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Socfin Agricultural Company (SAC) rejects any allegations made in this article. Moreover, the methodology used by the organization to set up this petition has been widely questioned by the local authorities and the multistakeholder platform...

SAC and the Socfin Group selected an RSPO auditor firm from several certifying bodies, accredited by Assurance Services International (ASI), recognised by RSPO. These experts conducted their mission impartially and independently as any professional in this business... SAC leases land from willing owners. There have been several cases where the land was not leased as landowners declined to lease the land to the Government of Sierra Leone...

A rigorous mapping of the owners' plots and the plantation was carried out in 2021 and the result was communicated to the communities... The land leasing process was carried out in full compliance with national laws and regulations and international standards... SAC is always open to constructive cooperation and dialogue with its stakeholders...

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