BACKGROUND

This Friday Agropalma completes 40 years of existence, being the largest sustainable palm oil producer of the American continent.  Based on the partnership with the state of Pará and the municipalities of Tailândia and Belém, the company has history of development since 1982. Currently Agropalma generates around five thousand jobs through its operations in these locations.

The structure comprises of 39 thousand hectares of proprietary palm plantations and over ten thousand hectares under partnered farmers, six crude oil extraction industries and two vegetable oil production and storage industries.

The logistics comprise 1,600 kilometers of private roads and an export terminal. Currently, Agropalma produces approximately 180 tonnes of palm oil every year, and 23% of its production supplies companies in Pará. 

“Our contribution to the state of Pará goes well beyond the five thousand direct jobs in our operations. We estimate that our actions generate an additional 20 thousand job positions due to our practices of prioritization of the local workforce and incentives to vendor development and small and medium-sized companies in the region. We also aim to establish a legacy for society through performance of relevant initiatives, such as Escola Agropalma and the Programa de Agricultura Familiar”, says Marcella Novaes, Managing Officer of Agropalma.

SCHOOL

The company is concerned with the education of its collaborators’ children, and created Escola Agropalma in 1986, working in tandem with the educational guidelines established by the Municipal Educational Department of the city of Tailândia, where it operates. The main priority of the initiative is to ensure that all collaborators’ children have access to a quality basic education.

The incentive for students to develop their skills is one of the main driving principles of the teachers at Escola Agropalma. “We are aware of the importance of contributing to the education of our students. Our evaluation criteria are strict and they need to apply themselves in order to reach the goals established. Currently, our teachers are former students of Escola Agropalma, and this feels extremely rewarding for us”, explains Chrystianne Correa, principal of Escola Agropalma. 330 students divided in 22 classes are under her management at the moment.

PROGRAM

Agropalma pioneered the palm family farming program. The project began in 2002 with 50 families and has since quadrupled, now including over 200 participants which have managed to get out of situations of extreme vulnerability into a stable and sustainable job. “This is an essential work, we are talking about 20 years of supporting the development of these producers, providing instruction and transforming the social reality of these people. Over this period, we saw them achieve great things, and it is very satisfying to know that we made a difference in their lives”, highlights André Borba, Chief Agricultural Officer at Agropalma.

The company provides training, support and ensures the purchase of the entire production of these farmers, all certified by Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which are responsible for nearly 23% of all fruit processed in the company’s plants. In addition to the families, Agropalma has over 40 integrated producers which also grow palm oil and sell their produce to the company.

ACTIONS

Microcompanies

• Agropalma has also developed a long-term program to build a local capacity between small and medium-sized companies in the region of Tailândia, ensuring that their operations remain in compliance with the complex federal and state legal codes.
• The company provides free consultancy to local companies and actively works towards identifying and addressing regulatory issues.
• In addition, it helps local vendors to get involved with municipal authorities to help in business development and administrative tasks, from income tax returns to certifications and environmental licensing.

Source: Diário do Pará (09/30/22)