Asian Palm Oil Alliance, Council for Palm Oil Producing Countries to build sustainable palm oil supply chain
A Joint Working Group co-chaired by APOA and CPOPC, with Solidaridad serving as the technical secretariat, will oversee the implementation of the MoU.
09/10/2025 (Milling Middle & Africa), India - The Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA), the Council for Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), and Solidaridad Network Asia Limited have joined forces through a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Mumbai on September 25, 2025, to build a more stable and sustainable palm oil supply chain, particularly focusing on India and South Asia.
The partnership seeks to deepen collaboration between palm oil producers and consumers, addressing challenges like market volatility, food security, and the inclusion of smallholders in the supply chain.
Under this agreement, the parties will work to harmonize and mutually recognize national sustainability frameworks, including the Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO), Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), and the Indian Palm Oil Sustainability (IPOS) frameworks.
While respecting each nation’s laws and regulatory competencies, the collaboration also places significant emphasis on regenerative agricultural practices to ensure environmental preservation alongside economic growth.
This alignment aims to offer greater consistency and credibility in sustainability efforts across the palm oil-producing region, fostering confidence among consumers and buyers.
To support supply stability and transparency for more than 1.5 billion consumers in South Asia, the partners will promote sourcing practices that are traceable, smallholder-inclusive, and compliant with NDPE principles (No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation).
Solidaridad’s SoliTrace digital tool and remote-sensing technologies will be employed to enable mill-to-market visibility, improving accountability and sustainable practices throughout the supply chain.
Additionally, importer-facing dashboards customized for Indian buyers will enhance supply chain monitoring and compliance reporting, contributing to market stability and consumer trust.
A Joint Working Group co-chaired by APOA and CPOPC, with Solidaridad serving as the technical secretariat, will oversee the implementation of the MoU.
This group is tasked with managing work plans, monitoring progress, and coordinating communication and advocacy efforts to promote sustainable palm oil production and consumption.
The collaboration is planned for an initial three-year period, serving as a platform for continuous joint action.
Atul Chaturvedi, Chairman of APOA, highlighted that the partnership comes at a critical time when food security and price stability are paramount for families and businesses across South Asia.
The formal collaboration between producers and consumers aims to foster mutual understanding and practical solutions to shared challenges in the palm oil sector.
This initiative reflects a growing recognition of the need for coordinated efforts to meet the rising demand for sustainably produced palm oil while safeguarding environmental and social standards.
The alliance between APOA, CPOPC, and Solidaridad represents a major step toward creating a more resilient, stable, and sustainable palm oil supply chain that balances economic, environmental, and social priorities across a key global commodity landscape.