Cargill recognized as top exporter of coconut products in the Philippines

MANILA - Dec. 12, 2016 – Cargill was recently recognized at a ceremony held during the National Exporters Congress as the top exporter of coconut products in the Philippines. In 2015, the total value of Cargill’s export of coconut products from the Philippines exceeded $150 million. The award reinforces the company’s commitment to developing the coconut farming industry in rural Philippines

The Top Exporter Awards is a joint initiative from the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PHILEXPORT) and the Export Development Council (EDC). The award recognizes top performing exporting companies in various industry categories based on their revenue contribution.

“For almost 70 years in the Philippines, we have been working closely with the government, trade associations and local farming communities on the best ways to enable farmers to become more productive, more efficient and make better wages in a sustainable manner. It has been a rewarding journey and we look forward to continuing to contribute to the agricultural economy in the Philippines. This award is testament to that commitment” said Efren Barlisan, President of Cargill Oil Mills Philippines, Inc.

Philip Soliven, Chairman of Cargill Oil Mills Philippines, Inc. (rightmost) receiving the Top Exporter AwardCargill attributes this award to the strong bond it has forged with the coconut stakeholders like copra suppliers, its customers, the Philippine government, trade associations like the Philippine Coconut Producers Association (PCOPA), and especially with local farming communities across the country. The company has been in the coconut business in the Philippines since 1947. Today, Cargill has one coconut crushing facility in General Santos City and several buying stations across the island that source copra from local suppliers. The products Cargill won the award for included crude coconut oil and copra meal, an important animal feed ingredient.

Cargill is one of the pioneers to enable the production of certified sustainable coconut oil in the Philippines¹. After three years of training coconut farmers in Southern Mindanao, Cargill and its partners produced the world’s first Rainforest Alliance certified copra, meeting the standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN). This project is ongoing and Cargill is committed to helping more farmers in the Philippines to produce sustainable coconut oil. Since the project has started, it has trained over 1,000 farmers and certified 300 farmers.

Cargill’s commitment to coconut farming communities in the Philippines stretches beyond training. It is also active in community work. When super typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) struck the Philippines in November 2013, the coconut industry was particularly devastated. In the province of Leyte in the Eastern Visayas region, 61 percent of plantations were destroyed and hundreds of farmers lost their only source of income. Working with the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Cargill funded a recovery and rehabilitation project to address the economic impact and the struggles of coconut farmers². Cargill brought together local stakeholders which include coconut farmers, land owners, the local government, agencies and academia to tackle the problem head-on. A two-year plan was formulated in early 2014. More than 440 farmers benefitted for the program to date.

¹Small farmers in the Philippines reach first milestone towards the production of sustainable coconut oil: http://www.cargill.com/news/releases/2015/NA31845855.jsp
²Paving the way for rehabilitation of farming community in the Philippines: http://www.cargill.com/connections/paving-the-way-for-rehabilitation-of-farming-community-in-the-philippines/index.jsp