Independent smallholders account for a significant proportion of the total palm oil production in SouthEast Asia and Latin America. Although Independent smallholders are self-financed, managed and equipped, and are not bound to any one mill or company, Wilmar is working through various projects and initiatives in bringing smallholders towards RSPO and ISCC certification.
Wilmar Supports Sustainable Entrepreneurs (WISSE) is the fourth smallholder development programme initiated by Wilmar Europe in Latin America. The programme started in September 2019 and is implemented for the smallholders supplying four Honduran mills: Palmasa, Asapalsa, Hondupalma and Honducaribe.
In this three year programme, more than 1,800 smallholders will be trained on how to be a sustainable entrepreneur. WISSE aims to bring 900 smallholders to certification.
WISSE is the first programme under the Mariposa initiative, which is a crowdfunding project created by Olenex, a Wilmar-ADM joint venture, for its customers. By implementing programmes like WISSE, Olenex customers directly contribute to change on the ground in the palm oil industry in Latin America; a great example of #SharedResponsibility.
WISSE Progress Report 1 – August 2019
WISSE Progress Report 2 – March 2020