An insightful keynote address about the importance of nature-based solutions, from Professor Koh Lian Pin from the National University of Singapore, kicked off the RSPO Annual Roundtable Conference on Sustainable Palm Oil (RT2023) in Jakarta, Indonesia.
SAN network members were there to position important progress achieved towards regenerative agriculture and jurisdictional certification. SAN contributed with the first results of its Ferrero-funded “Nature-Based Solutions Program”. This project, implemented alongside SAN members CABI and Wild Asia, and local partner Universiti Putri Maylasia, has proved on smallholdings that a careful selection of local plants boosts biological control services of beneficial insects that support the control of insect pests.
The sharing session on the "Current Insights of Regenerative Agriculture in Oil Palm" held by SAN members Wild Asia, KALEKA, and Rainforest Alliance —focusing on regenerative agriculture practices for climate change resilience, as well as profitable and carbon-conscious oil palm production— were an ideal and timely complement to the RSPO Roundtable Conference’s focus on its standard and certification system.
Wild Asia also highlighted its important progress in regenerative agriculture with a display booth and shared the progress with its SPIRAL program with their company partners. Additionally, KALEKA Indonesia facilitated a conference session on jurisdictional certification.
The energized SAN network is making the future of soil conservation, biological control to support conservation, and participatory community monitoring of progress towards regenerative agriculture a reality. Thanks to all participating SAN members for making my first RSPO Annual Roundtable Conference a truly inspiring experience.