RSPO Enhances Support For Smallholders To Drive Sustainable Palm Oil Production Forward

By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock

BANGKOK, Nov 13 (Bernama) – The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is emphasising capacity building to support smallholders in adopting sustainable practices for producing Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).

RSPO market transformation director, Dr Inke Van Der Sluijs said the organisation is implementing capacity-building programmes, including "train-the-trainer" initiatives and a RSPO Smallholder Trainer Academy for smallholders to ensure they receive accurate information and resources.

"We want to reach smallholders through effective management support, enabling them to implement best practices with proper access to information and markets, which is crucial," she told Bernama on the sidelines of the ongoing RSPO Annual Roundtable Conference (RT2024) in Bangkok.

She emphasised that RSPO is advocating for greater compliance among smallholders, underscoring sustainable production practices as part of a global shift towards climate-resilient agriculture.

RSPO members are set to vote on adopting the 2024 RSPO Standards, which aim to enhance clarity, auditability, and alignment with global sustainability frameworks.

The updated standards prioritise traceability and prevent deforestation through the High Conservation Value-High Carbon Stock (HCV-HCS) approach.

“If the vote favours the new standards, they will be adopted, and members will have one year to implement them,” she explained.

Van Der Sluijs noted that while the core principles remain unchanged, RSPO has revised a "step-up" approach for smallholders to achieve full compliance with sustainable practices.

"The updated standards are more comprehensive, auditable, and include clear opportunities for smallholders, which is significant since smallholders contribute around 40 per cent of the global palm oil market," she added.

The global market for sustainable palm oil is expanding, with the growth in RSPO certification boosting both supply and demand for RSPO-certified products.

As of 2023, CSPO supply reached a milestone of 16.1 million tonnes, reflecting a 4.3 per cent increase in production year-on-year. 

Meanwhile, CSPO consumption grew to 9.8 million tonnes, marking a 7.2 per cent increase in downstream usage.

-- BERNAMA