RSPO Talkshow at Palmex 2025: “Beyond Traceability: Tech Strategies for a Sustainable Palm Oil Industry”

Table of Index:

• Exploring the Next Frontier in Sustainable Palm Oil

• A New Era of Compliance and Expectations

• Why "Beyond Traceability"?

• RSPO’s Role in Digital Transformation

• What to Expect at the Talkshow

• Why You Should Attend

Exploring the Next Frontier in Sustainable Palm Oil

The global palm oil sector is navigating a pivotal era of transformation. With environmental regulations tightening and stakeholder expectations rising, the need for transparent, sustainable, and ethical practices has never been greater. From large plantation companies to smallholder suppliers, every actor in the palm oil supply chain is being called upon to take concrete, measurable steps toward sustainability.

This year at Palmex Indonesia 2025, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) will host a high-impact talkshow titled “Beyond Traceability: Tech Strategies for a Sustainable Palm Oil Industry.” This session brings together key leaders from the environmental, technological, and palm oil production sectors to explore how digital innovations are redefining the meaning—and potential—of sustainability in the industry.

A New Era of Compliance and Expectations

The demand for sustainable palm oil is no longer driven only by corporate responsibility—it is now embedded in international policy frameworks and purchasing requirements. Regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), alongside global trends in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting, are reshaping the expectations placed on producers, processors, and suppliers.

What’s clear is this: traceability is no longer optional. Buyers, regulators, and consumers want to know exactly where palm oil comes from, how it was produced, and under what environmental and social conditions.

However, while traceability is an essential starting point, it’s just one part of a much larger picture. Achieving sustainability at scale requires an integrated, digital-first strategy—one that moves beyond data collection and into system-level transformation.

Why "Beyond Traceability"?

Traceability is often defined as the ability to track a product’s journey from its origin to the final point of sale. In palm oil, that means tracing fruit from plantations—many of which are operated by smallholders—through mills, refineries, and finally to consumer goods manufacturers.

Yet even with this capability, key challenges persist:

• How do we ensure land legality and verify that plantations aren’t contributing to deforestation?

• How can smallholder farmers be included and empowered in sustainability systems?

• What tools can companies use to provide credible, auditable data for ESG and regulatory reporting?

• And how can the sector transition from isolated data silos to fully integrated digital ecosystems?

  
  

This is where the “beyond” comes in.

By moving beyond traceability alone and embracing comprehensive tech strategies, stakeholders can begin to solve these complex challenges. Technologies such as remote sensing, geospatial mapping, mobile data collection, AI-driven analytics, and blockchain are already transforming the palm oil supply chain from the ground up.

RSPO’s Role in Digital Transformation

As a globally recognized multi-stakeholder organization, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has long championed the adoption of best practices in sustainability. Over the past few years, RSPO has also taken an active role in supporting the digital transformation of the sector.

Through initiatives aligned with its Principles & Criteria, RSPO encourages members to develop and implement digital systems that provide clear, verifiable evidence of responsible sourcing. These systems not only improve transparency but also help businesses stay compliant with international regulations and meet the growing expectations of sustainability-conscious consumers and investors.

Many RSPO member companies are now leading the way, investing in tools and platforms that support everything from landscape-level monitoring to real-time supplier assessments. The upcoming talkshow is an opportunity to showcase these efforts—and to inspire further collaboration across the sector.

 

What to Expect at the Talkshow

This interactive talkshow will bring together a diverse panel of experts to discuss how digital innovation can enable systemic change in palm oil sustainability. Participants will hear from voices at the forefront of transformation—from civil society and tech startups to major palm oil producers.

Moderator:

• Dr. M. Windrawan Inantha, Deputy Director, Market Transformation (Indonesia), RSPO

Speakers:

• Irfan Bakhtiar, Climate and Market Transformation Program Director, WWF Indonesia

• Ainu Rofiq, Co-Founder and Board Member, Koltiva

• Pujuh Kurniawan, Indonesia Sustainability Lead, Group Sustainability, Wilmar International

The session will address critical questions such as:

• What are the most pressing digital needs of the palm oil industry today?

• How are different stakeholders—from NGOs to corporations—working together to close technology gaps?

• What innovations are already proving effective, and what lessons can be drawn from them?

• How can digital tools be designed to be inclusive, especially for smallholder farmers?

A key objective of the talkshow is to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration. Sustainable palm oil cannot be achieved in silos; it requires coordinated action between private companies, governments, civil society, and technology providers.

By bringing these groups together, the RSPO Talkshow aims to catalyze partnerships that accelerate the sector’s digital transformation—ensuring sustainability efforts are not only traceable, but also scalable, verifiable, and inclusive.

Why You Should Attend

Whether you’re a plantation manager, sustainability officer, technology developer, policymaker, or NGO professional, this session offers unique insights into the future of sustainable palm oil.

Attendees will:

• Gain a deeper understanding of the regulatory landscape, including the implications of the EUDR.

• Explore real-world case studies from innovators and early adopters of digital tools.

• Learn about the latest trends in traceability tech, including its limitations and opportunities.

• Discover how collaborative digital strategies can improve sustainability performance, transparency, and accountability.

The future of sustainable palm oil lies not just in knowing where it comes from—but in using that knowledge to create real-world change.

Join us on 15 May 2025 at JIEXPO Jakarta to be part of this critical conversation. Discover how technology is reshaping the palm oil industry and how you can contribute to a more sustainable, transparent, and inclusive future.

Together, we can go beyond traceability.