Honduran Palm Growers Congress Showcases Collaboration for a More Sustainable Palm Oil Sector

By Juan Camilo Plazas

As global markets raise expectations around sustainability and traceability, Latin America’s palm oil sector is making progress through collaboration and responsible production, reflecting the region’s growing contribution to the global transition towards more sustainable palm oil.

San Pedro Sula recently brought Central America’s palm oil sector into focus during the 2nd Honduran Palm Growers Congress, organized by the Gremio de Palmicultores de Honduras (Honduran Palm Growers Association). Bringing together more than 400 industry leaders, the congress was more than an opportunity for national sector integration, leadership renewal as well as market projections. It offered a clear window into a broader regional transformation: across Latin America, palm oil production is increasingly embracing sustainability, traceability and responsible practices as essential components of long-term competitiveness.

The event brought together 334 local delegates and 113 international representatives. Government officials, grower associations, mills and international organizations participated in keynote presentations, technical sessions and discussions that reflected an industry navigating a rapidly changing global marketplace.

Bridging Global Regulations and Local Realities

Over two intensive days, keynote presentations and panel discussions explored the evolving international regulatory landscape and what it means for producers in Honduras and across the region.

Across the two-day programme, discussions analyzed the evolving international regulatory landscape, including market trends and emerging compliance requirements. RSPO Co-Chair José Roberto Montenegro and Camilo Santos, RSPO Deputy Director for Market Transformation (LATAM), contributed to these discussions alongside representatives from the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) and other key industry stakeholders.

A major highlight was the collaborative review and update of the National Interpretation process for the RSPO 2024 Standards, supported on the ground by Diego Pierrend, RSPO Technical Manager for Latin America. More than 50 local specialists contributed to discussions on how global sustainability safeguards can be effectively adapted to Honduras’s specific socio-environmental context. The RSPO LatAm team also hosted a side event addressing key topics related to the RSPO Principles & Criteria (P&C), the Independent Smallholder (ISH) Standard, and updates on specific aspects of the RSPO certification process.

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) was another important focus. Discussions highlighted the growing importance of traceability and verification systems as producers seek to meet evolving market requirements and strengthen their competitiveness in Europe. In this context, voluntary certification schemes such as the RSPO can provide practical tools and established systems to support producers in demonstrating responsible practices and traceability. Addressing these evolving requirements will require continued collaboration across the value chain. 

The Palm Growers Congress demonstrated how collaboration among governments, producers, mills, grower associations and international sustainability organizations can help turn evolving global expectations into practical action on the ground.

Latin America’s Competitive Edge: How Palm Oil Is Produced

The discussions in San Pedro Sula point to a broader regional reality. Latin America accounts for approximately 7.6% of global palm oil production, equivalent to around 5.5 million metric tonnes annually. Yet the region’s significance in the global market cannot be measured by volume alone.

Its competitive advantage increasingly lies in how that palm oil is produced.

More than 62% of Latin America’s total palm oil production is linked to RSPO membership, while 29% is already certified as Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO). This represents the highest share of certified production among palm oil-producing regions globally, positioning Latin America at the forefront of sustainable palm oil production.

This is a significant achievement. It demonstrates that sustainability is not simply an external requirement being imposed on the region; it is increasingly becoming part of the way Latin America competes in global agricultural markets.

The region therefore has an opportunity to demonstrate that responsible production, environmental protection and economic competitiveness can reinforce rather than contradict one another.

Bringing Smallholders into the Future

No discussion about the future of Latin American palm oil can be complete without considering independent smallholders.

Between 2018 and 2022, palm oil acreage across Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico increased by more than 20%. As the sector grows, ensuring that this expansion takes place without deforestation, while respecting the rights and livelihoods of local communities, will be critical.

Inclusive approaches such as the RSPO Independent Smallholder (ISH) Standard can play an important role in bringing smaller producers into sustainable supply chains and ensuring that the benefits of market transformation extend beyond large-scale operations.

The participation of Bella Sosa, RSPO Smallholder Manager for Latin America, reinforced this message at the congress: global sustainability standards can only deliver lasting impact when they are translated into practical opportunities and solutions for producers on the ground.

From Regional Progress to a Growing Global Role

What happened in San Pedro Sula was about more than one country or one industry gathering. It reflected a broader shift taking place across Latin America, where sustainability, traceability and responsible production are increasingly becoming integral to the region’s palm oil sector.

Latin America is showing that global agricultural leadership is not defined by production volumes alone, but also by the way agricultural commodities are produced, the transparency of their supply chains, and the ability to bring producers of all sizes into the transition towards more responsible production.

The region’s progress demonstrates that sustainability and competitiveness can go hand in hand. With continued collaboration among governments, producers, grower associations, buyers and certification organizations, Latin America is well positioned to contribute to the evolution of global expectations for sustainable palm oil and to share experiences that can help advance the sector as a whole.

The message from San Pedro Sula was clear: Latin America is playing an increasingly important role in shaping the future of sustainable palm oil.

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