Having been exposed to the palm oil industry for nearly half a year during this internship, I have witnessed both sides of the debate on palm oil, and one of the most vocal contenders for … Continue reading “Uniting ASEAN in the name of sustainability”

“NGOs often criticise us but when asked for clarification, often they refuse to give us data. If NGOs were to make the allegations, we hope they can come with the facts, talk to us and … Continue reading “A glimpse inside the palm oil industry: What I learnt from working at GAR”

This speech was first presented by Franky Widjaja, Chairman and CEO, Golden Agri-Resources, at RBF 2018 in Jakarta, on 27 March 2018 and has been modified slightly to fit the blog. The theme of Responsible … Continue reading “RBF 2018: Helping smallholders in order to achieve zero hunger SDG”

In today’s interconnected world, companies are judged not just on their performance but are expected to bear responsibility for their supply chain. It is not enough for a company to show that it is operating … Continue reading “Beyond Traceability to the Plantation: A Responsible Palm Oil Supply Chain”

On 7 December 2017, Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food held its third annual SMART SEED (Social and Environmental Excellence Development) themed “Ensuring Traceability and Responsible Employment in Palm Oil Industry”, in Pullman Jakarta. Aimed at … Continue reading “Ensuring traceability and responsible employment with suppliers at SMART SEED event”

This speech was presented by Gopul Shah, Director, Corporate Treasury and Structured Trade Finance, Golden Agri-Resources, at the Responsible Business Forum in Singapore on 23 November 2017. Having engaged with many of the delegates present … Continue reading “Accelerating SDG action: A business perspective”

Tackling smallholder issues is central to the sustainable transformation of the palm oil industry. Palm oil production is a key livelihood for 2.5 million farmers and their communities. The industry as a whole provides direct … Continue reading “Can the RSPO P&C Review make certification more accessible for smallholders?”

GAR/SMART have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with non-governmental organisation (NGO) SNV Netherlands Development, to work together to help palm oil smallholders increase their field productivity and income, and apply for sustainable palm oil … Continue reading “Video: A partnership with SNV to provide support to palm oil smallholders”

A decade ago, the palm oil industry faced challenges on deforestation. Today, labour has been brought into similar light for the industry as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) report widespread abuses of human rights in palm oil … Continue reading “Enforcing fair labour practices in the palm oil industry”