10 December 2021

[...] Cargill is committed to protecting the human rights of workers, indigenous people and local communities, as detailed in our Human Rights Commitment and our Policy on Sustainable Palm Oil and in keeping with international human rights principles and local applicable laws. As noted in our Human Rights Commitment, we observe the principle of free, prior and informed consent and support the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests, which help ensure that land tenure rights of local people are protected. We participate in the UN Global Compact and take guidance from the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the International Labor Organization’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. These frameworks call on us to engage in due diligence and take action to remedy issues where identified in our workplaces, supply chains and extended communities.

Our Palm Grievance Procedure provides a transparent, open, and robust process for dealing with grievances, no matter how they are raised. We take all reports of potential misconduct seriously and handle them promptly and fairly. We hold ourselves and our suppliers accountable to respond to grievances, set time-bound action plans to ensure progress and close the grievance in a timely manner as agreed to by the complainant. Cargill’s Palm Grievance Procedure provides a transparent, open and robust process for dealing with grievances. (See list of grievances at Palm Oil, Managing Grievances | Cargill).

We hear the specific concerns around indigenous rights within local communities as well as alleged land clearing in the Manis Mata region of West Kalimantan. We have publicly responded to these concerns here.

As an industry, we must all continue to accelerate our efforts and at Cargill, we’re working to do just that. We’re partnering directly with smallholders in communities around our plantations to help them achieve and maintain RSPO certification and NDPE compliance and improve their livelihoods. We know there is more to do and stand ready to partner across the industry to drive long-term, sustainable change that puts people first.

[full response attached]