InfoSAWIT, MUMBAI – The Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA), the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), and Solidaridad officially signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mumbai, India. The agreement aims to deepen collaboration between producers and consumers and accelerate the implementation of sustainability practices across the palm oil value chain, with a primary focus on India and South Asia.
"Given the current situation where food security and price stability are concerns for families and businesses across South Asia, this partnership provides a formal space for producers and consumers to strengthen cooperation and build mutual understanding in addressing common challenges," said Atul Chaturvedi, Chairman of APOA, in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Friday (9/26/2025).
Through the MoU, CPOPC will act as a catalyst and advocate for sustainable palm oil. The parties agreed to promote the alignment of practices and mutual recognition between national sustainability frameworks, such as Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO), Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), and Indian Palm Oil Sustainability (IPOS), while respecting the laws and regulatory authorities of each country. The application of regenerative agriculture practices is also a priority.
To ensure a stable supply for over 1.5 billion consumers in South Asia, the cooperation will promote traceable, smallholder-friendly supply that adheres to NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation) principles. Pilot projects will utilize SoliTrace, Solidaridad's digital traceability technology, combined with remote sensing tools to ensure traceability from the mill to the market. Additionally, a dedicated dashboard for Indian buyers will be developed.
As a follow-up, a Joint Working Group has been formed, co-chaired by APOA and CPOPC, with Solidaridad serving as the technical secretariat. This group is tasked with overseeing the work plan, monitoring achievements, and coordinating communication and advocacy efforts.
Dr. B. V. Mehta, Executive Director of SEA India, emphasized the importance of consumer education. "The people of India and South Asia deserve factual information about palm oil's nutritional profile, its role in maintaining affordable vegetable oil prices, and the efforts producers are making to protect forests and support smallholder farmers," he said.
CPOPC Secretary-General Izzana Salleh affirmed this collective commitment. "This collaboration underscores the importance of responsible palm oil production and consumption to maintain long-term market trust. We call for alignment with national sustainability standards and ensure that smallholder farmers remain a central part of every solution."
Meanwhile, Shatadru Chattopadhayay, Managing Director of Solidaridad Asia, added: "Consumers in India and South Asia need vegetable oil that is affordable, traceable, and responsibly produced. Our role is to ensure sustainability can be implemented by producers and simultaneously create value for buyers, supported by credible data, farmer empowerment, and market insights."
Why It Matters
Supply Stability: Producer-consumer dialogue to address price fluctuations, logistical disruptions, and policy risks.
Inclusive Sustainability: Training on climate-friendly farming practices, strengthening farmer organizations, and access to financing.
Traceability and Trust: Strengthening digital traceability systems for NDPE compliance and transparency for buyers.
Policy Coherence: Developing a joint position in global forums, including options for sustainability criteria in Indian public procurement.
APOA, comprising vegetable oil associations from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, under the coordination of SEA India, will represent consumer market interests. CPOPC, an inter-governmental organization initiated by Indonesia and Malaysia with other producing nations, will lead from the producer side. Solidaridad will act as the technical partner, bridging sustainability standards, digital traceability, and smallholder inclusion with data-driven solutions. (T2)
