World Rainforest Day: Peruvian Amazon Journey Joins Key US Companies with Palm Growers; New ISEAL Study Highlights RSPO in Supporting EUDR Compliance

Sustainability representatives from some of the most recognized consumer goods companies in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil, including Hershey’s, The J.M. Smucker Company, Bloomer Chocolate Company, Edgewell Personal Care, Natura, and Grupo Bimbo, recently visited the Ucayali region in the Peruvian Amazon as part of a tour organized by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

The visit also brought together key players in Peru’s sustainable palm oil sector, such as the Monte Alegre Palm Growers Association in Neshuya (APROMAN), the Ucayali Palm Central Committee (COCEPU), Oleaginosas Amazónicas S.A. (OLAMSA), and Agroindustrias Oleaginosas del Perú S.A. (AOPSA), highlighting the critical role of small, independent producers and local processors in the region’s sustainability.

The tour offered RSPO purchasing members a unique field experience and a firsthand look at the sustainable production model adopted by certified smallholders in Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and Honduras, positioning Latin America as a regional benchmark for best practices.

In addition to strengthening ties between producers and buyers, the tour provided an opportunity to observe how the Peruvian model has transformed traditional agricultural practices into more sustainable and responsible approaches, achieving improvements in productivity and the efficient use of natural resources.

Latin America has established itself as the fastest-growing region in RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil production, with 35% of its production certified. At the same time, North America represents one of the fastest-growing consumer markets, with 88.5% of its imports covered by certified chains.