RSPO conference addresses Indonesian wildfires and export policy updates
At the RT2026 conference, the RSPO examined the impact of forest fires on palm oil concessions and discussed new export tracking measures in Indonesia.
The annual Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RT2026) in Jakarta convened stakeholders to address the industry's environmental and economic challenges. A primary focus was the severe 2026 wildfire season in Indonesia, which burned 1.9 million hectares through September.
Satellite data presented by Nusantara Atlas indicated that RSPO-certified concessions accounted for approximately 0.8% of the total area burned. CEO Joseph D'Cruz stated that while individual incidents are under investigation, there is no evidence linking certified units to intentional burning. He urged industry members to rely on verifiable data to protect the sector's reputation.
Beyond environmental concerns, the conference highlighted the integration of independent smallholders. Forty-five new smallholder groups were certified, and the event facilitated credit-matching opportunities with global buyers, including Nestlé and Unilever. Additionally, the formation of the state-backed entity DSI was noted as a critical step in managing export continuity and supply chain traceability.