At Solidaridad, we work to strengthen value chains, support inclusive and sustainable trade, and promote good agricultural practices that lead to sustainability.
Understanding the smallholder: The first step toward sustainability
With the launch of the Getting to Know the Smallholder initiative in Mexico, developed in collaboration with AAK, ANIAME, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and four palm oil milling companies in the country, the first step was a diagnostic to learn about smallholders and their needs.
This diagnostic helped us understand key data, including:
- The average palm oil smallholder in the region is 60 years old,
- Just 29 percent are women.
- Production averages 22.15 metric tonnes per hectare per year.
These realities are a reminder that we cannot talk about sustainability without understanding the specific conditions and needs of those leading production on the ground.
“Through this project, we were able to support 260 smallholders across the states of Veracruz and Chiapas, working together across 2,366 hectares of oil palm. Our collaboration with four palm oil mills allowed us to train 11 technical staff who replicated helping smallholder producers to strengthen their practices and build a more sustainable production,” said Jorge Solano, Sustainability Coordinator at AAK Americas.
A commitment that grows from the ground up
The collaboration between AAK, RSPO, ANIAME, Solidaridad, and the mills Aceites de Palma, Palmeras Oleaginosas del Sur (PALMOSUR), PROPALMA, and Zitihuatl-PAPSA continues to evolve toward a more just and responsible industry.
Luis Parra Mora, General Manager of AAK Mexico and Colombia, highlighted that, “this event was an extraordinary way to showcase and consolidate the progress achieved with smallholders in southeastern Mexico. The programme is a solid example of AAK’s commitment to creating value in the communities where we operate.”
Meanwhile, Gregorio Gómez Sanz, Chairman of the Board of ANIAME, stated that, “for ANIAME, it is essential to support this project because it reaffirms our commitment to sustainability and zero deforestation, and because it has the very special feature of strengthening smallholders.”
“At RSPO, we believe that the true measure of success is when independent smallholders can operate sustainably, professionally, and profitably, on their own terms. As regulations in this industry are tightened, this collaboration reflects our shared vision with AAK, Solidaridad and Anime to make inclusion a market reality, not just a principle,” emphasized Guntur Cahyo Prabowo, Head of Smallholders at RSPO.
This renewed agreement not only promotes more sustainable practices but also acknowledges the central role of producers in transforming the sector. Our joint efforts show that sustainability begins in the field but gains strength through long-term partnerships.
2025 work plan: Health and safety as a sustainability priority
One of the most significant findings of the 2024 diagnostic was the urgent need to improve health and safety conditions in the field. Over 90 percent of workers have not yet received formal training in occupational health and safety.
“Thanks to one of Solidaridad’s digital tools, we developed a baseline aligned with RSPO’s smallholder standard. We identified that health and safety is the area with the greatest opportunity for improvement—so this year, it will be our top priority, with trainings, protocols, and dedicated committees,” said Vania Olmos Lau, Multi-Commodity Programme Manager at Solidaridad Mexico.
This will be the core focus of the 2025 initiative, Empowering the Smallholder, which is part of the Terranova programme funded by AAK and implemented by Solidaridad and the participating mills, together with the support of RSPO and ANIAME.
“As part of our vision for Terranova, we want to build conditions for a more sustainable and opportunity-filled future. We’ll focus especially on strengthening smallholder best practices,” said Lourdes Hernández, Sustainability Manager at AAK Americas.
Key actions for 2025 include:
- Development of a risk matrix
- Design of an occupational health and safety management plan
- Foundations for community committee formation
Implementation of a hybrid training diploma - In-person workshops on first aid, proper use of protective equipment, and responsible agrochemical handling
- Strengthening the Internal Control System (ICS) and traceability
Solidaridad’s sustainable palm oil track record in Mesoamerica
Solidaridad has supported sustainable palm oil processes in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, impacting over 345,000 hectares and benefiting more than 12,800 producers and 43 mills.
Our strategies include:
- Farmer field schools
- Demonstration plots
- Manuals, field notebooks, and other educational tools
Support for land titling
We also maintain a regional agreement with RSPO that strengthens smallholders’ pathway to certification.
“Since 2022, Solidaridad and AAK have worked together to strengthen sustainability. In 2023, we consolidated our partnership through key actions such as monitoring low pollutants, promoting best practices, and delivering field training on sustainable production to smallholders,” said Abigail Ríos, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Solidaridad Mexico.