Based on commitments to the Agriculture Sector Roadmap,
companies launch program to support smallholder farmers on the path
to more sustainable agriculture.
SINGAPORE, Nov. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bunge (NYSE:
BG) and Musim Mas Group announced a collaboration to promote
the use of sustainable practices among smallholder farmers in
Sambas, West Kalimantan,
Indonesia.
The collaboration, co-funded by Bunge and Musim Mas through
2025, aims to train more than 1,000 independent smallholders in
sustainable production of palm oil.
The partnership aligns with the Agriculture Sector Roadmap to
1.5 degrees convened by the Tropical Forest Alliance, designed to
halt commodity-linked deforestation in line with the 1.5 degrees
pathway while enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and
supporting the sector's transformation toward forest-positive
land-use management.
"Bunge strives to be the preferred sustainable solutions partner
for producers and customers," said Ben
Vreeburg, Bunge Senior Director of Sustainability. "We
believe that together with our customers, we can build sustainable
supply chains by sharing our know-how and experiences to support
the smallholder farmers, promoting the productivity, profitability,
and sustainability of their business. By adopting sustainable
farming practices, smallholders can increase their yields and
reduce their dependence on expanding into the forest areas."
Bunge and Musim Mas believe broader sector collaboration is
critical in addressing agriculture's impact on climate and
empowering smallholders to be part of the solution.
The Smallholders Hub: Supporting Smallholders to Halt
Commodity-Linked Deforestation
Central to this partnership is the formation of Musim Mas' sixth
Train-the-Trainers Smallholders Hub.
Sambas is also the first smallholder hub on the island of
Kalimantan for Musim Mas.
Musim Mas trains local government Village Extension Officers
(VEOs) in these hubs. The VEOs, equipped with this knowledge, then
share their expertise with smallholder farmers within their
communities over time, resulting in enduring, long-term
impacts.
The training covers good agricultural practices, business
management, and NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation)
approaches to palm production. The program will help smallholders
increase yields and earnings from their existing farmland, improve
their understanding of the environmental impacts of their
activities, and foster responsible practices. As most deforestation
occurs outside corporate concession areas, such programs are
vital.
Furthermore, the partnership facilitates market access and
raises the awareness for certification programs such as Indonesia
Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) and Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil
(RSPO). While West Kalimantan only
contributes 5% to Musim Mas' supply base, it is integral to the
group's overall sustainable sourcing strategy.
Bunge's and Musim Mas' Experiences with Independent
Smallholders
Musim Mas builds on its experience in developing and
implementing smallholder programs, having engaged over 42,000
independent growers since it started its programmes in 2015,
including a notable partnership with the International Finance
Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.
"Each region has producers of various sizes growing a whole
range of commodities as well as companies that make intermediate
and final goods, local governments and civil society," said
Olivier Tichit, Director of
Sustainability, Musim Mas Group. "To make an enduring impact, we
need to show our commitment and work together – the landscape-based
approach. We look forward to working with Bunge in the Sambas
region and making a meaningful contribution together."
Bunge also brings valuable experience in supporting smallholders
through initiatives like ILHAM (Inisiatif Lestari untuk Hasil
Agrikultur Mampan), which focuses on improving farm management
practices, implementing long-term fertilizer programs, and meeting
sustainability requirements. Through this collaboration, Musim Mas
hopes to leverage Bunge's knowledge from their work in Malaysia and enhance and expand the program in
Sambas.
About Musim Mas
Headquartered in Singapore, Musim Mas is one of the world's
largest integrated palm oil corporations with operations in every
part of the supply chain across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Our global workforce pursues innovative
and sustainable developments, ensuring product quality, safety and
efficiency as the industry evolves.
As one of the most prominent players in the industry, we aspire
to be a responsible leader in the sector's evolution, driving a new
era of sustainability with innovation. To that end, we take active
steps to go beyond industry-recognized sustainability standards. We
will continue to step up in response to critical industry issues to
contribute to a more sustainable industry and equitable world.
About Bunge
At Bunge (NYSE: BG), our purpose is to connect farmers to
consumers to deliver essential food, feed and fuel to the world.
With more than two centuries of experience, unmatched global scale
and deeply rooted relationships, we work to strengthen global food
security, increase sustainability where we operate, and help
communities prosper. As the world's leader in oilseed processing
and a leading producer and supplier of specialty plant-based oils
and fats, we value our partnerships with farmers to bring quality
products from where they're grown to where they're consumed. At the
same time, we collaborate with our customers to develop tailored
and innovative solutions to meet evolving dietary needs and trends
in every part of the world. Our Company has its registered office
in Geneva, Switzerland and its
corporate headquarters in St. Louis,
Missouri. We have approximately 23,000 dedicated employees
working across approximately 300 facilities located in more than 40
countries.
Media Contact: Tiffany Goh,
fanny.goh@musimmas.com
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SOURCE Musim Mas Group