Plot of land (EUDR)
Under the EUDR, a plot of land is land within a single real-estate property, as recognised by the law of the country of production, that enjoys sufficiently homogeneous conditions to allow an evaluation of the aggregate level of risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with commodities produced on it.
Also known as: plot · farm plot · field · parcel
Why does it matter?
The plot is the unit of evidence in the EUDR. Geolocation, deforestation assessment and disqualification all apply per plot: any deforestation on a plot disqualifies all commodities from that plot (Article 9(1)(d)).
How does it work in practice?
The definition in Article 2(27) has two parts:
- Legal: land within a single real-estate property as recognised in the country of production. Where tenure is customary or undocumented, programmes rely on community or authority attestations.
- Physical: conditions homogeneous enough to assess risk as one unit. A property with a forest block and a cocoa field may need to be split.
In a farmer registry, each plot typically has its own identifier linked to the farmer, the crop, a polygon or point, the tenure status and production estimates.
Common pitfalls
- One plot per farmer by default, which merges separate fields.
- Plots that change hands or are split without the registry being updated.
- The same plot registered under several farmers, a frequent source of overlaps.
- No link between plot and harvest, making it impossible to say which plots supplied a lot.
Farmer1st maintains plot records linked to farmers and deliveries through its geo and polygons service.
Frequently asked questions
Is a farm the same as a plot?
Not necessarily. A farmer may cultivate several non-contiguous fields, sometimes under different tenure arrangements. Each may need to be treated as a separate plot with its own geolocation.
Must every plot be declared?
The due diligence statement must include the geolocation of all plots where the commodities in the product were produced. The Commission's FAQ also describes a 'declaration in excess', allowing operators of bulk commodities to declare more plots than those actually used, under conditions.
Tell us about your supply chain.
Ten minutes with our scoping assistant. We come back with a first sketch of your service.
