Latin American Smallholders, Key Global Brands Gather in Peruvian Amazon to Advance Sustainable Palm Oil

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

The pioneering tour offered RSPO buyer members a unique field experience and first-hand insight into the sustainable production model adopted by certified smallholders in Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and Honduras — positioning Latin America as a regional leader in best practices.

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

In addition to strengthening ties between producers and buyers, the visit showcased how the Peruvian model has transformed traditional agricultural practices into more sustainable and responsible approaches, resulting in improved productivity and more efficient use of natural resources.

Latin America has emerged as the fastest-growing region for RSPO Certified sustainable palm oil production, with 35% of its production certified. Meanwhile, North America represents one of the fastest-growing consumer markets, with 88.5% of its imports covered by certified supply chains.