Unlocking Generative and Regenerative Supply Chains in Africa

This project aims to map the specific sustainability data requirements of EU (and potentially UK) food and retail buyers, and translates them into actionable, compliance-ready signals for African supply chains. The initiative is led by FSD Africa and the African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA), with Climate & Company as expert partner for the downstream, demand-side analysis.

Global food and retail companies sourcing from Africa are entering a new regulatory era. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) now compel companies to understand and disclose the environmental and social performance of their entire supply chains, including upstream production in Africa.

Yet a persistent mismatch exists: while Africa generates rich ecological and social data on the ground, this data is not always  structured around what European buyers actually need for compliance, risk management, and investment decisions. The result is rising compliance costs, opaque supply chain risks, and missed opportunities for regenerative agriculture.

This project shifts the lens, from “more data” to decision-relevant data, starting from the demand side and working backwards through African supply chains.

The project combines desk research, stakeholder engagement, and convening across three broad workstreams:

• Mapping demand-side data needs:  Analysing the key regulatory frameworks shaping EU and UK buyer requirements, identifying gaps between what buyers need and what African supply chains currently provide, and building an overview of the relevant data landscape.
• Engaging key stakeholders:  Identifying and consulting with food and retail companies, African suppliers, cooperatives, financial institutions, and data providers to ground-truth findings and build a shared understanding of priorities.
• Convening and knowledge production: Bringing together EU and UK buyers, African supply chain actors, and data providers to validate findings, and translating outcomes into practical knowledge products for corporates, funders, and investors.