Press Releases Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food Extends Partnership with Tzu Chi Indonesia and ADM to Support Community Empowerment in Lubuk Gaung

Jakarta, May 8, 2025: At least 100 households in Lubuk Gaung, Riau Province, are set to benefit from a new community empowerment programme which aims to improve their economic prospects, enhance nutrition and increase access to education for local children.

The initiative marks the next stage in an ongoing collaboration between Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, Tzu Chi Indonesia and ADM to implement landscape projects that support communities across the palm oil supply chain in Indonesia.

The project builds on an existing partnership, started in 2023, to support thriving rural communities in Riau. The initiative has achieved notable results. 350 locations in Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food’s network of early childhood care facilities (BPAs) for plantation workers received books and educational materials to upgrade their classrooms, and over 600 caregivers received training to improve their early childcare education skills.

Separately, investment to enhance education through a network of Community Learning Centres (CLCs) has benefited more than 450 community members, supporting over a dozen micro-enterprises to build capacity and scale up their businesses to improve economic activity in these rural areas.

Moving forward

A new two-year collaboration agreement, signed recently in Jakarta, outlined the partners’ commitment to supporting new communities in three key areas: community hydroponic farming, stunting prevention, and enhancing early childhood education facilities.

At the signing event held at the Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food headquarters in Jakarta, Corey Sikorski, ADM’s Southeast Asia Business Manager for Global Trade, shared, “This initiative reflects our shared commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities. Through ADM Cares, our corporate social investment program, we are proud to support efforts that promote food security, expand access to early education, and create sustainable sources of income in the Riau Province – laying the foundation for long-term wellbeing”

As one of Indonesia’s largest palm oil producers, Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food remains committed to improving the well-being of both its employees and communities. The company believes palm oil can be a catalyst for positive change, creating jobs and enabling communities to build more sustainable and prosperous futures.

“We thank ADM for placing their trust in Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food as their partner in delivering these three vital initiatives under our Community Economic Empowerment Programme, which currently reaches over 60 communities across Indonesia,” said Gianto Widjaja, Deputy President Director of Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food.

Enhancing communities in three core areas

The first initiative in this collaborative project will construct community hydroponic facilities to farm fresh and nutritious produce for local consumption. The project will provide tools for communities to achieve food security and enhance economic independence, in line with existing national strategies.

The second initiative focuses on stunting issues that will involve partners, including local health centres and integrated health posts, village-level community empowerment groups (LPMK), and the Family Welfare Empowerment Movement (PKK) in Lubuk Gaung. It aligns closely with the government’s goal of a stunting-free Indonesia and contributes meaningfully toward that mission.

The third initiative involves improving Early Childhood Education (PAUD) facilities, as a continuation of the collaboration between Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food and Tzu Chi Indonesia. This initiative aims to provide a supportive and enriching environment for young children, improving educational facilities to develop the next generation of resilient, resourceful communities connected to the palm oil supply chain.

For more information, please contact: communications@sinarmas-agri.com