Faces of the Rainforest: The People Behind Sustainable Palm Oil in the Ecuadorian Amazon

By Juan Camilo Plazas 

Before traveling to the Ecuadorian Amazon, it was easy to think of sustainability in terms of corporate commitments, certification standards, or supply chains.  Yet, time and again, my work at the RSPO reminds me that behind every sustainability commitment are people: smallholders, families, and communities whose stories are rarely told.

The RSPO, together with  Conservation International (CI), gathered a delegation of North American buyers for a field visit to the Ecuadorian Amazon, creating an opportunity to connect directly with the smallholders and communities at the heart of sustainable palm oil production. This marked the second buyers learning journey in an ongoing series, following last year’s visit to Peru.

Our journey began in Quito, where representatives from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Counter Beauty, Dunkin’, Empire Company Limited (Sobeys), GoodLight Candles, and Yum! Brands gathered alongside colleagues from CI and the RSPO for the first time. Although everyone came from different industries and regions of the world, we were united by a common purpose: to better understand the realities behind the palm oil that connects smallholders in Latin America with companies and consumers thousands of miles away.

We flew to El Coca the following day, and continued by road to Shushufindi, deep in Ecuador’s Amazon. Ecuador was the ideal setting for this learning journey. Beyond its incredible biodiversity and vibrant palm sector, the country is also emerging as a leader in collaborative approaches to sustainability. As one of RSPO’s three global Jurisdictional Approach pilots, Ecuador is bringing together government, producers, companies, civil society and local communities around a shared vision for sustainable palm oil.

La Pantera conservation area

One of our first visits was to Grupo Danec’s La Pantera conservation area. Danec, a leading palm oil producer in Ecuador, is helping advance more sustainable and inclusive palm oil production through innovation, conservation, and collaboration with smallholders. After exploring the conservation area, we toured Danec’s palm oil mill, gaining a firsthand look at the process of how fresh fruit bunches are transformed into RSPO Certified sustainable palm oil. 

Seeing its industrial operations alongside more than 500 hectares of protected forest was a powerful reminder that sustainable palm oil is about much more than agricultural production. It was the perfect introduction to the days ahead, setting the stage for the stories, people, and landscapes we were about to discover.

Face to face with the people behind sustainable palm oil

The next chapter of our journey brought us to Finca El Ruiseñor, home to independent smallholder Luis Alberto Ruiz. Together with his family, Luis Alberto welcomed us warmly and shared how oil palm has helped improve their livelihoods while creating opportunities for future generations. It was an inspiring first encounter that put a human face to everything we had discussed since arriving in Ecuador.

Later that day, we visited Finca Miss Ecuador, where another hardworking and charismatic smallholder, Jairon Rojas, spoke candidly about his own journey, sharing both the opportunities and the challenges of producing palm oil in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Listening to their stories transformed the way many of us viewed the supply chain. Palm oil was no longer an abstract global commodity, it became deeply personal. Every conversation reinforced the reality that decisions made by companies and buyers thousands of miles away can directly influence the livelihoods of smallholder families committed to producing palm oil more sustainably.

We also joined the smallholders in a tree-planting activity at Finca Miss Ecuador. It was a simple gesture, but one that symbolised something much greater. Standing alongside smallholders, buyers, and sustainability practitioners, we saw firsthand that building a sustainable supply chain is a shared responsibility – progress doesn’t depend on a single actor, but on collaboration across every link of the chain.

Another important lesson for me emerged: sustainability is rarely a straight path. Some smallholders have already achieved RSPO Certification, others are working toward it, while some continue overcoming technical and economic barriers before they can join the system. Yet despite their different circumstances, they all shared the same determination to improve their farms, strengthen their communities, and protect the natural resources on which future generations depend.

Our final day offered a different perspective

After traveling by canoe to the Indigenous Kichwa community of El Pilchi, located in Sucumbíos, we were welcomed with open arms, shared a traditional meal, and learned how the surrounding forest continues to provide food, medicine, and a way of life that has endured for generations. While our focus throughout the trip had been on smallholders and sustainable palm oil, our visit also highlighted that the Ecuadorian Amazon is home to communities whose future is deeply connected to the health of the forest.

“our visit also highlighted that the Ecuadorian Amazon is home to communities whose future is deeply connected to the health of the forest.”

That evening, we made one final stop at the Limoncocha Biological Reserve. As we drifted across the lagoon after sunset, hundreds of fireflies illuminated the darkness around us. It was an unforgettable sight, and the perfect way to end our journey. After several days spent learning about smallholders, conservation, and sustainable production, the moment brought into focus what these collective efforts are ultimately working to protect.

As we each returned home, we carried far more than photographs or memories. We left with a deeper appreciation for the people behind sustainable palm oil.

Behind every sustainably produced tonne of palm oil are smallholders working to build better futures for their families, organisations helping strengthen local communities, and companies choosing to support more responsible supply chains. 

About the author: Juan Camilo Plazas Ovalle is the RSPO Communications Manager for the Americas. To get in touch, email: [email protected]