PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUALA LUMPUR — In a powerful address at the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RT2025) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) Chairman and Group Managing Director of SD Guthrie Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha delivered a clear message to the global community: “Palm oil is not the villain.” Urging honesty, consistency, and solidarity, Helmy called on all stakeholders to defend sustainably produced palm oil and to recognize the vital role of smallholders in driving both environmental progress and social equity across the industry.
In his keynote speech, “Partners in Action,” Helmy urged all industry stakeholders to embrace honesty, consistency, and mutual trust in advancing the future of sustainable palm oil. He reminded delegates that sustainability is not just about the environment — it’s about people, especially smallholders who form the backbone of the global palm oil industry.
“I’ve worked nearly 30 years in plantations, from Malaysia to Africa. I’ve seen firsthand how palm oil transforms lives, creates opportunities, and builds communities,” Helmy said in his speech, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from InfoSAWIT on Tuesday (4/11/2025).
Also Read: RSPO Urges for Broader Smallholder Inclusion and Increased Technology Adoption
Yet, despite its achievements, he highlighted a troubling paradox: some global brands that sit at the RSPO table continue to label their products with “No Palm Oil.”
“What message are they sending to consumers? Is that honest partnership?” Helmy questioned, urging companies that claim to support Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) to defend it publicly and without apology.
Confronting Deforestation Narratives
Helmy acknowledged palm oil’s controversial past but called for a narrative grounded in facts. Citing data from the World Resources Institute (WRI) and Global Forest Watch (GFW), he noted that primary forest loss in Indonesia and Malaysia has dropped sharply in the past decade — by over 60% in Malaysia, reaching historic lows in Indonesia.
“Both countries still retain more than 50% forest cover — higher than many developed nations,” he said.
Despite this progress, Helmy criticized the double standards in global regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
Also Read: Empowering Frontier Farmers: POPSI and BPDP Advance Sustainable Palm Oil in Kapuas Hulu
“When countries like Malaysia are labeled ‘standard risk’ while others with far greater forest loss are called ‘low risk,’ that’s not just unfair — it’s modern economic colonialism,” he asserted.
Energy Independence and Shifting Strategies
Helmy also highlighted a strategic shift among major producers, particularly Indonesia, which is ramping up biodiesel programs from B40 toward B50 and B60. More palm oil is being channeled into domestic energy use.
“While the West debates bans, Indonesia and Malaysia are securing their energy futures through palm oil,” he said, calling it a legitimate act of national self-reliance.
He warned that rejecting palm oil based on bias would mean “losing access to the world’s most efficient and sustainable vegetable oil.”
Defending Smallholders — The True Partners of Sustainability
In the most heartfelt part of his speech, Helmy defended smallholders’ right to development.
“They are our true partners. Denying them planned, sustainable expansion is the same as telling them to remain poor and left behind,” he said.
Sustainability, he stressed, must balance environmental integrity with social justice. “We must help smallholders grow responsibly — not stop them from growing at all.”
A Call for Integrity and Action
Helmy closed his speech with a powerful appeal for authenticity within the RSPO community:
“We cannot preach sustainability in this room but vilify palm oil in the marketplace. If we are true partners, our words must match our actions.”
With conviction, he concluded: “Palm oil — done right — feeds billions, sustains millions, and protects more forest per tonne of oil than any other crop. Let’s not allow others to define us. Let’s define ourselves — truthfully, transparently, and together.”
Helmy’s message resonated across the hall — a reminder that the path to a fair and sustainable palm oil future begins with honesty, courage, and unity. (P3)
