SINGAPORE – Olam International has launched a ‘net-positive’ sustainability policy applicable to commodities globally for direct and indirect sourcing with an aim to re-generate rural landscapes and eco-systems.

Under the program, deemed Olam Living Landscapes Policy (OLLP), offers a net-positive approach to agricultural supply chains and landscape management, and aims to adopt principles that support the co-existence of prosperous farmers and thriving communities with healthy ecosystems.

It cuts across Olam’s products, plantations and farms, as well as its extensive third-party sourcing network of more than 4 million small and large-scale farmers.

Olam seeks to not only conserve the environment but also empower the community by creating value for farming and the rural economy.

Based on the policy, land use activities should be planned and managed in such a way as to supply food and fibre, while maintaining or enhancing critical habitats, and re-generating the natural capital of soil, water and natural ecosystems.

It identifies and eliminates unacceptable land use practices for both Olam’s operations and third-party suppliers.

The framework, together with strategies put in place will be implemented in two phases, one by 2018 and two by 2020.

“Agriculture is at a tipping point. Unless we address the multiple environmental and social issues affecting our supply chains, our future volumes are at risk.

We already have many policies and codes in place but we must now go beyond simply doing less harm, and instead aim for a ‘net-positive’ impact towards the creation and restoration of natural and social capital,” said Sunny Verghese, Co-Founder and Group CEO, Olam.

Olam’s corporate purpose is to Re-imagine Global Agriculture within our ethos of Growing Responsibly, and this policy delivers on this strategy.

“We need to think beyond the farm to the whole food system, describe how to measure success and redefine the responsibility of supply chain actors like Olam towards the communities and whole landscapes from which products are sourced,” said Christopher Stewart, head of corporate responsibility and sustainability for Olam.