Paper short abstract:

Based in Gabon for twenty years, Olam first focused its activities on the exploitation of wood and put at heart the ambitious plan of diversification of its activities, agro-industry via the culture oil palm, rubber or food crops under the Seed program. There is land grabbing and degradation.

Paper long abstract:

Established in 1989 in Nigeria to export cashew nuts to India, Olam, now present in 66 countries, is majority owned by Japan's Mitsubishi and Temasek, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund.Initially focused on logging, Olam (Singaporean group) has taken to heart the ambitious plan to diversify its activities, agribusiness via oil palm, rubber or still food crop under the Seed program, import-export and logistics via ports, through the ZES Nkok and its many industries, established in Gabon for twenty years the world giant agro -business Olam has become unavoidable. All these investments have not been directed towards projects aimed at improving the living conditions of the populations; on the contrary, they have been harmed. Similarly, we are seeing the degradation of Gabonese forests as a result of oil palm plantations. Gabonese NGOs and politicians have repeatedly denounced these actions and the absence of a lack of transparency in awarding contracts contracts won by Olam.In a memorandum addressed to both the public authorities and the operator, the communities in the areas impacted by the rubber plantation project in Woleu-Ntem, accused Olam of being in a process of land grabbing. This accusation is based on a number of observations. Is not Olam exempt or exempt from certain Gabonese standards?