Empowering smallholder palm oil farmers
About
Through the Smallholder Hub Programme, in partnership with various local and national organisations, Unilever aims to train and support 40,000 palm oil farmers by 2025 in Aceh, North Sumatra, and Riau, improving their livelihoods and promoting sustainable farming practices.
It's challenging to identify the location of independent smallholders who sell through intermediaries
With consent from the smallholders and farmers, Unilever and Meridia also partner with the mills to map the smallholder farmers that supply them. Achieving full traceability to mills and plantations is a crucial part of the Programme.
However, it is particularly challenging to identify the location of independent smallholders who sell through intermediaries with little transparency. Unilever aims to engage these independent smallholders, who are often more challenging to certify in their supply chain, as they play a pivotal role in increasing transparency and reducing deforestation.
As a first step, the Programme involves identifying, mapping, and collecting data on farmers who potentially sell to independent mills and other suppliers in Unilever’s supply chain.
Meridia collects complex field data of independent palm oil smallholders at speed and scale
Unilever has partnered with Meridia to tackle its land mapping challenge, as Meridia can collect complex field data of independent palm oil smallholders at speed and scale.
The objective of the collaboration is to increase traceability and ensure that smallholders are not located in illegal areas to reduce deforestation risks.
Other activities within the Smallholder Hub Programme include training on best practices, RSPO certification, and enhancing income through diversification. Farmer sensitisation and mapping are the first entrance in signing the target farmers into the Programme.
“The mapping Meridia provided us with gave crucial insights into our sourcing locations in the area. This data will be the entry point for smallholders to participate in our productivity programs”.
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70–80% improvement in data quality
Enhanced datasets for better decision-making.
Streamlined compliance processes
Reduced manual effort and improved traceability for critical supply chain data.
Stronger supplier relationships
fostered collaboration through clear communication and data transparency.