InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR – In the momentum of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RT2025) and the 22nd General Assembly of RSPO Members (GA22) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 3–5 November 2025, the voices of smallholder palm oil farmers have emerged again. Through the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Farmers Forum (FORTASBI), farmers emphasize the importance of real support for sustainability, especially in the form of purchasing RSPO certification credits.
For smallholder palm oil farmers, incentives from sustainability credits are key to maintaining commitment to RSPO principles and criteria. “Without incentive support, it is difficult for farmers to continue maintaining sustainable practices amid market challenges and certification costs,” said a FORTASBI representative quoted by InfoSAWIT, Friday (7/11/2025).
They view the RSPO credit scheme not just as a reward for environmentally friendly practices, but also as an instrument capable of fostering motivation and strengthening farmers' positions in the global supply chain. With incentives, sustainable palm oil products are expected to increasingly dominate the global market and strengthen Indonesia's positive reputation in this sector.
FORTASBI also highlights the need for concrete steps from all parties—from buyers, downstream industries, to certification bodies—to improve market strategies. These steps are expected to increase buyers' interest in RSPO credits produced by smallholder palm oil farmers.
“So far, the results from buyers' credit purchases have provided real impacts, both in environmental and social fields,” said the forum representative. Several initiatives born from these incentives include the construction of production roads, management of high conservation areas, river protection, and efforts to preserve biodiversity including orangutan adoption and regenerative agriculture implementation.
Not only that, the social impacts are also directly felt by communities around plantations. Incentives from credit purchases are used to support education—from scholarships, provision of learning tools, to assistance for teachers and classroom repairs.
FORTASBI emphasizes that institutional support and funding remain urgent needs for smallholder palm oil farmers in Indonesia. Without strong assistance, the implementation of RSPO principles and criteria could be hindered, especially for small groups in remote areas.
“The efforts of smallholder palm oil farmers in maintaining sustainability must be part of global RSPO communication. Buyers need to see the direct positive impact of the credits they buy,” the forum emphasized.
RT2025 becomes a strategic space for farmers, industry players, and policymakers to strengthen cross-sector collaboration. The hope is that grassroots sustainability initiatives—like those carried out by FORTASBI and smallholder palm oil farmers—can continue to receive support so that Indonesian palm oil becomes more competitive in the global market that demands transparency and sustainability. (T2)
