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7 Actions by SPKS to Realize Sustainable Palm Oil



Doc. InfoSAWIT
7 Actions by SPKS to Realize Sustainable Palm Oil

InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - As the world's number one producer, Indonesia produces around 50 million tons of CPO, controlling about 60 percent of the world's CPO production. The existence of CPO production brings significant benefits to the palm oil plantation sector, especially for palm oil farmers who manage over 40 percent of the plantation area and enjoy the profits from the palm oil they cultivate.

Indonesia's position as the largest producer of CPO and its derivatives cannot escape the global consumer demand for sustainable palm oil. The global market increasingly requires sustainable palm oil, including supplies from Indonesia. Therefore, palm oil plantations must improve to implement best and sustainable cultivation practices to produce sustainable palm oil.

As an organization of independent palm oil farmers, the Palm Oil Farmers Union (SPKS) has a strong commitment to sustainability. This includes a strong commitment to ZERO DEFORESTATION made by SPKS members located in palm oil plantation centers in Indonesia. SPKS members continuously make various improvements to produce sustainable palm oil for the global market, including the Indonesian market.

How does SPKS manage sustainable palm oil plantations and implement its commitment to zero deforestation in Indonesia? This question arises for many, as an organization of independent palm oil farmers faces many limitations. However, these limitations present challenges and opportunities for SPKS to make significant improvements in managing their palm oil plantations.

SPKS members have set targets together to produce sustainable palm oil. The strong commitment to sustainable palm oil is part of all SPKS members' efforts to apply the principles and criteria of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) that are mandatory for palm oil plantations in Indonesia, including those owned by palm oil farmers.

Since it is mandatory, SPKS members consistently apply the principles and criteria of sustainability in managing their palm oil plantations. Moreover, SPKS members are also committed to obtaining Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification, which they voluntarily pursue. From 2019 to 2024, SPKS successfully encouraged the certification of palm oil plantations owned by its members, totaling 10 farmer cooperatives, covering an area of 4,983 hectares and involving 2,385 independent palm oil farmers.

According to SPKS Chairman Sabarudin, the success of SPKS members in obtaining ISPO and RSPO sustainability certifications is an implementation of their strong commitment to sustainable palm oil. Various improvements made serve as a new foundation for SPKS members in managing their palm oil plantations.

"SPKS is fully committed to supporting sustainable palm oil certification in Indonesia," said Sabarudin, adding, "As a pioneering farmer organization for ISPO certification to support the government in achieving sustainable palm oil targets in Indonesia."

SPKS also has a roadmap for its members to be directly involved in producing sustainable palm oil based on universal principles and criteria to meet global market needs. Therefore, as an organization of independent palm oil farmers, SPKS envisions a sustainable transformation of small farmers, local communities, or indigenous peoples as palm oil farmers to produce sustainable palm oil.

Although it is not easy to apply the principles and criteria of sustainability for independent palm oil farmers, thanks to the hard work and perseverance of SPKS members, some have successfully obtained ISPO and RSPO certification. Certainly, the success in obtaining ISPO and RSPO certification is also the result of collaborative efforts with other stakeholders, such as central and local governments, palm oil associations, community organizations, and funding support from the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) that continuously collaborates with SPKS.

SPKS also encourages cooperation among its members to implement the principles and criteria of sustainability through high awareness among its members. Various actions taken by SPKS through its activities include building farmer commitment, mapping and data collection of farmers, establishing farmer institutions, training on best and sustainable cultivation practices, obtaining ISPO and RSPO sustainability certifications, connecting independent palm oil farmers directly with consumers, and ecosystem restoration.

Here is a complete overview of SPKS's efforts in encouraging independent palm oil farmers to apply the principles and criteria of sustainability until they obtain ISPO and RSPO certification:

Building Commitment to Sustainability Among Independent Palm Oil Farmers
Awareness of producing sustainable palm oil among palm oil farmers is still very low; sometimes, farmers are considered unable to follow sustainable palm oil production methods according to certification standards. Even though they may not yet meet ISPO or RSPO sustainability standards, the fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yields of farmers are still purchased by companies. As a result, many farmers perceive the principles and criteria of sustainability as not being obligations they must fulfill. However, some independent palm oil farmers already understand the importance of sustainable palm oil.

SPKS recognizes the disparity in understanding the existence of sustainable palm oil. The lives of independent palm oil farmers, many of whom are located in remote villages, often lack information and knowledge about sustainable palm oil. This situation presents an initial challenge for SPKS to provide education and learning opportunities for independent palm oil farmers about the importance of implementing best and sustainable cultivation practices.

Next, the challenge of producing sustainable palm oil arises from the awareness and commitment of independent palm oil farmers. There is still a lingering thought among farmers about the difficulties of life, leading them to often think about profit and loss when considering whether to adopt best and sustainable cultivation practices based on sustainability principles and criteria. (T1)

For more details, read the December 2024 edition of InfoSAWIT.


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