We actively collaborate with suppliers and farmers to drive progress and address challenges in the raw material industries. An exciting example was the first workshop of its kind around Coconut Sustainability, organized in the Philippines, bringing together all stakeholders in the supply chain.
To maximize our impact on the raw material industries and address the challenges we face in a comprehensive manner, we actively engage with our supply chains through our sustainable sourcing approach. This involves collaborating with our suppliers and farmers to drive progress and gain a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. The workshop organized in the Philippines is an exciting recent example of our efforts. Key players involved in the coconut oil upstream supply chain, including farmers, collectors, traders, middlemen, crushers, and refinery buyers, participated in the event to discuss the development of a sustainable coconut industry.
The workshop was attended by esteemed officials from the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA), the Philippines Coconut Association (PCA), the Department of Science & Technology (DOST), as well as local NGOs. It was a collaborative platform, where approximately 80 participants engaged in round table discussions.
The primary objective of the workshop was to raise awareness about sustainability and food safety, emphasizing to farmers that building a sustainable supply chain begins at the farming level and highlighting their crucial role in the process.
To further contribute to sustainability efforts within the sourcing of coconut, AAK has implemented satellite monitoring of the coconut plantations we source from. This monitoring provides us with valuable information on deforestation, tree ages, forest boundaries, and more. It is an activity that enhances the credibility of our sustainability claims.
In 2017, in partnership with Davao Bay, we initiated a coconut palm tree replanting program. Together, we have successfully germinated 6,397 seeds and are actively working towards our target of distributing 10,000 seeds by 2025. This replanting program not only benefits farmers in our direct supply chain but also contributes to our reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Furthermore, we are collaborating with the PCA on a program that aims to identify and scale up the replanting efforts using newly developed hybrid seeds. This initiative seeks to expedite crop growth within a shorter period, thereby improving farmers' livelihoods and encouraging diversification of their agricultural activities.
Through these initiatives, we are making notable progress in our journey towards a sustainable future, promoting collaboration among stakeholders, and striving to have a positive impact on the communities and environments in which we operate.