Jakarta — The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) continues to strengthen sustainable palm oil practices through its Smallholder Trainer Academy (STA), a capacity-building initiative designed to equip trainers with practical skills to support independent smallholders across major palm oil-producing regions.
The program focuses on developing trainers capable of translating complex sustainability principles into practical field applications that align with local cultural contexts and farming realities. RSPO noted that training independent smallholders requires not only technical expertise, but also strong communication skills, cultural understanding, and long-term engagement with farming communities.
Master Trainer from Indonesia, Sarjan Alatas, said independent smallholders often require greater time and effort because trainers must adapt to local characteristics, language, and field conditions to ensure sustainability practices can be effectively implemented.
The STA Master Training Programme emphasizes adult-learning methodologies aimed at improving how trainers deliver sustainability knowledge in ways that are practical, understandable, and relevant for farmers. The program combines formal instruction with field guides, webinars, mentorship, and peer-learning activities through the STA Portal.
According to RSPO, the initiative has helped trainers build confidence and improve their ability to communicate sustainability concepts in more effective and locally grounded ways. Malaysian Master Trainer Nur Syafiqah Syuhadah Tajudin stated that the program has strengthened her engagement with farmers through improved learning materials and more impactful training approaches.
Since its launch in 2019, STA Master Trainers have collectively trained more than 18,000 smallholders across Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Latin America, and Africa. The program supports the broader transformation of the global palm oil sector toward more sustainable and responsible practices.
Beyond technical training, RSPO highlighted that the academy also contributes to improving livelihoods by creating new opportunities for trainers and strengthening local community networks involved in sustainable agriculture.
RSPO stated that the long-term objective of the program is not only to expand the number of trained farmers, but also to ensure sustainable practices are continuously implemented through mentorship, peer collaboration, and ongoing support systems.
The organization emphasized that meaningful transformation in the palm oil sector depends not only on policies and standards, but also on individuals with the knowledge, patience, and local understanding needed to implement sustainability principles at the grassroots level. (*)
