Global demand for food remains strong and increasingly demanding. In 2022, worldwide exports of agricultural products reached around USD 2.0 trillion and accounted for about 10% of total merchandise trade, consolidating agriculture as a driver of international trade, even amid logistical and regulatory volatility (WTO, 2023). By 2025, the rules of the game will put traceability, regulatory compliance, and postharvest efficiency at the heart of export strategy.
1) Size the market and prioritize categories with the most traction
- Market size: Global agricultural exports totaled ~USD 2.0 trillion in 2022, with double-digit year-on-year growth compared to 2021 (WTO, 2023).
- Opportunity in fruit and vegetable: Global exports of fruits and nuts (HS08) exceeded USD 170 billion in 2022, showing resilience and a strong role for Latin America as a counter-seasonal supplier (ITC Trade Map).
- Action: Prioritize portfolios with sustained demand and clear commercial windows (e.g., berries, table grapes, avocado, citrus), adjusting harvest and logistics to premium price windows.
2) United States: Get ready for FSMA 204 (traceability) before 2026
- Key date: January 20, 2026, the food traceability rule (FSMA 204) comes into effect for those trading in the U.S. (FDA).
- Scope: Applies to foods on the Food Traceability List (FTL), which includes several fresh products such as cucumbers, fresh herbs, leafy greens, melons, peppers, sprouts, and tomatoes, among others.
- Requirements: Record and be able to deliver within 24 hours records of critical events (receipt, transformation, shipping) and key traceability data at the lot level.
- Action: Implement lot identification and digital data capture in the field, packing, and transit; validate suppliers and carriers. If you process, define critical points and data flows with your U.S. customers.
3) European Union: Due diligence under EUDR and geolocation of plots
- Dates: The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) applies from December 30, 2024 for large companies and from June 30, 2025 for micro and small enterprises (EU).
- Scope: Requires "deforestation-free" and geolocated traceability for coffee, cocoa, beef, palm oil, rubber, soy, and timber (and some derivatives).
- Implication for agri-exporters: Although many fruits/vegetables are not directly under EUDR, European buyers are extending traceability and no-deforestation clauses to their entire supplier base.
- Action: Integrate geospatial evidence (polygons/plots) and land use verifications into your due diligence; align documentation with your EU clients.
4) MRLs and border rejections: pesticide residues remain in the spotlight
- Trend: In RASFF annual reports, pesticide residues remain among the most frequent causes of notifications and rejections for fruits and vegetables entering the EU (RASFF).
- Action: Review current MRLs by destination (EU/U.S./UK), validate application plans and pre-harvest intervals, and use ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories. Set up lot-based sampling during high-risk windows.
5) Reduce postharvest losses: 14% of food is lost before retail
- Key fact: Approximately 14% of food is lost between harvest and the retail point worldwide (FAO).
- Impact: For perishable products, each percentage point of loss can wipe out your export margin.
- Action: Improve pre-cooling (hydrocooling/forced-air), monitor temperature and humidity in transit (data loggers, IoT), and standardize maturity indices and handling in the field and packing.
6) Close the financing gap: the global gap reached USD 2.5 trillion
- Key fact: The global trade finance gap reached USD 2.5 trillion in 2022, especially affecting exporting SMEs (ADB).
- Action: Negotiate confirmed letters of credit, international factoring, or supply chain finance programs with your anchor buyers. Impeccable documentation (POs, contracts, BLs, certificates) increases approval rates.
7) 90-day action plan for 2025
- Compliance diagnosis by destination: FSMA 204 (if selling to the U.S.), EU requirements (EUDR/MRL), United Kingdom, and Asian markets.
- Traceability and data: Define lots and digitally capture critical events from the field; establish a document repository accessible to clients.
- Postharvest and quality: Harvest, cooling, coatings, and modified atmosphere protocols; loss KPIs by stage.
- Customer portfolio and terms: Review Incoterms, force majeure clauses, and quality claims. Establish logistics service level agreements (SLAs).
- Financing: Map options with local banks, export credit agencies, and foreign trade fintechs.
Conclusion
Competitive advantage in 2025 will not just be about producing more, but delivering better: verifiable traceability, proactive regulatory compliance, and tight postharvest control. With a USD 2 trillion market and stricter buyers, those who integrate data, processes, and financing will have priority in pricing, repeat orders, and access to premium channels.
References
Call to Action
Do you want an express traceability and compliance diagnosis by destination (EU/U.S.) and a 90-day action plan tailored to your crop? Contact us at Sembrar for a free initial evaluation session.
