A cohort of public and private organisations have come together to launch a new sustainable palm oil initiative in Indonesia, the Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative.
The initiative sees global integrated palm oil group Musim Mas and food company Ferrero team up with NGOs Preferred by Nature, Agriterra, and the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), along with funding from the Danish government’s Danida Green Business Partnerships (DGBP) programme.
The initiative, which will run for five years, will seek to assist around 5,400 independent smallholders in adopting regenerative agricultural practices, improve their climate resilience, and strengthen farmer incomes.
It will also support around 2,500 farms in obtaining Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certifications.
‘Thriving supply chain’
“We aim to create a thriving supply chain which benefits farmers’ livelihoods and communities, protecting people and nature,” commented Nicola Somenzi, head of responsible sourcing at Ferrero. “Beyond sourcing RSPO segregated palm oil for our products, our active participation in initiatives like this strengthens the foundation for a resilient and environmentally responsible supply chain that creates long-term value for all.”
The project also aims to create diversified income opportunities for 2,000 community members, of which 60% are women, as well as implementing measures to safeguard biodiversity and mitigate deforestation risks.
The project will also establish a jurisdictional alliance to align environmental restoration efforts with global sustainability frameworks, such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
‘Resilient and sustainable’
“Empowering smallholders through training and support is key to building a resilient and sustainable palm oil supply chain,” added Olivier Tichit, director of communications and sustainability at Musim Mas. “Musim Mas takes a landscape-based approach to sustainability. Across the Smallholder Hubs we operate, we work with governments, suppliers, smallholders, NGOs, and other players in the landscape to achieve sustainability transformation. This project will enable us to contribute in a new dimension with our new partners.”
In terms of the role that the various NGOs will play in the development of the initiative, Preferred by Nature will lead coordination and training activities, Agriterra will focus on strengthening farmer organisations and developing cooperative business models, and SAN will provide technical support in regenerative agriculture through its local partners, Kaleka and Setara Jambi. Read more here.
