RSPO: Actions for the Certification of Sustainable Palm Oil Production

As first published in La República

Colombia has close to 600,000 hectares under cultivation, a very significant extension that consolidates it as a leading production hub.

The non-governmental and non-profit organization leads efforts in Colombia and Latin America to adopt certification as a mechanism that favors market outcomes for producers, including smallholders, while harmonizing their social and environmental impact.

The orderly growth of palm oil production in Colombia has positioned it as the most important market in the region and as the headquarters for the Latin America office of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a non-profit organization that voluntarily brings together different actors and stakeholders in the value chain to drive sustainability in the palm oil agroindustry. From that perspective, it is responsible for the certification of the production process and for raising awareness among stakeholders about the social, environmental, and economic benefits of achieving it.

Colombia has close to 600,000 hectares under cultivation, a very representative area that consolidates it as a leading production hub in the region. According to Joseph D'Cruz, CEO of RSPO, "Since the opening of our office and the start of operations in 2014, the country has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability, for example, through the creation a few years ago of the Sustainable Palm Oil Corporation of Colombia (APSCO), a voluntary standard aligned with the best global practices on the matter."

More than 20% of palm oil production in Colombia is certified by RSPO, and 99% of these crops are free from deforestation.

This scenario has been the result of optimal conditions that include strong industry associations and favorable public policies that allowed for the creation of a parafiscal fund to promote the palm sector, the Research Center -Cenipalma-, and access to different international markets.

Certification and Benefits

The consolidation of the certification process in sustainability is the result of more than twenty years of RSPO's efforts around the world with the different stakeholders of the industry to address sectoral challenges throughout the process.

Certification includes a set of robust and rigorous standards for the production and use of palm oil under sustainability criteria, which results in the protection of forests, biodiversity, and communities without losing sight of profitability.

The specific benefits of this certification can be summarized as:
i) the establishment of a global benchmark to position palm oil as a sustainable product to meet global demand;
ii) the promotion of environmentally sound production through the responsible use of land and the protection of biodiversity to reduce deforestation;
iii) the defense of human rights (integrated into the organization's statement of principles) and alignment with frameworks such as the ILO, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the UN Guiding Principles;
iv) support for smallholders by providing them access to markets, tools, and income opportunities under fairer conditions;
v) the facilitation of responsible consumption, as it helps companies and consumers choose products aligned with sustainability goals;
vi) compatibility with global regulations such as the EUDR (focused on environmental matters), for example; and
vii) the strengthening of good practices in transparency, accounting, auditing, and decision-making.

Smallholders

One of RSPO's most intensive areas of action in the region relates to the certification process among smallholders. For this, it has a series of specific tangible tools and benefits.

First, through the definition of standards and training processes that improve the production process, facilitate participation in international markets, and enhance the reputation of producers. Likewise, those who become certified can access special benefits related to sales prices and certain coverage mechanisms to face crises.

Certification allows them to access a seal for the physical sale of their products, but also for commercialization through prisma, a digital platform promoted by RSPO that supports trade, compliance, and traceability in the negotiation of sustainable palm oil. Through this, compliance with the EUDR regulation is also facilitated, which is key for access to European markets.

It is also important to note access to the benefits of the RSPO Smallholder Support Fund (RSSF), a fund that finances smallholder projects. Finally, the opportunity to access the RSPO Smallholder Trainer Academy, a community that brings together expert trainers from different sectors and organizations, all aimed at promoting sustainable production.

According to D'Cruz, the main challenges facing RSPO are legal uncertainty regarding land ownership and rights of use for palm cultivation, limited government incentives, and the inclusion of smallholders.

In the interview, the executive confirmed his participation in the XXI International Palm Oil Conference promoted by Fedepalma, to be held in September 2025.

It is worth noting that palm oil production in Latin America reached 4.83 million metric tons as of July 2025. This figure consolidates the region as a relevant player in the global agro-industrial context.