Cargill Strengthens Zero-Burning Policy to Support Local Communities
Extensive measures include regular online updates on hotspot monitoring and deployment of thermal sensing technology in oil palm plantations
Jakarta, June 18, 2019 — Cargill has strengthened its process to monitor, detect and suppress fires in and around its plantation concessions in South Sumatra and West Kalimantan. As part of these measures, Cargill will publish regular, online updates of its hotspot monitoring within its plantation concessions until the end of the dry season. This action reaffirms Cargill’s ongoing commitment to transparency with stakeholders and reinforces efforts to help communities surrounding its concessions to protect against fires.
Richard Low, Chief Executive Officer, Cargill Tropical Palm Holdings Pte Ltd, said, “Protecting against fires is a collective effort shared by all stakeholders. To effectively prevent fires and to help communities fight them, Cargill’s Fire-Free Village Program requires the close collaboration between local residents, local governments, and us.”
Publishing online hotspot updates is part of its “No-Burn” policy which has been in place since 2005. In 2016, Cargill, has established the Cargill Fire Free Village Program with local governments, aimed at empowering local communities to prevent and control fire by focusing on fire deterrence and detection, monitoring and suppression. To date, Cargill’s Fire Free Village Program encompasses 26 villages in fire-prone communities located in the vicinity of Cargill’s palm oil plantations in South Sumatra and West Kalimantan. As part of the program, community members from the participating villages are taken through series of educational workshops to strengthen their skills and abilities to prevent land fires.
Cargill has also recently enhanced its fire monitoring capability by deploying the latest generation of thermal sensing technology at its Mukut plantation located in Banyuasin, South Sumatra. This camera can detect hotspots and smoke within a five-kilometer radius, covering a total of 9,000 hectares, enhancing Cargill’s existing hotspot detection measures. When combined with the mainstream tools, such as manned watch towers and drones, resulting in a more comprehensive fire monitoring.
For more information on Cargill’s hotspot monitoring, please visit: https://www.cargill.co.id/en/hotspot-monitoring-for-palm-oil-plantations
Media Contact: media@cargill.com
About Cargill
Cargill’s 155,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive. We combine 153 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.
About Cargill in Indonesia
Cargill began doing business in Indonesia in 1974 by establishing a feed mill in Bogor, West Java. Today, Cargill is headquartered in Jakarta and has more than 19,000 employees. We have 59 locations with offices, manufacturing plants and facilities throughout the country and business activities comprise animal nutrition, cocoa, copra, seaweed, processed food exporting, grain and oilseeds, palm oil, as well as starches and sweeteners. For further information, please visit http://www.cargill.co.id and find out our commitment in sustainable palm oil http://www.cargill.com/sustainability/palm-oil/sustainable-palm-oil