IOI Loders Croklaan and Kerry Group initiate small-growers support program
IOI Loders Croklaan has partnered with Kerry Group, Wild Asia and the Fortuna Palm Oil Mill in Sabah to implement a 3-year Small-Growers Support Program. This program supports the inclusion of smallholders into IOI’s supply chain and will boost small farmers (farm size between 0 to 500Ha) productivity by helping them implement sustainable agricultural practices. It also guides IOI’s directly sourced 3rd party supplying mills in achieving staged compliance to IOI’s Sustainable Palm Policy and helps them prepare for certification requirements. Wild Asia is the implementation partner for the program that will be managed by both Kerry Group and IOI Loders Croklaan.
“We have a few potential participating non-RSPO certified mills in the Telupid, Beluran and Kinabatangan landscape (Sabah) with approximately 5000 smallholders and small growers. We start with one mill—Fortuna—and will increase the number throughout the duration of the program,” says Ben Vreeburg, sustainability director at IOI Loders Croklaan. “Smallholders will see a decrease in FFB (Fresh Fruit Bunch) production costs in the 1st year and a gradual increase in FFB yield in the 2nd year. Through this program millers are ensured of a steady supply and better control of FFB and a higher extraction rate.”