EUDR.
Verifying the Provenance of Blended and Processed Materials
Determining the precise origin of materials becomes increasingly complex when products are heavily blended or processed, often passing through multiple stages of transformation, combining inputs from various sources and obscuring their original provenance. In these cases, traditional scientific determination—such as stable isotope or DNA analysis—may not deliver a conclusive result. However, this does not mean origin verification is out of reach. Instead, businesses can adopt robust verification approaches that support a defensible due diligence position under regulations like the EUDR. Fera and WFID help companies navigate this complexity through supply chain transparency measures, forensic analysis techniques, and risk-based assessment models. These methods offer practical, science-led ways to assess plausibility and demonstrate credible compliance, even in the face of uncertainty.
The Future of Traceability in a Regulated World
As regulatory scrutiny on supply chains increases, businesses must adapt to evolving expectations around traceability and deforestation risk mitigation. The challenges of modelling at smaller scales and handling blended materials highlight the need for a pragmatic, science-driven approach. While absolute certainty may not always be achievable, rigorous verification techniques provide a pathway to credible due diligence compliance.
For businesses looking to strengthen their traceability frameworks, adopting a combination of scientific analysis, transparent documentation, and risk assessment will be key to meeting EUDR requirements effectively.
By using the expertise available at Fera and WFID, companies can enhance their ability to navigate complex supply chain challenges, build consumer trust, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Have any questions? Click below to speak to Joe Humphreys, Business Development Manager, Food Safety