InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR — Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Chief Executive Officer, Joseph D'Cruz, called on all RSPO members and global palm oil industry stakeholders to strengthen support for smallholder farmers. He delivered this message in a keynote speech at the RSPO Annual Roundtable Conference on Sustainable Palm Oil (RT2025) attended by InfoSAWIT, held in Kuala Lumpur on Monday (3/11/2025).
Joseph reminded that amid increasing global challenges, the spirit of collaboration that formed the basis of RSPO two decades ago must be maintained. “Last year in Bangkok, we celebrated 20 years of RSPO and committed to building a sustainable future for the next 20 years and beyond. Our greatest asset is the belief that progress is a shared responsibility,” he said.
According to him, the principle of true sustainability is born from cross-value chain cooperation—from farmers, manufacturers, to buyers. “Sustainability is not just the responsibility of one party. It is a joint effort to share the burden as well as the benefits,” he added.
Real Collaboration on the Ground
Joseph emphasized that RSPO collaboration is not just jargon, but produces real impact on the ground. He exemplified several inspirational stories from smallholder farmers in various countries.
“In Jambi, Indonesia, RSPO-certified farmers celebrated the success of river restoration after five years of running a rehabilitation program funded from RSPO credit sales,” he said.
In San Pablo, Colombia, the smallholder group PromoAgrosur transformed former conflict and poverty areas into sustainable palm plantations with support from the Smallholder Support Fund. Meanwhile, in Ghana, a farmer shared how palm oil became a source of livelihood for his family. “He funded the education of his four children from the farm, started a business for his wife, and began building a house,” said Joseph, quoting the story.
For him, supporting smallholders is not just about certification or production volume. “It’s about creating long-term value, strengthening welfare, and preserving the landscape where they live and work,” he asserted.
Smallholders Amid Regulatory Pressure
However, behind these success stories, Joseph highlighted the major threats now faced by smallholders worldwide. Regulations like the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) are said to have pressured demand for smallholder credits. In addition, government budget cuts have made development funds scarcer, while changes in tariff rules disrupt long-established trade relations.
“It is said that the smallest hands bear the heaviest burden. In our industry, those hands belong to smallholder farmers who now bear a heavy burden with decreasing support,” he said with concern.
Call to Fulfill Shared Promises
Seeing this condition, Joseph invited all RSPO members to uphold the spirit of shared responsibility—the foundation of this institution.
“Our smallholders have worked hard. They have proven that they can produce sustainably. They have undergone audits and obtained certification. Now, they ask us to fulfill our promises,” he said.
According to Joseph, commitment to sustainability should not be understood merely as a business strategy or a way to access markets. “Our commitment is more than just transactions. It is a form of global solidarity. Now is the time to prove it, by standing together with those most vulnerable in the global palm oil industry family,” he concluded. (T1)
