By avoiding forest degradation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, palm oil productions have been solution also improving environmental and social sustainability of smallholder oil palm plantations. The project certifies whole jurisdictions where palm oil producers apply agroecology cultivation techniques.
Since 2019, the project intends to focus on the value chain – from land use and cultivation, harvesting and marketing through to the consumer. For this purpose, government authorities, companies and smallholder farmers in Burundi form multi-stakeholder partnerships. One objective is to increase the number of farmers certified according to marketable sustainability standards.
The project team supports the development of land use plans involving smallholders, government representatives and private companies. Partnership agreements between actors along the value chain, such as oil mill operators, intermediaries and multinational companies are intended to establish incentives for the transition to sustainable production.
In Burundi, the project encourages public and private demand for products made from sustainably produced palm oil. Public procurement bodies as well as animal feed companies are advised to purchase certified products. In addition, awareness for sustainable palm oil is raised by round table talks with companies and consumer portals.
Results:
- By integrating agroecology practices, palm oil cultivation will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 7,750 tonnes of CO2. Palm oil cultivation techniques in the pilot areas are developed on existing plantations or new uncultivated areas.
- More than 3,100 ha expected for sustainable cultivation practices and more than 18,000 smallholder farmers are prepared for certification, including the nucleus estate in Gihoro, Rutana planted on 21ha. Further, there should be an average annual incremental net household incomes after financing estimated to exceed USD 1,000/year as of year 11 and will remain so until year 25, for an average of USD 1,554/year.
- Jurisdictions project experts make use of a strategy to implement sustainability criteria and an official land use plan.
- National and international markets increase purchases of certified palm oil products by at least 10 per cent from 2035.
