InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - PT REA Kaltim Plantations (REA), one palm oil plantation industry in Indonesia launched the latest program - SHINES (SmallHolder INclusion for Ethical Sourcing). The program would be implemented from 2025 to 2027 and the goal wouls be about to empower independent smallholders to obey and qualify the closer regulation, namely European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification.
Indonesia, as the biggest palm oil producer in the world, really depends on smallholders that contribute about 41% of the national scale – production. But for the regulations that developed fast about climate change and new plantings (in the forests), the independent ones would face big challenges to obey the new regulations. SHINES would be about to support them to be productive and qualify the international – scale regulations/standards.
SHINES program would involve about 600 independent smallholders around the plantations of REA in the Regency of Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan Province. The smallholders would get technical train, capacity enhancement to confirm tht thy would obey EUDR and RSPO. By having collaboration with the company, SHINES should help them to maintain their roles in sustainable palm oil supply chain.
CEO RSPO, Joseph D'Cruz said that it would be the big challenges for the independent smallholders to obey every developing regultions. “SHINES program exists to answer the challenges by delivering knowledge and skills needed for them to be always relevant with global scale – palm oil industries,” he said, as in the official statement, as InfoSAWIT quoted, Friday (11/10/2024).
Besides supporting to obey every regulation, SHNIES would target to conserve 10.000 hectares forests out of REA concession. By promoting sustainable practices, the program would protect the ecosystem and natural conservation around the plantations. Besides, REA would cooperate with the local to increase their sources of living by conducting empowerment programs.
Director of Sustainability, REA, Bremen Young emphasized it would be significant to involve the independent smallholders in sustainable development. “SHINES is the strong business sample that would unite every stakeholder to positively encourage the supply chains,” he said.
The launching of SHINES also conducted discussion among related parties, such as, RSPO, REA, and other companies to discuss what the independent smalllholders faced in EUDR. The discussion would be the start from the meaningful collaboration to create inclusive and sustainable palm oil supply chain.
Luke Robinow, President Director of REA said that SHINES would be progress to realize more inclusive and sustainable palm oil industries. “By having collaboration with the partners and the independent smallholders, we hope to deliver positive impacts for the environment and the local that depend on palm oil cultivation,” Robinow said. (T2)
