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Revisiting the Implications of RSPO Smallholder Certification Relative to Farm Productivity in Riau, Indonesia

Forest and Society · Vol. 8 No. 1 (2024) · pp. 123–139

DOI
10.24259/fs.v8i1.26964
ISSN
2549-4333, 2549-4724
Published
2024-04-20
Publisher
Forestry Faculty, Universitas Hasanuddin
Language
en
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Abstract

Indonesia is the largest global producer of palm oil, and smallholder plantations control 40.5% of the national palm oil area. As an essential part of the global supply chain, including palm oil smallholders in RSPO certification schemes is critical for the global market and for achieving environmental sustainability outcomes. This study was conducted in Riau Province, a major palm oil producing region. First, the study investigated RSPO certification implications through a case study in two oil palm smallholder groups in Pelalawan District and Kuantan Singingi District. Second, we analyze the driving factors of palm oil smallholder productivity at the landscape scale by developing an estimation model (panel data regression) using a data set from years 2012-2021 in 11 districts/cities. The findings across the two smallholder groups show that applying RSPO's principles, criteria, and standards gave group members collective direct social-economic and environmental benefits. Applying RSPO standards contributes to gradually increasing smallholder plantations' Fresh Fruit Bunch productivity by 15-20%. Nevertheless, our model shows implications of RSPO Smallholder certification do not significantly contribute to smallholder productivity improvement at the landscape scale. In contrast, increasing oil palm areas does not guarantee increased smallholder productivity in Riau. Smallholder oil palm area expansion also has the potential for higher deforestation if there is no central and local government control and improvement support from related parties. For this purpose, RSPO smallholder certification should be encouraged to pursue broader positive impacts on social, economic, and environmental dimensions at the landscape level.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

12 authors · 48 co-authorship links · 25 across different organisations

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia
  • Indonesian Institute of Sciences
  • WWF-Indonesia
  • IPB University
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Kresno Agus HendartoMinistry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia1
Tri Astuti WisudayatiMinistry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia1
Desmiwati DesmiwatiMinistry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia1
Aam AminahAffiliation unknown1
Anggi Dian SafitriMinistry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia1
Hasan RoyaniMinistry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia1
Kurniawati Hastuti DewiIndonesian Institute of Sciences1
Sandy Nur Ikfal RaharjoIndonesian Institute of Sciences1
Dian Ratna SariIndonesian Institute of Sciences1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/fs/oai, first harvested 5 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Revisiting the Implications of RSPO Smallholder Certification Relative to Farm Productivity in Riau, Indonesia</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Veriasa, Thomas Oni</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en"> Nurrunisa, Margaretha</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Fadhli, Nurchalis</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Sustainable palm oil</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Smallholder certification</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Land expansion</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">RSPO</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Good agricultural practices</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">Indonesia is the largest global producer of palm oil, and smallholder plantations control 40.5% of the national palm oil area. As an essential part of the global supply chain, including palm oil smallholders in RSPO certification schemes is critical for the global market and for achieving environmental sustainability outcomes. This study was conducted in Riau Province, a major palm oil producing region. First, the study investigated RSPO certification implications through a case study in two oil palm smallholder groups in Pelalawan District and Kuantan Singingi District. Second, we analyze the driving factors of palm oil smallholder productivity at the landscape scale by developing an estimation model (panel data regression) using a data set from years 2012-2021 in 11 districts/cities. The findings across the two smallholder groups show that applying RSPO's principles, criteria, and standards gave group members collective direct social-economic and environmental benefits. Applying RSPO standards contributes to gradually increasing smallholder plantations' Fresh Fruit Bunch productivity by 15-20%. Nevertheless, our model shows implications of RSPO Smallholder certification do not significantly contribute to smallholder productivity improvement at the landscape scale. In contrast, increasing oil palm areas does not guarantee increased smallholder productivity in Riau. Smallholder oil palm area expansion also has the potential for higher deforestation if there is no central and local government control and improvement support from related parties. For this purpose, RSPO smallholder certification should be encouraged to pursue broader positive impacts on social, economic, and environmental dimensions at the landscape level.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Forestry Faculty, Universitas Hasanuddin</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2024-04-20</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/fs/article/view/26964</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.24259/fs.v8i1.26964</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Forest and Society; Vol. 8 No. 1 (2024): JUNE; 123-139</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2549-4333</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2549-4724</dc:source>
	<dc:language>en</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/fs/article/view/26964/11416</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2024 Forest and Society</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>