Publications des agents du Cirad

Cirad

Certifying sustainable palm oil: The European paradoxes

Rival A.. 2018. In : Chalil Diana (ed.), Shaufique Fahmi Sidique (ed.), Barus Riantri (ed.), Ahmad Hanis Izani Abdul Hadi (ed.), Khaliqi Muhammad (ed.), Fatoni Moh. Ibrahim (ed.). CSSPO International Conference 2018: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Agriculture: Harmonizing Environmental, Social and Economic Dimensions: Is it Possible?. Les Ulis : EDP Sciences, p. 10-10. (E3S Web of Conferences, 52). International Conference on Natural Resources Management (NRM): Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Agriculture 2018 “Harmonizing Environment, Social and Economic Dimensions”, 2018-07-09/2018-07-11, Sarawak (Malaisie).

Since its origin, the RSPO certification system for the sustainable production of palm oil is rooted in Europe. Indeed, as a business to business initiative, the RSPO roundtable gathered at its early beginning several Europe-based NGOs and multinational firms like Unilever. At the same time, Europe is also a market for palm oil and - even more - the almost unique market for Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO). Indeed even if Europe is not a key player in the global palm oil market - which is led by India and China - it has a key role to play in the public acceptance of RSPO as a norm and in the updating of RSPO Principles and Criteria (P&C) in order to fit with changes in expectations from stakeholders and progress in science and knowledge. The European paradox in oil palm lies in the fact that Europe and its institutions must play a dual role: i) pushing the concept of sustainability throughout the palm oil commodity chains and its actors, and ii) dealing with European farmers who are producers in a very competitive vegetable oils global market. Public opinions in Europe are more in favor of a "No palm oil" strategy - as reflected by the 2030 ban proposed by the European Parliament this year - rather than giving Europe a key role in the evolution of RSPO P&C towards more inclusivity and better alignment to national mandatory sustainability standards such as MSPO and ISPO. The present paper explores the status and trends of CSPO market in Europe and the role and response of EU markets (importers, traders, processors and end consumers). It proposes future avenues for collaborative research and development aimed at linking Europe -through Research Institutions, NGOs and the transformation industry- with key stakeholders in producing countries, including oil palm smallholders.

Documents associés

Communication de congrès

Agents Cirad, auteurs de cette publication :