First Independent Smallholders in Ecuador Gain RSPO Certification

As part of the jurisdictional certification pilot initiative in Ecuador, established eight years ago under the Jurisdictional Approach (JA) to Certification, the RSPO participated in the Third Dialogue for Deforestation-Free Palm Production. Held in the Joya de los Sachas cantón, Orellana province in July 2024, this third edition of the Dialogue held special significance as it marked the first time the RSPO has certified an independent group of palm oil smallholders in Ecuador, specifically, in the Northern Amazon region. 

“The certification marks a milestone, not only for the smallholders of Ecuador but also for the RSPO jurisdictional certification pilot, which is making steady progress towards certifying smallholders in the Northern Amazonian region,” affirmed Yasmina Neustadt, RSPO Market Transformation Manager, who outlined the benefits and credits available to RSPO Certified smallholders at the Dialogue.

The Dialogue brought together key players from the private sector, local governments, producers, and civil society around a common goal: the production of deforestation-free palm. The event featured key representatives from the sector, including Nelson Yépez, Undersecretary of Agricultural Trading at the Ministry of Agriculture of Ecuador; Carolina Rosero, Director of the Amazon Conservation Programme at Conservation International Ecuador (CI-Ecuador); and Wilfredo Acosta, Executive Director of ANCUPA.

During this edition of Dialogue for Deforestation-Free, a series of specific objectives were established to promote the cultivation of sustainable and ecosystem-friendly palm:

• Strengthen the knowledge of producers and stakeholders in the palm oil value chain regarding deforestation-free production, European Union regulations, and the jurisdictional approach in the Northern Amazon.
• Present and validate the management model of the “Inclusive Deforestation-Free Palm Table of Northern Amazon Ecuador,” under the framework of the Inter-Institutional Committee for Monitoring Sustainable Palm (CISPS). This management model outlines a comprehensive roadmap of collaborative actions and strategies designed to ensure that palm oil production in the region is conducted in a sustainable, inclusive, and profitable manner, free from deforestation, by incorporating the joint efforts of over 80 representatives from social organisations, producers, the public and private sectors, and national and international cooperation entities.

From Local to Global: RSPO’s journey towards jurisdictional certification

Ecuador is part of one of three global pilots for RSPO jurisdictional certification, alongside Malaysia and Indonesia. It began in 2016, following the Sabah State government of Malaysia’s commitment to this approach in 2015. This was subsequently followed by Seruyan, Central Kalimantan in Indonesia, and Ecuador in 2017.

The key innovation of this landscape approach is that sustainability issues are addressed geographically rather than solely at the farm or plantation level—shifting the focus from “sustainable products” to “sustainable geographies” defined by jurisdiction or areas bounded by natural borders.

This initiative is an integral part of RSPO’s efforts to scale sustainable palm oil production through close engagement with local and international governments, industry players, small farmers, and communities. It involves planning and managing palm oil production at the jurisdictional level, utilising a model of jurisdictional landscape development.

PHOTOS:

Caption: Presentation during the Third Dialogue for Deforestation-Free Palm Production, Orellana province, Ecuador, July 2024.

Photo credit: Jesus Lahuella 

Caption: Spirit of collaboration: team-building activities bring together participants at the Dialogue.

Photo credit: Jesus Lahuella