Our Commitment to No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation

Our Commitment to No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation

We procure agricultural commodities from around the world, including from regions that may be at risk for deforestation and human rights violations. To help protect the forests, and the people in the affected areas, we've created and implemented a No-Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation—or No DPE—Policy. Our goal is to ensure the protection of important natural ecosystems while leveraging our role as a major merchandiser of sustainable crops with a traceable supply chain. Separately, we have a Respect for Human Rights Policy, which protects the human rights of individuals along the agricultural value chain.

 

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Our policies and commitments and implementation activities apply to our palm and soy supply chains, focusing first on high-risk geographies. We have identified soy in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes of South America, and palm globally as high-risk commodities. We work alone, and in partnership with other organizations to address these issues.

The clearing of forested, high carbon stock and high conservation value areas for planting threatens biodiversity, soil health, and vital carbon sinks as well as

indigenous communities who rely on those areas for their livelihood. We've partnered with The Earthworm Foundation (formerly known as The Forest Trust) to implement our No DPE and Respect for Human Rights policies in the palm supply chain.

"Our focus on environmental responsibility is integral to the work we do daily to serve customers and create value for shareholders," said ADM Chief Sustainability Officer Alison Taylor. "Our partnership with The Earthworm Foundation helps create more sustainable, traceable agricultural supply chains that protect forests, important ecosystems and peatlands, as well as the human rights of individuals along the agricultural value chain.â

Since 2006, we have been a signatory of the Amazon Soy Moratorium and we're a founding member of the Soy Working Group. As such, we do not source from newly deforested areas in the Amazon published by INPE (the Brazilian National Space Research Institute). Every year, a third-party auditor confirms we're in compliance. Consistent with the October 2018 statement made by ABIOVE—which has represented companies that process oilseeds and produce meal, vegetable oil and biodiesel in Brazil—we intend to maintain the Amazon Soy Moratorium.

We're also a member of the GTC—Grupo de Trabalho do Cerrado, or Cerrado Working Group—a multi- stakeholder initiative aiming to reduce deforestation in the shortest timeframe possible while promoting socio-economic development. Additionally, we're a member of the MATOPIBA Coalition, a group of stakeholders organized under the United Nation's Green Commodities program, who work together on a landscape approach in the states of Maranhao, Tocantins, Piaui and Bahia.

ADM is a founding member of the Soft Commodities Forum, a global platform for leading soft commodities companies convened by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. We have committed to a common framework for reporting and monitoring progress on transparent and traceable supply chains for soy in Brazil's Cerrado region. We regularly publish progress reports, traceability scores and updates to our action plans online. Visit our Sustainability Progress Tracker to learn more.