BEIJING – The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), an intergovernmental organization of palm oil-producing countries, convened a high-profile meeting on Tuesday (22\/04\/2025) in Beijing as part of its delegation\u2019s visit to China. The meeting brought together government officials, industry leaders, and other key stakeholders to explore collaborative pathways for a sustainable palm oil value chain.<\/p>\n
Under the theme\u00a0\u201cToward a Sustainable Green Value Chain: Collaborative Pathways for Palm Oil Trade,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0the discussions highlighted the critical role of palm oil in global trade and its potential to align with China\u2019s sustainability goals. Key topics including enhancing supply chain transparency, addressing market challenges, and promoting responsible consumption.<\/p>\n Palm oil is the world\u2019s most widely consumed vegetable oil, accounting for nearly 40% of global edible oil production. The eight member and observer countries of the CPOPC are responsible for 88.8% of the global palm oil production, supporting millions of livelihoods. Recognizing the growing demand for sustainable commodities, CPOPC members have made strides in addressing sustainability challenges. For instance, Indonesia and Malaysia, two of the world\u2019s largest palm oil producing countries, have achieved near record-low primary forest loss despite increased production.<\/p>\n \u201cSustainability is non-negotiable,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0emphasized Rizal Affandi Lukman, CPOPC Secretary-General.\u00a0\u201cThrough initiatives like the Global Framework Principles for Sustainable Palm Oil, we are harmonizing standards and empowering smallholders to adopt eco-friendly practices. Palm oil isn\u2019t just an economic driver\u2014it\u2019s a platform for green innovation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n China, as the world\u2019s second-largest importer of palm oil, is a critical partner for palm oil-producing countries. Last November, CPOPC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the China Chamber of Commerce For Import and Export of Foodstuffs\uff0cNative Produce And Animal By\uff0dProducts (CFNA) and World Resources Institute (WRI) China to strengthen sustainable cooperation between China and palm oil-producing countries. Building on this foundation, this meeting provides an important opportunity to further deepen collaboration between China and CPOPC member countries in advancing sustainable supply chains and fostering a green economy.<\/p>\n Cao Derong, President of CFNA, stated: \u201cAs environmental protection and sustainable development have become global consensus, the palm oil industry is also facing new challenges and opportunities. CFNA recognizes the importance of this trend and is working with organizations such as CPOPC and WRI to develop sustainable palm oil procurement standards and guidelines for China. We encourage companies to adhere to internationally advanced sustainable palm oil standards and advocate for Chinese enterprises to actively participate in the sustainable palm oil initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n The chief representative of WRI China, Dr. Fang Li stated that: \u201cWRI works to advance practical solutions that align economic growth with sustainability\u2014and palm oil is a sector where that alignment is needed, and highly possible. We stand ready to contribute more thorough research, tools, dialogues and platforms that can support stakeholder engagement and shared understanding across sectors, as well as market docking.\u201d<\/p>\n Bukti Bagja from WRI Indonesia also states that WRI and major palm oil stakeholders in Indonesia have been working the recent years to promote sustainable palm oil production, trade, and finance between Indonesia and China, especially through policy acceleration, technical assistance for smallholders and private sectors, research and innovation, and application of technology for environmental protection.<\/p>\n