Deal #4934

NedOil was established by the Lion Heart Foundation and started operations in 2008, with a small nucleus plantation, a palm oil mill and a nursery to grow a better yielding hybrid palm. From its inception, NedOil was built with an inclusive mindset. It was originally set up with the objective to generate funds to cover the operational costs of the local hospital in Tonkolili District, also set up by the Lion Heart Foundation. Additionally, this model provided direct and indirect employment and thus income for the communities in and around Yele. With the local communities already growing oil palm on small plantations, it made sense to set up a mill and buy palm fruit directly from the local farmers. After operating NedOil for a few years, it was not generating the necessary funds to support the hospital. In order to keep it a viable operation and ensure continuity, Lion Heart Foundation had to find an investor for NedOil. In 2014, NHSL (Natural Habitat Sierra Leone) acquired full ownership of NedOil. Kevin Godlington worked in Sierra Leone during and after the civil war, and merged his Sierra Leone operations into Natural Habitats Group in 2014. Natural Habitats expanded its farmer and owned plantation network to create the largest organic palm oil operation in Africa. In 2019, the group split and a new company was born, Planting Naturals, which solely concentrates on European customers and African farmers.