Stakeholders at the third Sustainable Palm Oil Conference have advocated for urgent need for a long-term sustainable development plan for oil palm production in Africa.
The conference hosted on Tuesday by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Proforest had close to 200 delegates in attendance.
The conference provided an ideal platform for a constructive debate around regional vision and renewed commitment from key producing countries.
It was mutually acknowledged that if African palm oil producing countries achieve their ambition to convert from net importers to net exporters, palm oil production will significantly increase.
Delivering a strong message at the conference, Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, said, "If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.
“Let me congratulate all of you here today, for demonstrating your commitment to a solution. It is in the interests of all of us in Africa to make sustainable palm oil the norm.”
Salahudin Yaacob, RSPO’s Assurance Director, speaking at the conference called for a “long-term sustainable development plan” in the region, stating that “RSPO can only achieve its vision of transforming markets to make sustainable palm oil the norm through collaboration with all stakeholders, from growers to governments, and financial institutions to NGOs.”
Abraham Baffoe, Africa Regional Director for Proforest, said “a sustainable oil palm industry in Africa is something we are deeply committed to – and it is wonderful to have so much interest from companies and other stakeholders.
“We look forward to seeing these connections deepen as a result of this conference, as we all work together towards an industry which contributes to the economic development of African countries, whilst preserving the crucially important biodiversity of the region.”
With smallholders estimated to account for approximately 70% of palm oil production area in Africa, yet roughly only 30% of output, supporting smallholders to improve their yields was another keen area of focus for delegates.
Hon. Robert Fagans, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Liberia, stated that, “working with smallholders to improve their yields through sustainable farming methods is critical for palm oil growth in Liberia.”
In the last year RSPO has been developing a new, separate standard to simplify the entry process into the certification system.
RSPO members are expected to vote to adopt the proposed RSPO Independent Smallholder Standard during the RSPO General Assembly in November 2019.
The RSPO will continue to work with local partners on the ground to ensure that sustainable palm oil production in Africa benefits both people and planet.
The conference covered the regional implementation of the 2018 RSPO Principles and Criteria; the role of financial institutions in promoting sustainable agriculture; how governments can mainstream sustainability; and opportunities to change the deforestation narrative in African palm oil producing countries.
The new Decent Living Wage Guidance was also socialised with members as an important tool to help improve livelihoods.
Furthermore, a ministerial address was delivered to delegates by Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State, Nigeria, while Abraham Baffoe, Africa Regional Director of Proforest and Bakhtiar Talhah, Chief Operating Officer of RSPO, gave the opening and closing remarks.
