Business
Advancement of RSPO Certification Process
Advancement of RSPO Certification Process.
About this update from Dekel Agri-vision Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \n \n \n RNS Number : 4666L\n Dekel Agri-Vision PLC\n 13 January 2021\n \n \n \n Dekel Agri-Vision Plc / Index: AIM / Epic: DKL / Sector: Food Producers\n \n Dekel Agri-Vision Plc ('Dekel' or the 'Company')\nAdvancement of Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil Certification Process\n \n Dekel Agri-Vision Plc, the West African focused agriculture company, is pleased to confirm that following significant advances made in 2020 preparing for the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil ('RSPO') certification process, it has now engaged Proforest to undertake the final RSPO pre-audit of the Company's 100%-owned, vertically integrated palm oil project at Ayenouan. Proforest is an established independent organisation specialising in sustainable practices in the natural resources sector.\n \n As part of the pre-audit, Proforest will undertake a review of Dekel's programmes and management systems and assess the processes and procedures put in place by the Company to manage environmental and social risks and impacts. The Proforest team will also look to identify opportunities for value addition through the adoption of environmental and social improvements and initiatives. This will allow any final recommendations ahead of the formal RSPO audit process which the Company expects to undertake later this year.\n \n In line with the above, a team from Proforest is due on site at Ayenouan in February 2021 (subject to any potential UK and South Africa travel restrictions) and the Company expects to receive a final report in Q2 2021. It is envisaged that the formal RSPO certification will commence as soon as practicable following receipt of the report, subject to the findings. It ought to be noted that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic may impact exact timings.\n \n \n Dekel Agri-Vision Plc Executive Director Lincoln Moore said: \"In our view, RSPO certification is a natural fit with the collaborative small farmer and co-operative model we have adopted across our portfolio of agriculture projects in West Africa and will provide further external validation of our ESG ('Environment, Social and Governance') standards. \n \n \"Placing local smallholders and communities at the centre of operations, our model has resulted in over 90% of the crude palm oil ('CPO') we produce at Ayenouan origi...