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The palm oil industry has historically led to significant ecosystem depletion—through deforestation, peat drainage, excessive agrochemical use, and biodiversity loss. For companies, these landscapes are a source of long-term compliance risk, and for farmers, especially smallholders, this is a cycle of soil degradation and income vulnerability.
As one farmer from Soubré, Côte d’Ivoire shared:
"I had to renew my oil palm plot as it was no longer productive. With Earthworm’s support, I got access to quality seedlings. I replanted 2 hectares and will continue to renew my entire 8-hectare plot."
Palm oil remains a controversial commodity. But instead of stepping away, Earthworm Foundation steps in, bringing together science, farmers, and companies to rebuild soil, biodiversity, and farmer livelihoods.
As one farmer from Soubré, Côte d’Ivoire shared:
"I had to renew my oil palm plot as it was no longer productive. With Earthworm’s support, I got access to quality seedlings. I replanted 2 hectares and will continue to renew my entire 8-hectare plot."
Palm oil remains a controversial commodity. But instead of stepping away, Earthworm Foundation steps in, bringing together science, farmers, and companies to rebuild soil, biodiversity, and farmer livelihoods.
Our work in palm oil landscapes starts with the soil. Healthy soil is a foundation for carbon storage, productivity, water regulation, and resilient farming.
Through a suite of regenerative practices—like organic fertilisation, multi-species planting, minimal tillage, erosion control, and cover cropping—we help transform palm landscapes into living systems.
These are tracked not just by farmer declarations, but through technology:
MyLivingSoils:
Our digital MRV (Measurement, Reporting, Verification) tool centralises farm data and turns it into impact indicators.
Starling and NDVI mapping:
We use satellite data to monitor ground cover and vegetative health objectively, key indicators of soil vitality.
AgriBoussol (Palm adaptation):
A beta version of our robust technical framework, developed with scientific advisors, now includes oil palm-specific criteria to measure agroecological performance.
Across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, we support pilot transitions and broader landscape programs. Key examples include:
Across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, we support pilot transitions and broader landscape programs. Key examples include:
Ucayali, Peru:
Transitioning palm farms to regenerative models alongside cocoa, using Holistic Farm Plans, organic composts from palm mills, and agroforestry.- Area: 193,000 ha (Neshuya + Campo Verde), with verified carbon benefit goals.
Chiapas, Mexico:
Combining palm oil and cocoa under regenerative models; focusing on watershed protection, farmer training, and GHG emissions reduction.
Sabah, Malaysia & Sumatra, Indonesia:
Engaging palm oil suppliers in designing regenerative farming systems and ecosystem restoration incentives.
Soubré, Côte d’Ivoire:
Regenerative palm oil integrated into the Assiekpa model: a multi-species system including cocoa, palm, fruit trees, food crops, and livestock.
Results (as of 2024):
- 4,956 farmers reached
- 4,550 farms mapped
- 73 hectares of degraded land rehabilitated
- 966 women gained access to finance
Chiapas, Mexico:
Combining palm oil and cocoa under regenerative models; focusing on watershed protection, farmer training, and GHG emissions reduction.
Sabah, Malaysia & Sumatra, Indonesia:
Engaging palm oil suppliers in designing regenerative farming systems and ecosystem restoration incentives.
Soubré, Côte d’Ivoire:
Regenerative palm oil integrated into the Assiekpa model: a multi-species system including cocoa, palm, fruit trees, food crops, and livestock.
Results (as of 2024):
- 4,956 farmers reached
- 4,550 farms mapped
- 73 hectares of degraded land rehabilitated
- 966 women gained access to finance
Sabah, Malaysia & Sumatra, Indonesia:
Engaging palm oil suppliers in designing regenerative farming systems and ecosystem restoration incentives.
Soubré, Côte d’Ivoire:
Regenerative palm oil integrated into the Assiekpa model: a multi-species system including cocoa, palm, fruit trees, food crops, and livestock.
Results (as of 2024):
- 4,956 farmers reached
- 4,550 farms mapped
- 73 hectares of degraded land rehabilitated
- 966 women gained access to finance
For companies, regenerative agriculture in palm offers a tangible way to meet Scope 3 emissions targets, biodiversity goals, and human rights commitments. But to work, it must be grounded in local realities.
For companies, regenerative agriculture in palm offers a tangible way to meet Scope 3 emissions targets, biodiversity goals, and human rights commitments. But to work, it must be grounded in local realities.
This is why we work side by side with suppliers, cooperatives, and farmers to co-design solutions. Nestlé, for example, has partnered with Earthworm to adapt its Farm Assessment Tool (FAT) to better measure regenerative outcomes in palm, beyond traditional compliance metrics.
As Humberto Chávez, a palm farmer in Peru, explains:
"When Earthworm came to my farm, I thought I knew best. But when I saw the results of using compost and ground cover, I understood the difference. It's not just about what you grow, but how you treat the soil."
We help companies move from practice-based to outcome-based approaches, where incentives are tied to real, verified improvements in soil, yield, biodiversity, and livelihoods.
Palm oil’s story doesn’t have to be one of loss. It can be one of leadership, of companies and farmers coming together to regenerate degraded soils, diversify incomes, and secure supply chains for the long term.
