News in brief:
– Palmoil.io launches PlotCheck to assist palm oil firms in complying with deforestation regulations by tracing of palm oil plots without storing sensitive data.
– The tool uses shape file data and publicly available deforestation data to generate interactive maps, aiding companies in proving deforestation-free sourcing.
Companies all over the world are facing increasing pressure to ensure their products adhere to the zero deforestation regulation. However, the intricate supply chains of commodities like palm oil, originating from numerous plantations across Indonesia and Malaysia, pose a significant challenge in proving deforestation-free sourcing.
Addressing this challenge, Palmoil.io, through its web-based monitoring platform, has introduced the PlotCheck tool. CEO Leo Bottrill, in a recent interview with Mongabay, highlighted the importance of tracing palm oil plots to processing facilities for effective compliance with regulations.
PlotCheck, currently in beta testing, allows companies to upload plot boundaries without storing the data in the system, addressing privacy concerns. This feature is crucial in light of recent global legislation, such as the European Union’s ban on products sourced from land deforested after 2020.
How PlotCheck works
Utilising shape file data provided by palm oil producers, PlotCheck employs publicly available deforestation data, including alerts from the Sentinel-1 satellite network and NASA’s Landsat satellites. The tool then generates an interactive online map, pinpointing deforestation within plot boundaries, along with historical deforestation data and nearby mills.
As PlotCheck undergoes beta testing, Bottrill’s team aims to refine the system further. Plans include assigning ID numbers to plots to facilitate quick verification and streamline the generation of due diligence statements, a crucial step for companies to prove their shipments are deforestation-free.
Bottrill acknowledges potential challenges, particularly in data security and privacy. However, he remains cautiously optimistic about PlotCheck’s effectiveness, emphasizing the need for companies to take proactive measures in monitoring deforestation linked to their products amid unprecedented zero-deforestation legislation.
