PALMOILMAGAZINE, BERLIN — The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and FONAP (Forum Nachhaltiges Palmöl e.V.) have entered a new phase of strategic cooperation by formalizing reciprocal membership, reinforcing their shared commitment to advancing sustainable palm oil production and consumption in Germany and worldwide.
As reported by Palmoilmagazine.com from RSPO on Teusday (February 3, 2026), FONAP was established in Berlin on November 11, 2015 as a multi-stakeholder initiative and has since evolved into a strong alliance for sustainable palm oil. The organization now brings together around 55 members, including companies, civil society organizations, and policy stakeholders.
FONAP is actively involved in a range of projects and partnerships across the palm oil supply chain, from strengthening certification systems to implementing on-the-ground programs in producing countries.
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Under the enhanced partnership, RSPO has officially joined FONAP as a member and will actively contribute to its thematic working groups. In return, FONAP has become an ordinary member of RSPO under the Environmental NGO category, with a focus on supporting and implementing field-level initiatives.
The reciprocal membership scheme is expected to pave the way for closer collaboration, regular information exchange, and the rollout of joint programs that benefit members of both organizations.
RSPO also highlighted Germany’s strategic importance in the European palm oil market. Germany currently hosts the largest RSPO membership base in Europe, with more than 400 members. In terms of certification infrastructure, the country is home to 623 RSPO-certified supply chain facilities, alongside hundreds of RSPO trademark licenses.
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Beyond numbers, German stakeholders have consistently provided substantive input and ideas that have helped shape RSPO’s strategic direction in recent years.
Francesca Morgante, RSPO’s Head of Global Key Accounts and Market Transformation for Europe, noted that evolving regulatory demands are making sustainable sourcing of palm oil, palm kernel oil, and their derivatives increasingly critical—while ensuring continued support for smallholders.
According to Morgante, RSPO’s membership in FONAP will further strengthen cooperation to support companies and advance sustainable palm oil supply chains.
Meanwhile, FONAP Vice Chair Sascha Tischer described the reciprocal membership as the start of a new chapter in collaboration between the two organizations. He emphasized that global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss require a higher level of institutional cooperation.
As an ordinary RSPO member, FONAP gains voting rights at the RSPO General Assembly, opportunities to participate in RSPO committees as an environmental NGO representative, and broader engagement across RSPO initiatives.
One of the key recent agendas was the RSPO Europe Members Meeting held in Hamburg on January 22, 2026, which focused on social impacts within the palm oil supply chain. The annual meeting serves as a central forum for RSPO members in Europe to discuss sector developments, regulatory challenges, and future communication strategies. (P2)
