Cargill denies allegations of illegal deforestation

RAN released a report called ‘Cargill’s Problems with Palm Oil’, accusing the agribusiness giant of destroying rainforest in Borneo, not complying with international standards on palm oil, and operating two ‘undisclosed’ palm oil plantations in Indonesia.

 

In a reaction Cargill has released a statement refuting these allegations, saying it works with well-respected non-governmental organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and Flora and Fauna International to help support sustainable development of palm oil in Indonesia.

 

“RAN claims Cargill has cleared rainforests and primary forests. This is categorically untrue,” the company said on its website. “We do not operate any undisclosed oil palm properties.”

 

Cargill has pledged to source at least 60% of its palm oil from suppliers certified by the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil by the end of the year.

 

Recently Cargill customer Nestlé the company to stop purchasing palm oil from Indonesian supplier Sinar Mas, after a Greenpeace report alleged that it had been involved in illegal deforestation earlier this year.

 

In 2008 Cargill stopped sourcing palm oil from Indonesian supplier Duta Palma because it did not meet its environmental standards.