Western consumers pay more for sustainable palm oil, often thinking it contributes directly to a better life for farmers. This, however, is not the case. In fact, questions can be raised regarding the applicability of Western sustainability standards in Indonesia. Hidayat conducted extensive field research on the living and working conditions of certified and non-certified palm oil farmers. The financial advantages of certification were minimal and unpredictable. The alignment between Western standards and the lifestyles of small-scale farmers was another glaring problem. ‘Farmers have to wear safety glasses on certified plantations, but because of the damp climate, their glasses fog up continuously,’ explains Hidayat. Many farmers also lack the knowledge and ability to follow these standards.

Intermediaries

In order to meet the certification requirements of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), farmers have to organise themselves around a miller, who is often located far away. This is a crucial problem, as palm oil is highly perishable. Rapid trading is therefore vital and many Indonesian farmers trade their wares via intermediaries. Certification would remove the need for these intermediaries. ‘People forget that there are strong social bonds in Indonesia,’ explains Hidayat. Many Indonesian farmers have worked with their intermediaries for years. Some intermediaries even loan them money to help pay for their children’s schooling. These loans is paid out immediately, unlike other loans. All of this makes it less attractive for small-scale farmers to switch to sustainable palm oil production.

Advantages

There are certain advantages to certification. Certified farmers tend to be more organised and healthier. There is minimal use of pesticides and the climate impact of the plantation is lower. In many cases, education is offered and the infrastructure is better. Certified farmers themselves believe they are better off. According to Hidayat, the problem is informing and convincing farmers to make the switch. Her advice? ‘Involve the Indonesian government and the farmers earlier on in the process and create standards together with them. Don’t underestimate the advantages, but do understand that raising the price for consumers does not have a direct impact on the living conditions of the farmers.’

Nia Kurniawati Hidayat (Sukabumi, 1988) will defend her dissertation on Thursday 28 September at UM. Hidayat obtained a master’s degree in agrarian economics in Indonesia and has been affiliated with the International Centre for Integrated assessment and Sustainable development (ICIS) at Maastricht University. Hidayat's conferral is part of three PhD conferrals to be held this week as part of the SPIN project, a joint project by Lampung University (Indonesia) and Maastricht University on the effects of international sustainability standards.