Mark van Dorp
INDEPAZ – The Institute for Development and Peace Studies
Poligrow
Home Research Palm oil, land rights and conflict in Colombia
News / November 3, 2015
Palm oil, land rights and conflict in Colombia
Palm oil is used for everything, from food and household products to make-up and biofuel. In the last 10 years palm oil production has doubled worldwide. Colombia benefited by becoming one of the largest exporters. But at a cost.
Publication / November 1, 2015
Reconquering and dispossession in the Altillanura
The case of Poligrow
New research by SOMO and INDEPAZ titled Reconquering and dispossession in the Altillanura: The case of Poligrow concludes that in a country where land disputes were a key driver of the civil war, and where territorial issues are highly contested, land-intensive sectors like palm oil risk creating renewed conflict and caution is warranted. The report shows how the company Poligrow has failed to operate with caution and has therefore contributed to human rights violations and instability in an already fragile context such as the Meta region in Colombia.
Colombia has witnessed land conflicts and civil war for more than half a century. A war that is rooted in unequal distribution of land, and rife with disputes over land control. Despite favourable reports of enhanced security and political stability, the country still finds itself in a fragile peace, where conflicts continue or are easily reignited; in many regions peace has yet to come.
Free trade agreement between Colombia and Europe
In recent years, Colombia has been actively attracting private sector investments in order to increase the economic development of the supposedly post-conflict country. The free trade agreement between Colombia and the European Union plays a crucial role in facilitating this foreign investment. One of these foreign investors is the Spanish-Italian company Poligrow, which settled in Colombia in 2008. Critics question the benefits of this agreement for Colombia, and stress the complexity of foreign investments in conflict-affected areas: 'Foreign investments can only contribute to restoring peace if the investors take an explicit stand. They must stand up against inequality and promote employment, inclusiveness and sustainable growth. That is not what Poligrow is doing. Their activities in no way show that they have understood the regional context, the companies' role in the fragile region and the history of land control', says Anne-Marie Mineur, member of the European Parliament.
Although Poligrow claims to have contributed to local development, the research paper sheds light on the many negative impacts of their operations. Though Poligrow might claim not to be involved in the conflict, in a context where different armed groups fight for control over land and drug trade, and where most of the land is disputed, it is impossible not to become – directly or indirectly – entangled in the civil war.
SOMO and INDEPAZ found many high-risk situations during the field work in the Meta region. These relate mainly to failures in community participation; lack of transparency of its complex corporate structure and tax payments; irregular situations in land acquisition, labour relations and environmental sustainability.
The case of Poligrow thus shows how these booming large-scale economic initiatives, such as extensive oil palm plantations, can lead to an increase in land dispossessions and at the same time consolidate an inequitable, discriminatory and undemocratic economic model. These investments rather increase the instability than enhance stability, as they collide head-on with the root causes of the conflict: the unequal distribution of land.
Stay up-to-date with SOMOs Newsletter
What sector do you work in?BusinessGovernmentMediaNon-profitOther
'Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil' announces investigation into Poligrow's activities
Scholars, journalists and activists gathered in early November at the launch of a report titled 'Reconquering and dispossession in the Altillanura: The case of Poligrow' in Bogota. The study, authored by SOMO and INDEPAZ, concludes…
News / May 16, 2013
Multinational corporations in conflict zones
'In conflict-affected areas it is of vital importance to monitor multinational corporations operating there and to support local communities who are impacted by these corporations,' states SOMO researcher Mark van Dorp. 'Particularly in conflict-affected countries,…
International principles and guidelines for corporate responsibility in conflict-affected areas
Responsible business in conflict settings
This week, the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding officially launches its brochure 'International Standards for Responsible Business in Conflict Affected and Fragile environments', providing a concise overview of some of the key standards that…
Series for Responsible Investor (RI) Engagement: Conflict Minerals Legislation
The private sector and conflict-sensitivity
On May 21st 2015, SOMO, Oxfam Novib and Tilburg Law School convened an expert meeting on the private sector and conflict-sensitivity in The Hague. This event was supported by the Knowledge Platform Security & Rule…
Statement / November 22, 2022
Give non-state actors access to customs trade information
SOMO and 55 other civil society organisations and trade unions wrote an open letter to the European Commission on the ongoing revision of the Union Customs legislation. They call on the Commission to ensure that…
Opinion / October 31, 2022
Holland inc: for all your investments in war crimes
Lydia de Leeuw
News / October 28, 2022
Telenor and civil society move forward in mediation over digital security of Myanmar citizens
Telenor and 474 civil society organizations from Myanmar, represented by SOMO, have reached a preliminary agreement in an ongoing mediation process related to the Norwegian telecoms operator's rushed exit from Myanmar in 2021. The memorandum…
Statement / August 23, 2022
International community must act against Israel's repression of Palestinian human rights organisations
Last Thursday, the Israeli army violently raided seven prominent Palestinian human rights organisations and sealed their doors. Last weekend, the director of Al Haq (Shawan Jabarin) was threatened by telephone and the director of Defense…