Holistic Program: A Shared Vision for the Sustainable Transformation of the Mexican Palm Oil Sector

By: Mexican Federation of Palm Oil (FEMEXPALMA)

Talking about sustainability in today’s agro-industrial sector means much more than complying with standards or responding to market demands. It requires understanding territories, listening to communities, regenerating ecosystems, and building trust throughout the entire value chain. In this context, the Holistic Program has established itself as one of the most relevant initiatives for the sustainable transformation of Mexico’s palm oil sector.

The origin of an integrated vision

The Holistic Program was launched in 2017, at a pivotal moment for the palm oil sector in Mexico and Latin America. In an environment where smallholders faced technical, organizational, and economic barriers to accessing international certification schemes, the need emerged to create a different model—one that would not only support compliance processes, but also build capacities, strengthen governance, and generate shared value.

Thus, the program was initially conceived with a clear objective: to guide the first group of smallholders toward RSPO certification in Latin America. However, from the outset it was clear that certification should not be an end in itself, but rather the starting point of a deeper process of productive, social, and environmental transformation.

A collective supply chain effort

One of the strongest pillars of the Holistic Program has been its collaborative and multisectoral nature. The program is supported by the participation of key companies in Mexico’s palm oil supply chain—such as PepsiCo, Nestlé, Cargill, Oleofinos, and Oleopalma—as well as the RSPO. All share a common vision: to move toward more responsible, traceable supply chains aligned with global sustainability commitments.

Implementation is led by Proforest and FEMEXPALMA, strategic partners that have enabled the program’s vision to reach the ground, translating global commitments into concrete actions, technical support, and continuous improvement processes at field level.

Clear objectives, evolving pillars

The Holistic Program is structured around a set of objectives that have guided its evolution over time:

• Promote the sustainable development of Mexico’s palm oil sector by integrating environmental, social, and economic criteria.
  
• Strengthen the capacities of smallholders, promoting their inclusion in responsible markets.
  
• Protect ecosystems and natural resources by encouraging responsible agricultural practices.
  
• Contribute to community well-being, recognizing the central role of people in sustainability.
  

These pillars have not been static. On the contrary, they have evolved as the program has identified new needs, lessons learned, and opportunities for impact.

Lines of action for a dynamic sector

Over nearly eight years of implementation, the Holistic Program has expanded and diversified its lines of action, adapting both to partner priorities and to the structural challenges of the palm oil sector.

What began as a program primarily focused on certification now addresses strategic topics such as:

• Regenerative agriculture, promoting practices that restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen productive resilience in the face of climate change.
  
• Organic fertilization, as a pathway to reduce environmental impacts, improve system efficiency, and strengthen producer autonomy.
  
• Traceability and compliance, reinforcing record-keeping, monitoring, and transparency systems increasingly demanded by international markets.
  
• Social and community development, incorporating actions aimed at organizational strengthening, capacity building, and the well-being of communities linked to the industry.
  

This evolution has allowed the program to remain relevant and coherent, ensuring that each line of action responds to real needs and generates measurable impacts.

Regenerative agriculture and a renewed social focus

In recent years, the Holistic Program has taken a decisive step by positioning regenerative agriculture as one of its strategic axes. Far from being a trend, this approach represents a paradigm shift—from systems focused solely on maintaining productivity to models that regenerate ecosystems, strengthen producer resilience, and actively contribute to climate change mitigation.

At the same time, the program has intensified its work on the social component, recognizing that environmental sustainability cannot be separated from human well-being. Attention to social issues—such as community development, training, organization, and inclusion—has become a central pillar, reinforcing the idea that there is no sustainability without people.

Results that reflect real transformation

The progress of the Holistic Program is reflected in concrete achievements. To date, four groups of smallholders have achieved RSPO certification—an unprecedented milestone for the sector in Mexico. In 2025, these groups are in the process of reaching Milestone B, the highest level within the RSPO certification scheme for smallholders.

In addition, the program includes a continuous training component aligned with both sectoral sustainability goals and global market commitments. This approach has helped build strong local capacities and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

A living platform for the future of the sector

Today, the Holistic Program is much more than a technical initiative: it is a living platform for learning, collaboration, and transformation, demonstrating that sustainability is a dynamic process built year after year.

With a long-term vision, the program continues to adapt, integrate new approaches, and strengthen its positive impact, with the aim of consolidating a more responsible, competitive Mexican palm oil sector that is deeply committed to the country’s sustainable development.