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| Young oil palm tree in Ariguani |
For the first time since RSPO certification began, a palm oil producer outside Southeast Asia has been certified to adhere to RSPO's principles & criteria for sustainable palm oil production. The history often repeat the way of succes: the Tequendama's first world organic palm plantation, in 1992, is now RSPO certificated, as
"fully segregated identity preserved" RSPO oil. End November 2010, Colombian organic tropical crop producer had more than 4,400 hectares of its oil palm planting areas certified. The company will now add about 27,000 tonnes per year to the growing global stream of certified sustainable palm oil.
A fully family-owned company, Tequendama & San Francisco employs about 1,000 Colombians directly but also supports more than 450 palm and cocoa smallholders organized in "Alianzas por la Paz" (Co-operations for Peace).
Such Alianzas support the establishment of agricultural co-operatives in some of the country's conflict-ridden regions, focusing on high-potential crops such as oil palm and banana.
More informations: http://www.rspo.eu/market/
