Villahermosa to Host Mexico’s Palm Oil Congress

*As first published in Infobae

The leading figures of the palm oil industry across the continent will gather to discuss the future of the sector and its emerging challenges.

The III Mexican Palm Oil Congress, organised by Femexpalma, will take place on 4 and 5 June 2026 in Villahermosa, Tabasco, bringing together key stakeholders from the palm oil industry across Latin America.

The event comes at a time when the sector faces increasing demands related to sustainability, traceability, and climate adaptation, factors that are currently shaping access to international markets.

The selection of Tabasco as the host state reflects its strategic importance: the state accounts for nearly 25% of Mexico’s national palm oil production and represents the challenge of increasing production while safeguarding environmental conservation.

According to the 2025 Femexpalma Statistical Yearbook, the four palm oil producing states have an agricultural frontier exceeding 14 million hectares and possess the conditions to support responsible agricultural expansion. This potential positions Mexico, alongside countries such as Colombia and Brazil, among the nations identified by the FAO as having opportunities for the sustainable development of oil palm cultivation.

RSPO and Supporting the Sector in Latin America

In this context, the participation of Joseph D’Cruz, CEO of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), seeks to reinforce the organisation’s message of support and engagement with its members across the region. D’Cruz has referred to Villahermosa as “one of the pillars of the country’s agroindustry” and has highlighted the role of smallholders within the value chain.

His presence at the congress is particularly relevant at a time when RSPO is promoting collaborative work with sector stakeholders to respond to an increasingly demanding international regulatory landscape. In this context, Mexico is advancing the implementation of the National Interpretation of the RSPO Principles & Criteria (P&C) and Independent Smallholder (ISH) Standards, a process that complements other ongoing initiatives in the region, including in Colombia and Guatemala.

From Certification to Resilience: A Sector in Transformation

The growth of the palm oil sector is unfolding within an increasingly complex international environment. According to D’Cruz, global supply chains, which for decades operated under relatively stable conditions, are now facing greater uncertainty, volatility, and disruption.

This is compounded by more frequent climate crises, geopolitical tensions, and new regulations that are reshaping the rules of global trade, particularly regarding traceability towards the final consumer. In this context, the discussion has evolved: sustainability certification alone is no longer sufficient; ensuring long term resilience has become equally essential.

“For years, the model focused on meeting standards and accessing markets. But compliance alone does not create resilience. It does not protect a producer against drought or cushion the effects of regulatory changes. Certification was the beginning, but it is not the destination,” D’Cruz stated.

Latin America currently leads sustainable palm oil production, with 35% of its cultivated area under voluntary sustainability standards and high percentages of plantations established without deforestation.

Latin America as a Benchmark for Sustainable Production

Latin America has strengthened its position as a key region in sustainable palm oil production. Currently, around 35% of the cultivated area has voluntarily adopted RSPO standards, focused on biodiversity protection, human rights, and traceability.

Countries such as Colombia and Guatemala have more than 90% of their plantations established without association to deforestation, reinforcing the region’s leadership in sustainability.

This progress is complemented by the social impact of certification: globally, in 2023 more than 40,000 smallholders achieved RSPO certification, gaining access to improved market conditions and tools to increase productivity.

A Message of Support for the Region

In Latin America, this process has also been shaped by open conversations with stakeholders, who have clearly identified areas where RSPO can continue improving, including the adaptation of RSPO Standards to local realities, the efficiency of certain processes, and the need for greater proximity and engagement. These dialogues have already begun translating into concrete adjustments, both operationally and within broader governance discussions and the ongoing evolution of the Standards themselves.

This effort has been reinforced through National Interpretation exercises in several countries across the region, as well as through recent dialogue spaces with members, including the Member Forums held in February, the three day webinar on the 2025 Certification Systems document in early April, and in person working sessions in Bogotá and Guatemala where key topics related to the P&C 2024, ISH 2024, and the Certification Systems document were shared and discussed.

According to the organisation, this listening process has been strengthened by Joseph D’Cruz’s sustained presence in the region over recent years. From the Inter-American Conference in Miami to his extensive visits across Colombia, Guatemala, and now Mexico, these engagements have enabled D’Cruz to hear firsthand the concerns, expectations, and proposals of RSPO members.

“From RSPO, we want to be clear: we are here to support our members, work alongside producers, associations, and companies, and build solutions together,” he stated.

The message D’Cruz leaves for the gathering in Villahermosa encapsulates this approach: “Latin America is not alone on this journey, nor should it be. In the end, this is not only about palm oil. It is about people, communities, territories, and the future.”