InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL) has been involving in palm oil upstream business for the past 30 years in India. It is the biggest palm oil producer in the country by involving about 30 thousand smallholders and six mills in the country, produced about 120 thousand tons of crude palm oil in every year.

“India has sustainable ecosystem to produce palm oil which is different from the service mother in other regions,” CEO Oil Palm Plantation, Godrej Agrovet Limited, Sougata Niyogi said, as InfoSAWIT quoted from the official page of Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Friday (24/5/2024).

He also believed sustainability would be the core of palm oil industries in the country. Palm oil industries in India focus on sustainable pillars, such as, zero deforestation, 100% involved smallholders, and implement the best and sustainable practices.

“I think, there would be much learning among the sectors, could happen among the smallholders in Global South. RSPO also delivered good platform to carry up the best practices for the smallholders and farmers in India. This would be the real advantage for RSPO roadmap in India in the future,” he said.

Sougata Niyogi continued that there are few modifications needed to certification and standard program which would be adjusted in India. This could start the journey and getting the certification.

Even though RSPO is a voluntary certification, he directly said to the smallholders in cooperation with the company.

“RSPO is in cooperation with Godrej and some others in India to start and launch certain pilot projects where we could really show the values for the smallholders, start the journey in India as the developing country to create the success,” Sougata Niyogi said. (T2)