InfoSAWIT, KUTAI KARTANEGARA – The sound of a gong echoed through the Kembang Janggut Sub-district Government Building on Friday (10/10/2025). The sound marked a new chapter for palm oil farmers in the remote area of Kutai Kartanegara. Regent Dr. Aulia Rahman Basri, M.Kes, enthusiastically struck the gong, officially launching the Smallholder Partnership AcCEleration (SPACE) Program—an initiative by PT REA Kaltim Plantations (REA) focusing on an inclusive partnership between the company and independent palm oil farmers.
The SPACE program goes beyond ceremony. It represents a long-term effort to build a bridge between farmer prosperity, environmental sustainability, and a responsible supply chain. SPACE aims to ensure that small farmers are no longer navigating the global palm oil industry—which increasingly demands high standards—on their own.
Through SPACE, REA is building a farmer-centric partnership model, initially involving Kembang Janggut Village, the Merah Putih Cooperative, and over 100 farmers. The goal is simple: to help farmers increase their income while maintaining balance with nature. Farmers will receive training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for sustainable palm oil cultivation, access to faster payments, and technical support for crop replanting. Furthermore, REA is opening opportunities for farmers to replant on legal non-forest land, ensuring that every bunch harvested comes from a responsible source.
“SPACE is not just a program, but a new way of working together with farmers and the community,” said Luke M.D. Robinow, President Director of REA, in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Saturday (11/10/2025). “We want farmers to be part of the future we are building together—where the company, community, and environment grow in tandem.”
The launch included the signing of three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) between REA, village governments, cooperatives, and farmer representatives. This moment symbolizes the cross-sector collaboration that will strengthen the foundation of sustainable palm oil development in the region.
SPACE is not REA’s only step in strengthening farmer inclusivity. Previously, the company had run the SmallHolder Inclusion for Ethical Sourcing (SHINES) Program since 2024, which is now showing concrete results. Through SHINES, REA helps hundreds of farmers obtain crucial documents such as STDB (Cultivation Registration Letter) and SPPL (Environmental Management Statement Letter)—the legal foundations for ensuring palm oil cultivation practices are lawful and sustainable.
Regent Aulia Rahman Basri emphasized the importance of this step: “STDB and SPPL are not just administrative documents. They are the ticket for Kutai Kartanegara farmers to enter the global market that demands legality and sustainability.”
Erwinsyah K, a participating farmer in SHINES, admitted he is now more at ease in running his business. "Before, we were worried whether our land was recognized and our harvest accepted. Now we have documents, we have recognition, and most importantly, we have certainty for the future," he said with a relieved smile.
The SPACE and SHINES programs are a concrete manifestation of the "Empowering Livelihoods" pillar in REA's sustainability strategy, which also includes Sustainable Development, Climate Action, and Forest Conservation. From Kembang Janggut, the spirit of collaboration is growing—bringing the message that palm oil from Kutai Kartanegara is not just a product, but the result of collaborative work rooted in sustainability and prosperity. (T2)
