Henkel has partnered with the international development organization Soldaridad to promote sustainable palm oil and support more than 5,000 smallholders in Colombia.

The new project will see the German FMCG manufacturer leverage digital technology to support and empower farmers through an innovative platform called Farming Solution, which was developed by Solidaridad.

The digital tool provides farmers with a series of recommendations for how to improve agricultural practices on their farm based on their responses to a questionnaire. Farmers can then avail themselves of online manuals and video tutorials to implement their plan, and monitor their development.

“This new project shows the massive potential for digital technology to drive progress toward sustainability,” said Thomas Muller-Kirschbaum, Head of Global Research and Development, Henkel Laundry & Home Care. “It represents another step forward with our commitment to going beyond buying certified palm oil, and directly supporting the farmers who grow the oil palm fruit on small farms. We’re proud to be supporting this approach together with Solidaridad.”