Ferrero and Starling: A 10-year partnership to monitor farms and plantations
For the past 10 years, Ferrero and Airbus have been collaborating to gain a better understanding of the forests, farms, and communities which give us three key ingredients used in many Ferrero products, cocoa, palm oil and coffee.
Challenge
Achieving responsible and compliant sourcing across global supply chains
As one of the largest confectionery groups worldwide, Ferrero operates in more than 170 countries and manages a vast network of suppliers and farmers. Ferrero has long integrated responsible sourcing in its strategy, with a principle the company calls Sacco Conosciuto (literally “knowing what's in the bag”), reflecting its commitment to improving its understanding of where its ingredients come from, how they are produced, and the impact they have on people and the environment.
In its 2025 Sustainability Report, Ferrero underlined that sustainability is not only a responsibility but also a driver of resilience and growth. The company has already reached high levels of traceability, 98% for palm oil and cocoa, and 100% for coffee beans, a 1 percentage point improvement from 2024 for each ingredient.
Today, that supply chain is more extensive and complex than ever, spanning thousands of kilometres across some of the world’s most precious ecosystems. To enhance visibility into these sourcing regions, Ferrero has relied on Starling for the past decade, assessing environmental risks and guiding their actions with local suppliers and partners.
Our solution
How Starling strengthens Ferrero’s approach and EUDR readiness
For the past 10 years, Ferrero has relied on Starling to gain a comprehensive view of the territories where its main ingredients are grown. On one hand, Airbus and Earthworm Foundation teams conduct Deforestation Risk Assessments for palm oil, covering all plantations they source from, with Starling’s advanced monitoring capabilities. Every quarter, Ferrero receives a DCF scoring report of their entire palm supply chain, which follows DCF methodology.
Building on this foundation, Ferrero has now expanded the use of Starling to cover 100% of cocoa and coffee plantations in their supply chain, developing a highly detailed and robust system for oversight and monitoring across all three commodities. With Starling, Ferrero can verify that deforestation-free objectives are upheld, and prepare for EUDR compliance for all palm oil, cocoa and coffee they source.
3 supply chains tracked via satellite technology: cocoa, palm oil, and coffee
2 million hectares of palm oil at risk of deforestation monitored by Starling
230,000 plantations monitored
Benefits
Satellite monitoring in Ferrero Supply Chains
End-to-end status across its global palm oil supply chain through quarterly reporting flagging DCF scores progress and recommendations.
Comprehensive EUDR evidence for palm oil, cocoa, and coffee, including plot verification, deforestation and legality risk assessment, and reporting aligned with EUDR requirements.
Reliable, satellite-based insights feeding directly into Ferrero’s sustainability and due diligence reporting, helping them communicate results, track corrective actions, and align suppliers around shared sustainability goals.
A strong partnership, combining satellite technology with on-the-ground expertise, that has become a model for turning orbital data into local, actionable decisions across some of the world's most complex agricultural supply chains.
Customer testimonial
At Ferrero, the principle of Sacco Conosciuto, our long-standing sourcing approach built on knowing where ingredients come from and how they are produced, has guided us for decades. Today, technologies such as Starling help us bring that approach to life at scale, providing greater visibility into the origins of our key ingredients and supporting more informed decisions across our supply chains.
Head of Responsible Sourcing, Ferrero Group
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Organizations involved
Ferrero Group is a global leader in sweet-packaged foods, renowned for iconic brands such as Nutella®, Kinder®, Ferrero Rocher®, and Tic Tac®, alongside local favorites. Founded in 1946 in Alba, Italy, Ferrero marks 80 years as a family-owned group with more than 50,000 employees and operations in over 170 countries. The company combines a strong heritage and commitment to quality with continuous innovation across brands and categories, including ice cream, biscuits and bakery, breakfast cereals, and better-for-you offerings. Guided by a long-term vision, Ferrero focuses on sustainable and responsible growth, strengthening its presence in emerging segments while staying true to its values of excellence and care.
Earthworm Foundation is a non-profit organisation motivated by the desire to positively impact the relationship between people and nature through transforming supply chains. With much of their staff operating directly on the ground, Earthworm works jointly with member companies and partners to transform raw material value chains that drive positive economic, environmental and social impacts.
