Portrait FONAP

Our forum is a multi-stakeholder partnership (MSP) consisting of approximately fifty companies, associations, non-governmental organizations, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The secretariat is based at the Global Nature Fund (GNF) in Bonn.

The aim of FONAP e.V. is to promote more ecologically and socially sustainable agricultural supply chains with a focus on palm oil. Since its founding in 2015, FONAP has been committed to improving palm oil cultivation in the countries of origin. This has involved increasing the uptake of certified palm oil in food, feed, and chemical products, and ensuring respect for and application of human rights throughout the entire supply chain. Companies joined the multi-stakeholder partnership to address challenges—such as fulfilling their human rights due diligence obligations and certification issues—collectively rather than only within their own organizations. Our current work is primarily dedicated to new regulatory requirements and legislation (such as the EUDR/Deforestation Regulation and the LkSG/Supply Chain Due Diligence Act), as well as testing solution approaches—for example, through pilot projects—in the countries of origin. FONAP members have access to various participation formats, such as exchange within the framework of specialist events, involvement in working groups, or voluntary support for a FONAP smallholder project.

Our Goals

  • 01

    Create transparency (traceability)

  • 02

    Strengthen labor rights and human rights due diligence

  • 03

    Dialogue—factual, solution-oriented, visible

  • 04

    Promote deforestation-free supply chains (within the framework of the EUDR/Deforestation Regulation)

  • 05

    Pilot projects and practical tests for the purpose of biodiversity conservation and restoration of habitats and ecosystems

  • 06

    Strengthen smallholders, for example through increased information exchange and/or pilot projects and practical tests in selected cultivation regions

  • 07

    Demonstrate visible engagement in producing countries, e.g., through dialogue formats, participation in conferences, roundtables, background discussions

Our Approach

To achieve these goals, FONAP pursues various approaches. These include, among others:

  • Implementation and monitoring of a voluntary commitment.
  • Development of proposals for the further development and improvement of existing certification systems.
  • Implementation of pilot and test projects with smallholders in producing countries with the aim of testing methods for more socially sustainable palm oil production and ecosystem restoration, and ideally improving the living conditions of smallholders.
  • Networking with other initiatives, interested companies, and non-governmental organizations in Europe to jointly address issues related to improved palm oil cultivation.
  • Preparation and communication of technical and substantive information on topics related to sustainable, resilient palm oil production, cultivation conditions in producing countries, preparation for certification, and procurement of certified palm oil.
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