Singapore, 22 September 2021 – Today, AAK, Nestlé, and Musim Mas announced a partnership to address deforestation outside of plantation concession areas in Aceh, Indonesia. Aceh is a priority landscape as 87% of the Leuser Ecosystem lies within the province.
AAK and Nestlé have pledged to fund the first two years of the five-year program, reaching out to approximately 1,000 oil palm independent smallholders within two years and enrolling them in Musim Mas’ smallholders program supported by a Smallholders Hub. The Smallholders Hub will provide advanced training to village extension officers on good agricultural practices and NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation). The officers will then train and upskill oil palm smallholders in their assigned areas. Musim Mas will be training 40 officers. This will be Musim Mas’ third Smallholders Hub in Aceh province, in line with their Aceh strategy.
Smallholders will receive training in good agricultural practices, business management, and NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation). The program will help smallholders increase yields and earnings from their existing farmland, and reduce the risk of encroachment into protected areas. As the majority of deforestation in Aceh occurs outside plantation concession areas, such programs are vital.
“We are glad that downstream actors AAK and Nestlé share our vision to transform the Aceh landscape and work together with actors on the ground. Integrating smallholders into sustainable supply chains is an industry effort,” said Olivier Tichit, Musim Mas Director of Sustainable Supply Chain. “Our partnership in Aceh is crucial to expanding our reach to the independent smallholders and protecting rainforests.”
“Nestlé is committed to achieve a deforestation-free palm oil supply chain by 2022. Making the industry truly sustainable, however, will require us collectively moving towards a Forest Positive strategy where agricultural production and forest protection exist in harmony. Supporting smallholders is a key element of this strategy. We will continue to conserve and restore forests and natural ecosystems while promoting sustainable livelihoods and respecting human rights,” said Emily Kunen, Global Climate Delivery Leader, Forests at Nestlé.
“Engaging with our suppliers in the most sensitive landscapes and focusing on deforestation outside concessions is crucial. We believe that this partnership program can significantly contribute to the protection and preservation of this important landscape and have a positive impact on the livelihoods of the smallholders involved,” said Caroline Westerik-Sikking, Global Manager Sustainable Oils at AAK.
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, it aspires to be a responsible leader in the evolution of the industry, driving a new era of sustainability with innovation. To that end, we take active steps to go beyond industry-recognized sustainability standards and will continue to step up in response to critical industry issues in our quest to contribute to a more sustainable industry and equitable world.
About Nestlé
Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company. It is present in 186 countries around the world, and its 273,000 employees are committed to Nestlé’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. Nestlé offers a wide portfolio of products and services for people and their pets throughout their lives. Its more than 2,000 brands range from global icons like Nescafé or Nespresso to local favourites like Ninho. Company performance is driven by its Nutrition, Health and Wellness strategy. Nestlé is based in the Swiss town of Vevey where it was founded more than 150 years ago.
About AAK
Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and a deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate & Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care. Our 3,900 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and with the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen for 150 years.
