Cargill and local farmers collaborate in conservation monitoring of 10,000 trees in village forest

Pasuruan, April 24, 2024. In commemoration of Earth Day, PT Sorini Agro Asia Corporindo, a subsidiary of Cargill, along with 30 forest farmers and more than 35 employees collected data and verified the condition of plants and forest cover in Dayurejo Village Forest, Pasuruan Regency which is part of Mount Arjuna located in East Java, Indonesia. This activity was carried out as part of monitoring and evaluation activities from a conservation program previously run by Cargill on Mount Arjuna, Pasuruan, in the form of planting 10,000 trees during the period 2022-2023 on a 16 hectares land. Data collection is done using the Bumi Baik digital application to evaluate tree species, development and distribution of trees planted using geotags.

Cargill is committed to supporting the community’s access to clean water. Mount Arjuna is a critical water catchment area for Pasuruan area. From 2014 to December 2023, Cargill has planted 71,500 trees from 15 plant species on 201 hectares of land on Mount Arjuna. “We are pleased that this activity has succeeded in restoring 5 water springs to function, namely Lajer, Dawuhan, Watu Pereng, Banyu Kuning, and Curah Tangkil. Furthermore, we are aspired that the joint conservation program between Cargill and local communities could restore more spring to functions to support community’s accessibility to clean water as well as to grow the local businesses even further from the existing Sukmojati coffee production, banana chips, herbal drinks, and skewer crafts that have been running," said Fanny Hosea, Director of PT Sorini Agro Asia Corporindo.

In carrying out the conservation monitoring and evaluation program, Cargill collaborated with the Cempaka Foundation along with the Government of Pasuruan Regency, Environmental Service of Pasuruan Regency, the Loka Jaya Binangun Village Forest Management Agency, the Lumajang Forestry Service branch of East Java Province and the Dayurejo Village Government. This activity was witnessed by 25 participants from various related local governmental agencies. Regional Secretary of Pasuruan Regency, Yudha Triwidaya Sasongko, said, "The momentum of World Earth Day Commemoration can be optimized through concrete action to save the earth, one of which is as implemented by Cargill today, namely forest and land conservation on the slopes of Mount Arjuna. The Pasuruan Regency Government, especially the Environmental Agency, greatly appreciates the collaboration of stakeholders, consisting of business practitioners, environmental activists, academics, and the community in their efforts to protect the earth for the benefit of mankind".

Registered as PT Sorini Agro Asia Corporindo, Cargill acquired Pandaan facility in 2011, producing corn starch and sweeteners for the food and beverage industry and personal care products.