Musim Mas, AAK and Nestlé Collaborate on Deforestation in Aceh, Indonesia

Palm oil producer Musim Mas, oil supplier AAK and branded manufacturer Nestlé are collaborating to tackle deforestation outside concession areas in Aceh, Indonesia, reports the FoodNavigator.com.  Aceh is a priority landscape, with 87% of the Leuser ecosystem lying within the province.  The companies have established a five -year program that will be funded by AAK and Nestlé for the first two years.  

Through the program, they hope to reach out to approximately 1,000 independent palm oil smallholders, enrolling them in Musim Mas smallholder program, Smallholders Hub which   aims to integrate independent smallholders into sustainable palm oil supply chains.  The Smallholders Hub provides advanced training to village extension officers on No Deforestation, No Peat and No Exploitation (NDPE) as well as agricultural practices.  

The curriculum is developed around five components that Musim Mas says would encourage smallholders to produce palm oil sustainably. These include: improving agricultural practices to boost yield; increasing market access by building communication with mills and providing access to agri-finance; supporting replanting efforts for ageing palm; providing ‘legitimacy’ by confirming the legality of the smallholders to develop alternate livelihoods.