WHAT SATELLITES REVEAL ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE FERRERO PRODUCTS
Discover how satellite monitoring is helping Ferrero to better understand the forests, farms and communities behind cocoa, palm oil and coffee, key ingredients to many Ferrero products.
At Ferrero, everything starts with what we call Sacco Conosciuto – which, in English, literally translates to “known bag”.
It means knowing exactly where our ingredients come from, and how they’re produced – a practice we’ve followed since Ferrero was founded in 1946. But our supply chain today is far more complex than it was back then, spanning thousands of kilometres across some of the world’s most important ecosystems.
So, how can we see what’s actually happening on the ground?
That’s where Starling’s satellite-monitoring technology comes in.
For the past decade, Ferrero has worked with Starling – a satellite monitoring platform developed by Airbus Defense and the Earthworm Foundation – to gain a bird’s-eye view of the landscapes where our key ingredients are grown.
These plantations are part of vital natural habitats that must be protected: forests teeming with wildlife, trees that absorb carbon from the atmosphere, and communities whose livelihoods depend on healthy, productive land.
Over the past decade, Starling has helped monitor some of the world’s most complex agricultural supply chains. But as the satellites orbit through space, the real work happens much closer to home.
Using satellite imagery and geospatial data, Ferrero works closely with technology experts, analysts and local partners to turn insights into concrete actions.
This may involve engaging directly with suppliers, working with partners and carrying out field visits to better understand local conditions and agricultural practices.
By combining data from the satellites with the expertise of the people and partners working on the ground, we can build a clearer picture of how these landscapes are evolving and make more informed decisions based on a better understanding of where the ingredients that go into your favourite Ferrero treats are sourced.
Did you know?
- Tropical forests are home to more than half of the world’s terrestrial species, despite covering less than 10% of the Earth's land surface.
- Forests absorb around 7.6 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, helping to slow the pace of climate change.
- One hectare of rainforest can contain more than 300 species of trees.
Understanding Starling
- Starling is a satellite monitoring platform developed by Airbus and the Earthworm Foundation. It uses satellite imagery and geospatial data to provide visibility into agricultural supply chains and help identify environmental risks such as deforestation.
- Ferrero uses Starling to gain a clearer view of the landscapes where key ingredients are sourced. The data helps assess risks, strengthen traceability, and guide engagement with suppliers and local partners on the ground.
- Which ingredients are monitored? Starling currently supports Ferrero in the monitoring of cocoa, palm oil and coffee.
“Thanks to this technology, we are able to deploy monitoring across farms and plantations in our supply chains, at scale. Today, Starling allows us to map and monitor around 230,000 plantations across three commodities – cocoa, palm oil and coffee – in line with EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements.”
Nicola Somenzi, Head of Responsible Sourcing at Ferrero
For more information on our commitment towards the planet and communities, visit: People and Planet | Ferrero Group
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