Indonesia accounts for 77% of the world’s RSPO-certified independent smallholders. Through business matching and RSPO Credits trading, the organization is seeking to expand farmers’ access to international buyers and strengthen their participation in sustainable palm oil supply chains.
PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — Expanding global market access for independent oil palm smallholders was a key focus of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Annual Roundtable Conference, RT2026. Through certification initiatives and trade partnerships, RSPO is working to connect smallholders with international buyers while increasing the economic benefits of sustainable palm oil production.
Indonesia occupies a significant position in this effort. According to RSPO data, the country is home to 77% of the world’s RSPO-certified independent smallholders. Smallholders collectively account for nearly half of Indonesia’s total palm oil production, highlighting their importance to the country’s upstream industry.
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During RT2026, RSPO recognized 45 newly certified independent smallholder groups from Colombia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru and Thailand for successfully completing their initial RSPO certification.
The achievement reflects ongoing efforts to expand independent smallholder participation in sustainable palm oil supply chains through capacity building, compliance with certification requirements and stronger connections with international markets.
Beyond the recognition ceremony, RSPO organized the RSPO Independent Smallholder Business Matching programme, bringing together prospective RSPO Credit buyers and independent smallholder groups from several countries.
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The initiative provides smallholders with opportunities to establish commercial relationships with companies and international buyers committed to sustainable palm oil sourcing.
Global Companies Recognized for Supporting Smallholders
RSPO also recognized several companies for their contributions to independent smallholder sustainability through purchases of RSPO Credits between November 2025 and September 2026.
The companies recognized included Kao Corporation, Nestlé S.A. and Unilever PLC.
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RSPO also acknowledged leading first-time buyers, namely Lakeland Dairies Co-operative Society Limited and Pitak Palm Oil Company Limited.
Their participation highlights the role of corporate buyers in supporting smallholder sustainability through the RSPO Credits trading mechanism, which provides an additional market-based channel for financing certified sustainable production.
For Indonesian smallholders, expanding access to such market mechanisms is particularly important given their substantial contribution to national palm oil production.
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However, increasing smallholder participation in certification programmes requires sustained support, including technical assistance, productivity improvements, compliance with sustainability standards and better access to financing.
Through certification, business matching and RSPO Credits trading, RSPO aims to ensure that independent smallholders are not merely suppliers of raw materials but also benefit economically from growing global demand for sustainable palm oil.
Strengthening these commercial connections is expected to help smallholders become more integrated into international supply chains while supporting the broader development of a more inclusive and sustainable palm oil industry. (P3)
