HERAKLES FARMS SUSPENDS CAMEROON OPERATIONS IN COMPLIENCE WITH THE RECENTLY ISSUED STOPPAGE ORDER FROM THE MINISTRY OF FORESTRY & WILDLIFE (MINFOF)
Herakles Farms (also known as SG-SOC in Cameroon) (“Company”), a United States-based agriculture company with operations in Ghana and Cameroon, today, announced that it has suspended work in Cameroon in response to an order it received from the Government of Cameroon’s Ministry of Forestry & Wildlife (MINFOF).
March 2013
“Herakles Farms in Retrospective, 2012 Success Story” Article from Watchman
Herakles Farms is focused on large-scale sustainable agricultural projects in Africa. The Herakles Farms management team has a proven track record development and shared value in some of the least developed African countries and received numerous awards for its work.
March 11, 2013
“More communities pledge support for Herakles Farms,” Article by Atia Tilarious Azhohnwi in The Sun
“SGSOC (Herakles Farms) always consults the communities. These are your real partners and stakeholders. We thank you for recognizing the importance of the community. In many respects, SGSOC is our own minister. It is the partner that is going to bring us the development that we need.”
Dr. Chief Atem-Ebako, Chief of Talangaye Village made this statement on Saturday March 9 at the Kumba City Council Hall during the maiden Annual General Assembly of the association formed to ensure the smooth implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed between the company and the villages where the project is taking place.
SG Sustainable Oils Cameroon-project affected Villages (SGSOC-PAV) is put in place to have an oversight and ensure the effective implementation of the commitments in the MoU, common commitment and future agreements entered into between Herakles Farms and the project affected villages.
February 27, 2013
Herakles Farms Responds to Recent Reports on its Cameroon Project
Herakles Farms is concerned that the public is being misled by recent reports on its project in Cameroon, and we are working to clarify misinformation and false allegations. Herakles Farms is and has always operated legally within the Republic of Cameroon. We are following free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) procedures and obtained all of the required consents, approvals and permits from the Government of Cameroon. We meet regularly with senior government officials who support the project, and the government has never taken any actions against us. Herakles Farms remains committed to following World Bank IFC Performance Standards and RSPO Principles and Criteria in collaboration with the government and the local people to bring sustainable economic development, shared value and employment to this region.
We are committed to environmental sustainability and would like to highlight that there has never been a field study of the flora and fauna in our legal project area to demonstrate that it is of high conservation value.
January 16, 2013
HERAKLES FARMS INITIATES PROGRAMS TO MEET COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SOCIAL NEEDS
Over the holidays, Herakles Farms (also known as SGSOC), a New York-based agriculture company operating in Ghana and Cameroon, donated food to 1,700 households in 38 villages located in the Nguti subdivision of Kupe-Muanenguba and in Mundemba and Toko in Ndian. In total, 11 tons of rice and 10 tons of fish were distributed to more than 8,000 individuals in the Nguti, Mundemba and Toko areas.
January 14, 2013
Herakles Farms Appoints Dr. Atanga Ekobo as Vice President of Conservation in Cameroon
Herakles Farms (also known as SG-SOC), a New York-based agriculture company operating in Ghana and Cameroon, today announced the appointment of Dr. Atanga Ekobo to the position of Vice President of Conservation. Dr. Ekobo’s hire marks one of many steps that Herakles Farms is taking to strengthen its in-house environmental conservation capabilities as the company continues to pursue the highest environmental standards with respect to its commercial palm oil project in the South West Region of Cameroon.
December 17, 2012
“Changing lives of people: Herakles Farms undertakes to rehabilitate Kumba-Nguti road,” Article by Eddy Bokuba in The Median
Caterpillars from Herakles Farms are presently bulldozing, grading and compacting bad spots on the highly degraded and almost impossible road that links Meme and Manyu divisions of the South West region. The rehabilitation work will concentrate mostly on bad portions along the Ikillwindi-Mbakwa supe lap of the very strategic road that not only links Meme and Manyu divisions of the South West region, but transits to Nigeria.
December 9, 2012
“Kumba-Nguti Road Accessible Again,” Article by Bouddih Adams in The Cameroon Post
Commuters and motorists have heaved a sigh of relief, as they can now make it to Mamfe and back the same day, thanks to Herakles Farms’ heavy equipment that is currently bulldozing and excavating the dreadful spots on the road from Baduma to Mbakwa-Supe. Meanwhile, from the other end, the road is being graded and compacted with seawall, all the way back to Baduma which lies some 40km from Kumba.
December 7, 2012
“Herakles Farms improves Kumba-Nguti road,” Article by Diana Egne Arrey N. in The Sun
Inhabitants along the Kumba-Mbakwa Supe-Nguti highway and commuters travelling this road have heaved a sigh of relief following recent rehabilitation work on the road carried out by Herakles Farms, a subsidiary of SG Sustainable Oils Cameroon, SGSOC. The road, which was previously almost impassable, can now be plied easily by vehicles.
October 22, 2012
Herakles Farms Awards College Scholarships for 26 Students in First Annual Dr. Isidore Timti Memorial Scholarship Fund
Herakles Farms, an American agriculture company focused on identifying and implementing solutions to important food security issues in Africa, today announced that it has awarded college scholarships to 26 Cameroonian students in a newly established merit-based program that recognizes the academic achievement of some of the nation’s most promising undergraduates.
September 16, 2012
Open Letter of Bruce Wrobel, CEO of Herakles Farms
Response to the Report Issued September 2012 by the Oakland Institute titled “Understanding Land Investment Deals in Africa” with the sub – heading “…The Deceit of Herakles Farms in Cameroon”.
September 06, 2012
Herakles Farms withdrawal from RSPO
As per the following letter Herakles Farms has recently withdrawn from RSPO, but we remain committed to meeting or exceeding RSPO Principles & Criteria, as well as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards. We realize there may be questions stemming from this decision. Please direct these inquiries via email to rspo@heraklesfarms.com. We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
April, 2012
In April 2012, the Mundemba High Court affirmed that SGSOC had complied with the environmental and land-related Government regulations and was in order for legal operation in Cameroon. The litigation by a local NGO to stop the project has been dismissed by the Courts, and no legislation is pending. At no point during this process did the court suggest Herakles Farms was operating illegally nor was a Presidential Decree identified as one of the items. Below are court documents detailing these legal rulings and resolution.
SEFE Court Ruling
SEFE Court Resolution
Bangem Court Ruling
March 23, 2012
SGSOC donates materials to schools in Ndian Division
In order to encourage and enhance the education of the Cameroonian youth, wherever they establish their operations, SG Sustainable Oils Cameroon Limited (SGSOC), Sunday March 11, 2012 at Toko Subdivision donated a set of reference texts books in the subject areas of Mathematics, English and French to 35 post primary institutions in the nine subdivisions of Ndian Division.
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February 19, 2012
SGSOC donates Mosquito netting
SG Sustainable Oils Cameroon (SGSOC) has purchased 1,500 mosquito nets which will be distributed to households within their concession area, working in parallel with the Cameroon Government’s “Fight against Malaria” initiative.
Purchase of an additional 1,500 nets is planned, in recognition of the fact that malaria is endemic to this area, affecting large numbers of people. One way of fighting malaria is through the use of long lasting, insecticide treated nets.
“We are very happy to contribute to long term improved health within our communities,” said Daniel Agoon, Community Relations Manager for SGSOC. “SGSOC is committed to improving the health and quality of life of our employees and neighbors through illness prevention, fresh water wells, and longer term programs to be rolled out shortly.” SGSOC Community Development Officers will participate in Government training programs and will then organize training sessions in all of the villages.
The mosquito nets will be distributed to households by SGSOC’s team of Community Development Officers. This program will begin with the villages of Talangaye, Ayong, Lipenja, Fabe, and Meangwe II, and will continue with remaining villages within the project region.
September 14, 2011
Herakles Farms Releases Environmental & Social Impact Assessment, Launches Social Infrastructure Program
Herakles Farms, a New York-based agriculture company operating in Ghana and Cameroon, has released its preliminary Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for its Cameroon palm oil company, SG Sustainable Oils Cameroon (SGSOC). The document was submitted to the Government of Cameroon for public consultation on 16 August, 2011, and consultations in accordance with the Government’s requirements took place from 29 August until 3 September, 2011. In addition to the …
June 15, 2011
Herakles Farms Develops Sustainable Palm Oil Plantations in Cameroon & Ghana
Herakles Farms, a New York-based agriculture company, is planning two commercial-scale sustainable palm oil plantations in Cameroon and Ghana, providing over 10,000 jobs to local people and introducing an important new growth opportunity to the Central and West African regions. Herakles Farms began working on the project in 2009, when it acquired 100 percent ownership in SG Sustainable Oils from Sithe Global, an affiliate of the Blackstone Group. Blackstone has no stake in Herakles Farms, contrary to what has erroneously been reported. The plantations will follow the highest environmental and social standards, …