CNEO empowers independent smallholders to produce edible oil that is carbon-neutral and deforestation-free. By linking farmers to global markets while protecting forest carbon stocks, CNEO delivers both climate benefits and fair opportunities. Every drop represents transparency, resilience, and inclusion in the value chain.
Carbon Neutral Edible Oil (CNEO) is a Nature50 intervention model specifically designed to address the challenge of smallholder inclusion in global supply chains, while also meeting market demands for deforestation-free and carbon-neutral products. Until now, multinational companies’ sustainability policies have often only reached large, formal suppliers, leaving independent smallholders outside the system. Yet this group manages millions of hectares of land and contributes significantly to the world’s edible oil supply.
CNEO works by connecting smallholders to global markets through a verified carbon-neutral production mechanism. This approach is not only about closing NDPE gaps, but also about creating new economic opportunities for smallholders. Through regenerative agricultural practices, spatial technology–based mapping and monitoring, as well as access to technical support programs, farmers can increase productivity while reducing deforestation risks.
The uniqueness of CNEO lies in linking edible oil production with forest protection as carbon stocks. This means that program success is measured not only by supply chain traceability, but also by the scale of its contribution to emission reduction and climate stability. Every liter of edible oil produced under the CNEO scheme must deliver two added values: market transparency and a tangible contribution to climate mitigation.
Moreover, CNEO positions smallholders as key actors, not merely objects of intervention. Farmers are engaged in planning, verification, and benefit assessment processes, giving them stronger bargaining power within the value chain. In this way, CNEO strengthens both climate resilience and social justice—two elements at the core of Nature50’s mission.
Within Nature50’s broader framework, CNEO serves as concrete proof that landscape action can be directly linked to global market KPIs. By facilitating carbon-neutral edible oil from smallholders, Nature50 not only addresses supply chain reputation risks but also demonstrates that economic value transformation can go hand in hand with forest protection and community empowerment.
Key Steps of Carbon Neutral Edible Oil
Carbon Neutral Edible Oil (CNEO) is designed to open pathways for independent smallholders to participate in sustainable global supply chains. Today, millions of smallholders remain outside NDPE systems due to limited market access, legal recognition, and data visibility—despite holding enormous potential to safeguard forests and carbon stocks on the ground.
Step 1 – Connecting Smallholders to Markets
CNEO enables smallholders to have their edible oil recognized in global markets under clear sustainability standards. This makes supply chains more transparent—extending beyond large corporations to include farmer contributions.
Step 2 – Providing Security and Protection
The program ensures that farmers secure land legality, access to forest protection schemes, and safeguards for their rights. In doing so, they are recognized not only as producers but also as legitimate stewards of forests.
Step 3 – Delivering Carbon-Neutral Production
CNEO guarantees that every liter of edible oil produced carries added value: carbon neutrality and deforestation-free assurance. Production is directly linked to forest protection as carbon stocks, embedding smallholder contributions into global climate solutions.
Step 4 – Elevating Farmers as Forest Guardians
CNEO positions smallholders as central partners—gaining both economic benefits from market access and recognition for their role in ecosystem stewardship. Sustainability becomes not just a corporate policy but a lived reality at the landscape level.
Closing the NDPE Gap
Through CNEO, Nature50 closes a critical gap in NDPE implementation: ensuring that independent smallholders—once excluded—become part of the solution. By producing carbon-neutral edible oil, they strengthen forest protection and climate resilience while redefining the role of farmers in sustainable supply chains.
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