Sustainable Palm Oil Production in Brazil

Palm oil is one of the most productive, profitable and versatile tropical crops, with a wide range of uses, including as a cooking oil, ingredient in commercial foods, cosmetics and soap products, and most recently as a biofuel. Palm oil production in Brazil has a long history, but operated on a small scale until recently.  However, in 2010 the Lula administration announced a Program for Sustainable Production of Palm Oil, aiming to rapidly expand oil palm cultivation on land that has already been deforested for cattle ranching or sugar cane production. Agropalma has made commitments to environmental sustainability and respect for labor standards through various certification schemes to which it has adhered in recent years. The SIPA team was asked to review Agropalma's compliance with national and international environmental and labor standards, including its compliance with existing certification and labeling instruments for sustainable palm oil.