GAPKI (19/02/2025) - JAKARTA – The palm oil industries have contributed to the realization of global development targets as formulated by the United Nations (UN) in its sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2015. The SDGs are part of the UN agenda to strengthen the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in 2030.

On the social goals, which include gender equality, reducing inequality, ending poverty, ending hunger, ending AIDS and ending discrimination, the SDGs are formulated by the UN through the SDG-1; SDG-2, SDG-3; SDG-4; SDG-5; SDG-6; SDG-11; and SDG-17.

In realizing the SDG-1 (No Poverty), the palm oil industries have played a significant role in eradicating poverty in Indonesia, while creating job opportunities at the level of villages, national and international.

The palm oil industry is also part of the solution in achieving SDG-2 (Ending Hunger) which refers to eliminating hunger and building inclusive food security at the local, national and global levels. At the global level, the palm oil industry also increases the affordability and availability of vegetable oils-based foods for low-income communities.

The palm oil industry also contributes to achieving SDG-3 (Good Health and Well-being). It is shown by the nutritional content of palm oil as a source of vitamin A and vitamin E, containing bioactive compounds and essential fatty acids and having a balanced composition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids which are beneficial for human health. Apart from that, the palm oil industries also contribute to the realization of SDG-3 in increasing the affordability and accessibility of oil palm plantation communities to health services.

The palm oil industries also play an important role in realizing SDG-4 (Quality Education). This role is demonstrated by increasing the affordability and accessibility of oil palm plantation communities to quality education at various levels.

The palm oil industries’ contribution in achieving the SDG-5 (Gender Equity) is demonstrated by their commitment to realizing gender equality through fulfilling and protecting the rights of female workers. Empirical evidence of this commitment is shown by the level of job satisfaction of female workers on oil palm plantations which is higher than that of male workers.

Regarding the SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), the palm oil industries contribute by increasing the availability and access of communities to clean, and quality water. Oil palm plantation companies also build good sanitation facilities for workers and local communities and provide CSR for the construction of sanitation facilities for local communities. Apart from saving water, oil palm plantations are also part of the hydrological cycle and soil and water conservation.

The construction of employee housing and other supporting facilities in plantation areas as well as the development of new economic growth centers in rural areas show evidences of the palm oil industries’ contribution to achieving SDG-11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The use of bioelectricity generated from green power plants based on palm wastes as a source of sustainable electricity (Myth 3-02) for villages around plantations is also proof of the achievement of these SDGs.

Meanwhile, the palm oil industries’ achievement in realizing the SDG-17 (Partnership for The Goals) has been proven at both local and global levels. Oil palm plantation partnerships between corporations (state and private ones) and the local communities (Myth 7-11) as well as partnerships between palm smallholders demonstrate the achievement of SDG-17 at the local level. At the corporate level, this is also demonstrated by partnerships between fellow workers through labor unions or worker associations as well as partnerships between corporations and labor unions (Myth 4-18).

Meanwhile, at the global level, this is demonstrated by the cooperation between Indonesia, Malaysia and other palm oil producing countries through the Council of the Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC).

The Indonesian government has also initiated various international forums related to discussing the contribution of palm oil in achieving the SDGs. At the regional level, the Indonesian government actively participates in Joint Working Group Meetings with ASEAN and European Union (EU) countries. Likewise, at the multilateral level, Indonesia has also taken advantage of the international forums of FAO-Intergovernmental Group Meeting on Oilseeds, Oils, and Fats (IGG-OOF) and initiated the preparation of Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Vegetable Oil (VG-SVO).

Read more at https://gapki.id/en/news/2025/02/07/palm-oil-greatly-contributes-to-realization-of-uns-sdgs/