Industry leaders discuss climate impacts and traceability,
awaiting EUDR guidelines before the summer 2024.
BRUSSELS, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sustainable
Palm Oil Dialogue (SPOD) 2024 Europe successfully convened
stakeholders committed to advancing sustainability in the palm oil
sector, including representatives from the European Commission and
the Indonesian Government. Organised by APAG Oleochemicals
Europe, the EU Vegetable Oil and Proteinmeal Industry (FEDIOL),
IDH, and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), this year's
event focused on addressing the climate impacts caused by the
palm oil sector and exploring effective solutions.
Held under the theme, "Inclusive Pathways for Climate-smart
Solutions," the dialogue featured prominent speakers who discussed
multifaceted approaches for voluntary and mandatory initiatives to
combat climate change and enhance the sector's overall
positive impact.
In her keynote address, Minou
Schillings, Regenerative Business Facilitator and Community
Weaver from The Green Sprint, emphasised the critical role of
regenerative business practices in creating resilient and
sustainable agricultural systems. "Inclusive pathways can only be
realised through diversity: in agriculture, in perspectives, in
leadership styles and narratives, in people, in landscapes,
ecosystems and all living beings," Schillings stated.
A much-anticipated discussion on the European Union
Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) shed light on the decades of work
by the private sector that has set a foundation for legislation to
build upon.
SPOD 2024 was the eleventh event in Europe of its kind. Since the RSPO formation
20 years ago, many other voluntary initiatives, including a palm
oil collaboration working group on deforestation-free supply
chains, traceability to plantation level, and satellite monitoring
have steered the practical elements of what the European Commission
intends to achieve with the EUDR.
Astrid Ladefoged, Head of Unit
for Planetary Common Goods, Universal Values and Environmental
Security at DG Environment of the European Commission,
acknowledging the willingness and efforts of the private sector
said, "we need to continue to work with the front-runners and help
the rest catch up to such standards" Talking about the remaining
challenges until implementation, she recognised that there have
been efforts from the private sector to improve traceability and
although there is still a lot to be done, implementation by the set
timeline seems feasible.
Remarks from the private sector, however, raise concerns about
the risk of excluding stakeholders, such as smallholders who, in
many cases, have adopted the right practices but are less able to
demonstrate compliance due to administrative barriers.
Ladefoged stressed, "Due diligence is not an exercise where you
can tick off points on a list." Companies may have their own
approaches to ensure that they are sourcing from a sustainable
producer. The EUDR guidelines due to be published before the summer
2024, should help companies know what to do for the implementation.
This could for instance include making use of voluntary
certification schemes in their risk assessment process.
SPOD 2024 underscored the importance of innovative voluntary
measures, such as public-private initiatives, certification and
sourcing policies, and legislation to effectively contribute to
halting deforestation, reducing emissions and more measurable
sustainability impacts. The dialogue emphasised inclusivity,
stressing the importance of respecting the needs and perspectives
of all stakeholders, particularly marginalised smallholder farmers.
The discussion also highlighted the need to balance voluntary
initiatives and legislation to drive meaningful change. As the EUDR
guidelines are anticipated later this year, the event brought
constructive dialogue to the ongoing cooperation still needed
between the private sector and regulatory bodies to achieve a
sustainable palm oil industry.
About SPOD:
The Sustainable Palm Oil Dialogue (SPOD) Europe is an annual event that brings together
industry leaders, policymakers, NGOs, and other stakeholders to
discuss and drive sustainable practices in the palm oil sector.
SPOD aims to foster collaboration and innovation to promote
environmental and social responsibility in the palm oil supply
chain.
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