InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA — The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) officially approved its latest sustainability standard for independent smallholders in November 2025, marking a milestone in expanding smallholder inclusion in global certification systems.
The updated RSPO Independent Smallholder (ISH) Standard 2024 was developed to address the urgent need for simpler, more affordable, and more context-relevant certification mechanisms. The new standard emphasizes clearer requirements, streamlined processes, and a stronger role for group managers.
The ISH structure continues to follow RSPO’s foundational impact pillars—People, Planet, Prosperity—and uses the RSPO Theory of Change framework. The organization hopes the new standard will elevate smallholder capacity, market access, and environmentally responsible farming practices.
The ISH 2024 standard is supported by RSPO’s broader ecosystem of smallholder programs, including the Smallholder Trainer Academy (STA), Smallholder Support Fund (RSSF), and Smallholder Engagement Platform (RSEP). These platforms provide technical training, financial support, and community strengthening measures. (26 November 2025)
A Long Journey Toward Simplification
Efforts to empower smallholders began in 2017 when RSPO’s Board of Governors mandated simplified standards better suited to smallholder conditions. The first ISH standard was adopted in 2019 at the 16th RSPO Roundtable Meeting in Bangkok.
With evolving industry dynamics, a comprehensive review was carried out in February 2022, ensuring alignment with international guidelines including ISEAL. This resulted in the updated ISH Standard 2024 (IS_V2-0), approved in November 2024.
National Implementation
Although global in nature, the standard allows countries to adopt a National Interpretation (NI) to tailor indicators without weakening requirements. NI processes must begin within 24 months of adoption and be completed within 36 months.
Countries may strengthen, clarify, or contextualize indicators—but cannot dilute global standards.
Empowering Smallholders
The RSPO hopes the ISH 2024 standard will not only increase compliance but also bring tangible benefits: higher yields, improved land management, stronger group structures, and greater market access.
With the new standard in place, RSPO aims for stronger smallholder participation in the global supply chain and improved rural livelihoods. (T2)
