Solidaridad’s Palm Oil Producer Support Initiative aims to reach thousands of smallholders and plantation workers in Central and Latin America, Asia and Africa by 2013. More private companies are also coming on board by demonstrating increased certification for smallholder farmers.
Asian Agri, through its flagship company, PT Inti Indosawit Subur (PT IIS), recently obtained Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification for its smallholders’ plantations in Buatan and Ukui, in Pelalawan regency-Riau in Indonesia. The initiative with a total production of 123,222 Metric Tons – makes the company the biggest RSPO certified Crude Palm Oil (CPO) producers for smallholders in Indonesia.
Dr Piers Gillespie, Manager for Solidaridad’s Palm Oil Programme in Asia, stated: “Solidaridad is happy to work with our partners, the RSPO and Asian Agri in supporting Asian Agri with its Buatan and Ukui smallholder certification process. The RSPO certification process is all about ensuring the production of sustainable palm oil and working across the entire supply chain to ensure better social and environmental outcomes for all.” He further expressed hope that this example can show,how different players within the international oil palm supply chain can work together for improved social and environmental outcomes.
This certification is part of the company’s commitment to obtain the RSPO certification for all its plantations in North Sumatera, Riau and Jambi by 2018. Furthermore, the company’s plantations: Buatan and Ukui Groups in Riau; Muara Bulian and Tungkal Ulu Groups in Jambi also received the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) recently.
The RSPO certification was issued by British Standards Institution (BSI) in Singapore, which is a global organization focusing on training, certification and assessment, third-party audit, standards publication for sale, and product testing services all under one brand. To date, BSI with its high experience consultants, trainers and senior auditor has issued certifications for hundreds organizations from various industries in Indonesia.