RSPO addresses Indonesian wildfires and smallholder inclusion at RT2026

The annual Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RT2026) in Jakarta addressed the environmental and economic challenges facing the palm oil sector. A primary focus was the impact of the 2026 El Niño event, which led to 1.9 million hectares of fire-affected land across Indonesia. Satellite data presented at the conference indicated that RSPO-certified concessions accounted for approximately 14,500 hectares, or 0.8 percent of the total burned area.

RSPO CEO Joseph D'Cruz emphasized the need for data-driven transparency, stating that there is no evidence of deliberate fire use within certified units. He encouraged members to actively defend their certification standards against criticism by utilizing verified satellite monitoring results from platforms like Nusantara Atlas.

Economic inclusion remained a priority, with the formal recognition of 45 new independent smallholder groups from several countries. The event facilitated credit-trading sessions between these farmers and major buyers, including Nestlé, Unilever, and Kao Corporation, to support sustainable livelihoods.

The conference also provided clarity on Indonesia's 'Single Export Gate' policy. Officials from PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (DSI) discussed their role in overseeing the export of strategic commodities, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining traceability within the new government-managed trade structure.