Politics · Indonesia · 10 hrs ago
Indonesia Calls Global Palm Oil Rules Unfair to Smallholders
Indonesia's deputy foreign minister criticized global palm oil rules at a conference in Bali on November 12.
He said the rules place heavy burdens on smallholder farmers in developing countries, who account for up to 40 percent of global palm oil supply.
Farmers must provide detailed proof about their land to show their plantations are not linked to deforestation, or risk losing market access and financing.
In Indonesia, smallholders work on more than 40 percent of palm oil plantations and support nearly 3 million farmers.
Oegroseno said due diligence should apply to everyone, including banks, campaigners and regulators, not just growers.
He also criticized the roles of tariffs, regulations, finance and public campaigns in putting pressure on the industry.
He called for universal checks on all stakeholders, but no specific next steps were stated.
Indonesia’s deputy foreign minister said global palm oil rules are discriminatory and unfair to the industry.
Arif Havas Oegroseno said demanding proof requirements can burden smallholders and block their products from markets and financing.
He called for due diligence rules to apply to farmers, bankers, campaigners and regulators.
In Indonesia, smallholders cultivate more than 40 percent of palm oil plantations and support nearly 3 million farmers.
- Who
- Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno.
- What
- He said global palm oil rules are discriminatory and unfair, and called for due diligence obligations to apply equally to all stakeholders.
- When
- November 12, 2026.
- Where
- The Indonesian Palm Oil Conference in Nusa Dua, Bali.
- Why
- He said demanding proof requirements place a burden on smallholders in developing countries and can limit their market access and financing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Global smallholders
- Roughly 7 million account for up to 40 percent of global palm oil supply
- Indonesia
- Smallholders cultivate over 40 percent of palm oil plantations
- Indonesian smallholder livelihoods
- Nearly 3 million farmers
- Malaysia
- Roughly half a million smallholders
What people are saying
Palm oil farmers, including smallholders, are burdened with very demanding proof requirements. They must demonstrate through traceability data, land geolocation, and legal documents that their plantations are not sourced from deforestation. If they cannot prove this, their products are rejected by the market, and their access to financing is blocked,