Smallholder farmers are estimated to produce up to a third of the world’s food and crop production.[a] This includes some of Unilever’s most important raw materials, from palm oil in Indonesia to tea in India and cocoa in Côte d’Ivoire.
Yet despite their vital role within our supply chain, many smallholders face systemic barriers that limit their livelihoods, including challenges in accessing finance, agricultural training and new markets.
That’s why we’re supporting smallholders globally across 13 crops in seven countries through regenerative agriculture and livelihood programmes that improve their economic opportunities and strengthen the resilience of their farms.
Our goal is to help 250,000 farmers in our supply chain access livelihood programmes by 2026. This not only supports farming communities but also helps secure a stable and sustainable supply of key ingredients for our business.
The local partners we work with are critical to the success of our smallholder programmes. They bring hands-on experience in crop management and training, along with expertise in community development, youth engagement and gender equality, helping us embed these principles across our livelihood programmes.
Working together, we’re developing tailored initiatives that meet smallholder needs – from access to credit and certification schemes to training programmes that support income diversification. Below are some examples of how Unilever is making a difference for the smallholders producing our crops.
In West Java and Lampung, we’re helping smallholder farmers build more resilient farming businesses through sustainable coconut sugar production.
We have introduced new high-yield dwarf coconut varieties that make it faster, safer and more efficient to collect the sap for coconut sugar. We’re also funding practical on-the-ground learning sessions at field schools, where farming families learn about sugar processing, pest and disease management, and water and soil conservation. In addition, we support farmers to diversify their income streams and access new markets, helping improve profitability.
Projected impact: We expect to reach more than 10,000 smallholder coconut sugar farmers by 2030.
Our partnerships are essential for achieving lasting impact in smallholder communities. By working with organisations that bring deep local expertise, we are designing programmes that are responsive to local needs and contexts. These partners also help us to extend impact beyond agriculture, supporting broader social and environmental progress.
One example is our long-standing Vanilla for Change initiative in Madagascar. In partnership with Symrise, Save the Children and local Malagasy organisations, we’re not only supporting core efforts to diversify farmer incomes and provide better market access, but also empowering communities through access to education and healthcare.
Unilever’s work with smallholder farmers is cultivating more than crops. It’s also strengthening livelihoods, safeguarding vital resources and future-proofing our global supply chain. By working collaboratively, we’re able to amplify the reach and impact of our programmes, delivering value for both our business and farming communities.
Our interactive map shows the breadth of our programmes supporting smallholder farmers around the world. Click to explore how we’re strengthening livelihoods, regenerating ecosystems and making our sourcing more sustainable.