Cargill supports Indonesian smallholder farmers with global sustainable palm oil certification
More than 16,500 Cargill’s smallholders in over 10,000 hectares of plantations are now part of the world’s sustainable palm oil industry
Jakarta, 28 March 2019 – A total of 3,019 smallholder farmers across eight smallholder cooperatives at Cargill’s PT Poliplant Sejahtera (PSA) oil palm plantation in West Kalimantan recently received certification by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). This brings PSA’s total certified plantation area to 10,026.58 hectares. The certification marks a significant milestone for the farmers, reflecting their success in meeting RSPO’s rigorous standard for sustainable palm oil.
Suherman, head of Subur Makmur Cooperative since 2016, said, “We are thankful for this achievement. Our partnership with Cargill has enabled us to adopt sustainable agricultural practices. Our yields have increased along with our ability to operate more efficiently. RSPO’s certification is a great endorsement of our sustainable practices and successful partnership with Cargill. We anticipate greater improvements to our livelihoods, now that our Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs) can feed into the global certified sustainable palm oil market.”
The RSPO certification for eight cooperatives partnering with PSA is the fifth batch for Cargill. The first batches to receive the certificates are PT. Hindoli (South Sumatra), PT. Harapan Sawit Lestari and PT. Indo Sawit Kekal (West Kalimantan).
President Director of Cargill’s Poliplant Group (PPG) Anthony Yeow said, “We are very proud of PT PSA smallholders for achieving certification by the RSPO, the most widely recognized global sustainability standard for palm oil products. Cargill farmers are encouraged to progressively increase yields, improve their incomes, and raise their standard of living.”
“The RSPO certification enables our farmers to tap on a significantly larger market that is the global palm oil supply chain. Our support is continuous in encouraging palm product supply chain partners to join the RSPO and become RSPO certified, hence complying with policies on no deforestation, no peat and no exploitation as stated in Cargill’s 2020 palm oil commitments,” Anthony added.
To date, Cargill has helped more than 16,500 of its 21,600 smallholders in both South Sumatra and West Kalimantan to be RSPO certified.
Acquired by Cargill in 2014, PSA was the first of five PPG plantations in West Kalimantan to be RSPO-certified in 2016. It includes Siriham mill operations and 4,005 Ha of company-owned land. Cargill’s other plantations in West Kalimantan, PT Harapan Sawit Lestari and PT. Indo Sawit Kekal, were certified in 2015 and 2014 respectively. PT Hindoli in South Sumatra was first Cargill plantation to be RSPO certified in 2009.
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About Cargill
Cargill is committed to providing food, ingredients, agricultural solutions, and industrial products to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. Sitting at the heart of the supply chain, we partner with farmers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for living.
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About Cargill in Indonesia
Cargill began doing business in Indonesia in 1974 by establishing a feed mill in Bogor, West Java. Today, Cargill is headquartered in Jakarta and has more than 19,000 employees. We have 59 locations with offices, manufacturing plants and facilities throughout the country and business activities comprise animal nutrition, cocoa, copra, seaweed, processed food exporting, grain and oilseeds, palm oil, as well as starches and sweeteners. For further information, please visit http://www.cargill.co.id.