Sustainable Palm Oil Certification
The Agribusiness Group produces sustainable palm oil certified by RSPO and ISPO, which have strict criteria including the proper demarcation of ecologically fragile zones and riparian zones as HCV areas, the conservation of peatland and other HCS areas and the use of agricultural inputs with low environmental impact. We aim to achieve RSPO and ISPO certification for palm oil production from our nucleus estates by 2019

HCV and HCS
In the effort to conserve the local ecology and biodiversity, every estate has an HCV team that regularly meets with the local community and stakeholders to monitor and manage the HCV areas together. Independent assessments of the HCV areas in oil palm plantations are also conducted by accredited third-party assessors.

Besides HCV areas, we recognized the importance of managing areas with high carbon stock. We have begun HCS measurement in South Sumatra using field study techniques and satellite imaging to map and identify the areas.

Through these efforts in protecting the local biosphere, we ensure that our operations do not adversely affect the living conditions of the locals. It enables to build trust, engage in productive dialogues and develop sustainable programs with the local community.

Peatland
In line with our policy that prohibits planting on peatland regardless of the peat depth, the Agribusiness Group has stopped new planting on peatland since 2013. This policy also applies to our smallholders and CPO suppliers. For legacy peatland assets, we are managing them with the best agricultural practices as well as recommendations from RSPO.

In 2017, there was no new planting on peatland by Indofood.

Agricultural Inputs
The Agribusiness Group has been using natural biological controls in place of pesticides in its plantations. These measures include growing plant species that are natural habitats of parasitoids and predators of leaf eating insects within the plantations and supporting a population of barn owls for effective rodent control.

The soil needs to be enriched from time to time to support healthy crop growth. This is routinely done by careful administration of inorganic fertilizers. We continuously strive to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers by switching to natural processes like the planting of leguminous cover crops to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil and suppress weed growth. Empty fruit bunches and POME from production are also reused as soil improver.

Fire Prevention
We have a zero-burning policy on our estates. All land preparations are done using machines and in compliance with local regulations. To minimize fire outbreaks as well as to reinforce the fire safety regime that we have already put in place to combat plantation fires, we have provided more fire-fighting equipment on-site, conducted fire prevention training for plantation personnel and support “Fire Aware Community” in areas of high fire risk.