Feronia is an agro-food company with operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

At the heart of Feronia is a long-established palm oil company, Les Plantations et Huileries du Congo S.A. (PHC), incorporated under the laws of the DRC. The Company owns three plantations in the remote areas of Lokutu, Yaligimba and Boteka.

When Feronia acquired 76.17% of the shares of the Company PHC from a branch of Unilever plc in September 2009, the three plantations were suffering from several years of lack of investment and disruptions caused by the conflicts in the DRC.

The Corporation’s first priorities were to rebuild the company and resume production in order to secure its future and that of more than 3,800 internal employees and so many other thousands of jobs that the Corporation generates through its presence in the region. These efforts have included the rehabilitation of the palm oil plants on the Lokutu and Boteka plantations and the construction of a new plant in Yaligimba, which began operations in 2013. The company has also rehabilitated internal road networks, implemented a program to replace palm trees that are more than 25 years old and therefore less productive with new palm trees, and is working to rehabilitate and enrich the social infrastructure.

Feronia plantations produce Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and Palm Kernel Oil (PKO). CPO is part of the traditional staple diet of the Congolese and, through the internal sale of Feronia products in the DRC, the company contributes to the reduction of dependence on imported products and improves food security and the quality of products consumed locally.

Feronia’s vision was to transform PHC into a profitable and sustainable agricultural business that benefits local communities, society at large and inspires investment in the region.

To achieve this vision, PHC has put in place a program of investment and improvement of its operations, skills & capacities of its local staff, through the recruitment of technical experts made available by AMSCO.

The Challenge

Feronia’s vision for transformative agribrowth in the Democratic Republic of Congo confronted two critical hurdles at Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC). First, the need to modernize operations and integrate international best practices across remote plantations demanded specialized expertise unavailable locally. Second, sustainable success hinged on developing Congolese leadership pipelines to reduce reliance on transient expatriate talent. Without skilled local staff prepared to assume management roles, PHC’s long-term viability remained at risk.

These intertwined challenges – operational excellence and leadership development – required a strategic partnership to embed lasting capacity within PHC’s workforce and communities.

The Solution

Since 2016, AMSCO has deployed nearly 30 international experts across PHC’s operations, executing a development plan centered on skills transfer and community investment.

Leadership Development through the PHC Academy of Talents

The cornerstone initiative, the PHC Academy of Talents, was co-designed to prepare 48 Congolese employees for management succession. This comprehensive program targets entry-level leadership positions, combining theoretical training with practical mentorship to cultivate decision-making autonomy.

By focusing on sustainable knowledge transfer rather than temporary fixes, the Academy ensures operational continuity as local staff assume greater responsibilities.

Enhancing Safety and Community Welfare

PHC’s collaboration with the National Institute for Professional Promotion delivered specialized preventive driving training to 65 staff in Yaligimba. The two-week program covered risk anticipation, road safety protocols, and defensive techniques, a critical investment given plantation transportation risks. This initiative aligns with PHC’s broader occupational health strategy to eliminate preventable accidents.

Concurrently, PHC overhauled community health infrastructure, renovating four hospitals, four health centers, and sixteen clinics across the Boteka, Lokutu, and Yaligimba plantations. Upgraded facilities now serve employees, families, and neighboring communities under the Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP).

Water Security and Environmental Stewardship

Between 2016 and 2018, PHC drilled 69 wells to provide clean water to communities near its operations, directly addressing waterborne disease risks. Complementing this, a structured waste management system replaced open burning practices in Yaligimba. Household waste is now collected and processed at designated centers, reducing environmental contamination and respiratory health issues.