AgroAmerica

1. Sustainable palm oil policy or commitment for all its operations?

The company has various policies covering environmental and social issues.

2. Policy or commitment applies to direct and third-party suppliers?

3. High-level position of responsibility for sustainability?

Chief Sustainability Officer who reports to the CEO.

4. Sustainability report published within last two years?

5. Member of multiple industry schemes or other external initiatives to improve sustainability in relation to palm oil?

CentraRSE, The Sustainability Consortium, Institute of Climate Change (ICC).

6. Verification report on compliance with POIG Charter, if a POIG member?

This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.

7. Activities with government, NGOs or academic institutions to improve palm oil sustainability?

The company is working with WWF to improve agricultural practices and to reduce the use of agrochemicals. It also contributed to the methodology of "Permanent Plots of Forest Measurement in Mangrove" which was implemented by the National Forest Institute of Guatemala to monitor and gather information for decision making for mangrove conservation.

8. Total land area managed/controlled for oil palm (ha)?

26393.1 - This figure is the sum of areas given for the company's subsidiaries, Agrocaribe, Agroaceite and Agropalma.

9. Total oil palm planted area (ha)?

22896.2 - This figure is the sum of areas given for the company's subsidiaries, Agrocaribe, Agroaceite and Agropalma.

10. Plasma/scheme smallholders planted area (ha)?

3901.24 - This figure is the sum of areas given for the company's subsidiaries, Agrocaribe, Agroaceite and Agropalma.

11. Unplanted (areas designated for future planting) (ha)?

934.07 - This figure only relates to two of the company's subsidiaries, Agrocaribe and Agroaceite. The company reports an area not planted for Agropalma of 181.57 ha but it is unclear if this will be planted in the future.

12. Conservation set-aside area, including HCV area (ha)?

650.63 - This figure relates to two of the company's subsidiaries, Agrocaribe and Agroaceite. No areas for conservation are reported for the company's operations in Panama.

13. Area for infrastructure (ha)?

14. Number and names of company owned mills?

4 - The company has 3 mills in Guatemala and one in Panama.

15. Maps or coordinates of company owned mills?

16. Number and names of supplier mills?

The company states that 100% of the CPO and CPKO it produces comes from its 4 mills.

17. Maps of estates/management units?

Two of the company's subsidiaries have submitted maps to the RSPO, one in 2014 (which has since reported acquiring land), the other in 2015 (which has not reported acquiring new land). Therefore these maps only represent part of the company's known scope of operations.

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18. Maps of scheme/plasma smallholders?

19. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to mill level?

The company states that 100% of the CPO and CPKO it produces comes from its 4 mills.

20. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to plantation level?

2020 - The company has a commitment to achieve 100% identity preserved certification by 2020.

21. Percentage of supply traceable to mill level (above 80%)?

The company states that 100% of the CPO and CPKO it produces comes from its 4 mills.

22. Percentage of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from own mills traceable to plantation level (above 75%)?

40% - One of the company's subsidiaries, Agrocaribe, has RSPO Identity Preserved certification for one of two estates, and states that it "guarantees full traceability from planting to shipment." This covers an area of 8,968.54 ha, representing 40% of the company's landbank.

23. Percentage of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from supplier mills traceable to plantation level (above 75%)?

The company states that 100% of the CPO and CPKO it produces comes from its 4 mills.

24. Commitment to zero deforestation?

25. Deforestation commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?

26. Criteria for defining deforestation?

HCV, forests with significant carbon stores
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27. Evidence of monitoring deforestation?

28. Examples of habitat management and/or habitat restoration?

The company has undertaken reforestation projects and supported mangrove forest management workshops.

29. Implementing a landscape-level approach to biodiversity conservation?

The company states "In our recent technical agreement of co-operation with Solidaridad and MARN we committed to protect the environment though a sustainable landscape strategy.".

30. Commitment to biodiversity conservation?

31. Commitment to not endanger species of conservation concern, referencing international or national system of species classification?

32. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species?

33. Examples of species conservation activities?

The company has environmental education projects for school children, and supports a nature reserve, and is also involved in protecting iguanas through an iguana reserve.

34. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments?

35. HCV commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?

36. Commitment to only use licensed High Conservation Value (HCV) assessors accredited by the HCV Resource Network's Assessor Licensing Scheme (ALS)?

37. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments for planting undertaken prior to January 2015, and associated management and monitoring plans?

Two HCV assessment summaries are available for planting that took place before 2015, containing management and monitoring recommendations.

38. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments for all estates planted since January 2015?

Two NPPs have been submitted since January 2015 (one for Agroaceite, one for Agrocaribe) and their assessment summaries and management plans are available. No new planting has been undertaken in Panama since January 2015.

39. High Conservation Value (HCV) management and monitoring plans for all estates planted since January 2015?

Two NPPs have been submitted since January 2015 (one for Agroaceite, one for Agrocaribe) and their assessment summaries and management plans are available. No new planting has been undertaken in Panama since January 2015.

40. Satisfactory review of all High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments undertaken since January 2015 by the HCV ALS Quality Panel?

HCV assessments for subsidiary Agroaceite for "Municipalities: Coatepeque, Pajapita and Retalhuleu Departments: San Marcos, Quetzaltenango and Retalhuleu" and Agrocaribe for "Guatemala, Izabal" were both satisfactory.

41. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach?

The company commits to no development in forests with significant carbon stores, but does not commit to the HCS Approach before all new development.

42. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments?

43. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs)?

44. Social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs) undertaken, and associated management and monitoring plans?

Two NPPs have been submitted since January 2015 and their assessment summaries and management plans are available, one of which (Agrocaribe) includes a summary of the SEIA.

45. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?

The company commits to not develop peat but it does not specify depth.

46. Peat commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?

The company's policy applies to all own operations and all third party suppliers, however they do not have a clear commitment to no planting on peat of any depth.

47. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat?

The company commits to ensure best practices in areas already planted with peat but does not have a similar commitment for soils.

48. Landbank or planted area on peat?

0 - The company states it has not developed on peat soils but this data is undated.

49. Evidence of best management practices for soils and peat?

The company recycles nutrients within its plantations, and grows ground cover to reduce erosion and weeds, but does not explicitly state that it does not have operations on peat.

50. Commitment to zero burning?

51. Zero burning commitment applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?

52. Evidence of management and monitoring fires?

The company reports training on fire management, but does not provide details of fire monitoring activities.

53. Details/number of hotspots/fires in company estates?

54. Details/number of hotspots/fires within surrounding landscape/smallholders?

55. Time-bound commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity?

The company states it has a commitment to become carbon negative in two years, but it is unclear when this commitment was made.

56. GHG emissions from land use change?

GHG emissions are reported for subsidiaries Agrocaribe and Agroaceite. No figures could be found for Agropalma.

57. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

PalmGHG calculator.

58. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions intensity?

59. Percentage of mills with methane capture (100%)?

The company has stated it traps methane, but it is not clear if all mills have methane capture.

60. Time-bound commitment to improve water use per tonne of FFB Processed?

The company is committed to reducing the use of water by 40-45% by 2019 however the target is not based on intensity.

61. Time-bound commitment to improve water quality (BOD and COD)?

62. Progress towards commitment on water use?

The company reports that the use of Smart Irrigation Technologies has reduced water use by 30%. Agroaceite reports an average reduction of 40% to 45% in water use, however figures are not reported for water use intensity.

63. Progress towards commitment on water quality (BOD and COD)?

The company states it has reduced its BOD and COD in effluent output by 80% in the last 10 years, but it does not have a target in place.

64. Protection of natural waterways through buffer zones?

65. Evidence of treating palm oil mill effluent (POME)?

The company only states that in Guatemala it has "projects whose aim is treating the palm oil mill's waste water to generate clean energy, reduce greenhouse gases and obtain suitable water to reuse in irrigation".

66. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers?

The company has signed an MOU with WWF to improve sustainable agricultural practices and reduce the use of pesticides in areas near the Mesoamerican reef and with high risk of contamination, and the use of fertilisers per tonne used in basic plantings.

67. No use of paraquat?

68. No use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides?

69. No use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention?

70. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?

71. Chemical usage per ha or list of chemicals used?

72. Commitment to human rights, referencing the UN Declaration of Human Rights or UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights?

73. Commitment to human rights applies to scheme smallholders and independent suppliers?

74. Commitment to respect legal and customary land tenure rights?

75. Commitment to respect indigenous and local communities' rights, referencing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or ILO 169?

The company commits to respect indigenous and local communities' rights but does not refer to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or ILO 169.

76. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)?

77. FPIC commitment applies to independent suppliers?

78. Details of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) process available?

79. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?

80. Commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

The company has a Nutritional Food Security program, but it does not explicitly commit to ensure food security through assisting with crop diversity and/or food prices.

81. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

The company helps provide access to medical care and helps maintain and repair schools, roads and bridges.

82. Commitment to respect all workers' rights?

83. Reference to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles?

The company commits to respect the ILO's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

84. Total number of employees?

4300

85. Percentage or number of temporary employees?

0 - The company states it does not employ temporary staff.

86. Percentage or number of women employees?

16% - Figure relates to all operations.

87. Commitment to pay minimum wage?

The company states that it provides a living wage above the minimum wage to all workers. Evidence is given for its operations in Guatemala but not Panama.

88. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?

89. Time lost due to work-based injuries?

90. Number of fatalities as a result of work-based accidents?

91. Provision of personal protective equipment and pesticide training?

The company reports workers in one subsidiary receiving training in the responsible use and management of pesticides, and that employees receive appropriate equipment and training in responsible use of agrochemicals.

92. Member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)?

Two of the company's subsidiaries are RSPO members, Agroaceite and Agrocaribe. Agroamerica Tropical Oil Holding Corp. is in the process of obtaining group level RSPO certification.

93. Submitted most recent RSPO Annual Communication of Progress (ACOP)?

94. Listed all countries and regions in which operates in most recent RSPO Annual Communication of Progress (ACOP)?

The company's subsidiaries that are members of the RSPO both report operating in Guatemala in their 2017 ACOPs.

95. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% RSPO certification of estates within 5 years or achieved 100% RSPO-certification of estates?

2018 - Both of the company's subsidiaries that are RSPO members state that they plan to achieve 100% certification of estates by 2018. The company also states a commitment to achieve full RSPO certification including its operations in Panama by 2020.

96. Time-bound plan for achieving 100% RSPO certification of scheme/associated smallholders within 5 years or achieved 100% RSPO-certification of scheme/associated smallholders?

The company's subsidiaries that are members of the RSPO report having only independent smallholder suppliers (Agrocaribe) or no smallholder suppliers (Agroaceite). However, Agrocaribe also reports having 9.74 ha under scheme/plasma smallholders that is uncertified, so the status of all Agrocaribe's smallholder suppliers is unclear, and it gives no target for achieving certification.

97. Year expected to achieve 100% RSPO certification of all palm product processing facilities?

2018 - This relates to one of the company's subsidiaries, Agrocaribe, and therefore it is unclear whether this accounts for all palm product processing across the whole company
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98. RSPO-certified within three years of joining the RSPO or by November 2010, for companies joining prior to finalisation of the RSPO certification systems in November 2007?

99. Percentage of mills RSPO-certified (above 75%)?

1 (25%)

100. Percentage of area (ha) RSPO-certified (above 75%)?

10177 (45.6%) - This figure relates to one of the company's subsidiaries, as reported in its 2017 ACOP. However, the RSPO website reports that this subsidiary's certified production area is 9,036 ha.

101. Percentage of scheme/associated smallholders (ha) RSPO-certified (above 75%)?

0 (0%) - The company's subsidiary Agrocaribe reports having no land certified under scheme/plasma smallholders, but 9.74 ha uncertified.

102. Percentage of FFB supply (tonnes) from independent FFB suppliers that is RSPO-certified (above 75%)?

0% - One of the company's subsidiaries, Agrocaribe, reports receiving FFB supplies from independent smallholders, but none of this is certified.

103. Percentage of all palm oil and oil palm products handled/traded/processed (tonnes) that are RSPO-certified (above 75%)?

62% - The company's subsidiary Agrocaribe reports 62% of the palm oil and palm oil products it handles/produces/trades is certified.

104. Sells or processes/trades RSPO-certified palm oil through Segregated or Identity Preserved supply chains?

The company's subsidiary Agrocaribe sells RSPO-certified palm oil through Identity Preserved supply chains, in addition to conventional CSPO and CSPK.

105. Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certified (100%)?

This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.

106. Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified?

This indicator is disabled as it is not applicable to this company.

107. Certified under voluntary sustainability certification scheme (e.g. ISCC, SAN, RSB, etc.)?

The company's subsidiaries Agrocaribe and Agroaceite are Rainforest Alliance certified for oil palm, among other certifications reported by the company, some of which apply to its banana operations.

108. Programme to support scheme smallholders?

109. Number or percentage of scheme smallholders involved in programme?

110. Programme to support independent smallholders?

The company's subsidiary Agrocaribe reports that it supports independent smallholder groups by providing technical assistance and support to achieve RSPO certification.

111. Number or percentage of independent smallholders involved in programme?

112. Process used to prioritise, assess and/or engage suppliers on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

113. Suspension or exclusion criteria for suppliers?

114. Percentage of suppliers assessed and/or engaged on compliance with company requirements?

115. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

116. Whistleblowing procedure?

The company has an ethics reporting line which offers a secure and confidential route, via an external company, to submit questions or complaints by phone, email, or online.

117. Own grievance or complaints system?

The company has an ethics reporting line which also allows stakeholders to report issues around the company's internal policies and laws.

118. Grievance or complaints system is accessible to internal and external stakeholders?

119. Details of grievances disclosed?