Category: Featured in the Media

KUALA LUMPUR (June 18): Over 400 smallholder farmers have achieved the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Independent Smallholder (ISH) 2019 certification under the P&G smallholders programme, according to the P&G Centre for Sustainable Small-owners (CSS) Impact Report 2024. Another 400 ISHs are expected to be certified by the end of 2025.

Additionally, 306 certified ISHs have received a total of US$42,630 (RM200,949) in RSPO premium from 2021 to 2023 for their certified palm produce, states the report. Increased earnings as a result of certifications mean farmers are able to improve agricultural practices and serve local communities.

The P&G CSS programme was established by funding from Proctor and Gamble in 2018. It aims to facilitate the production of certified sustainable palm oil from ISH in the districts of Pontian and Batu Pahat.

CSS, which is housed in the Asia School of Business (ASB), ensures farmers adhere to local sustainability standards such as the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) and facilitates certification towards the RSPO ISH 2019. The RSPO ISH 2019 comprises three phases, and may take a farmer up to 36 months to obtain certification.

To further support ISH farmers in their certification journey, Pertubuhan Tani Niaga Lestari Negeri Johor was established by CSS to achieve certification through RSPO and MSPO training. The training helps farmers improve the quality and yield of their oil palm and connects them to local and international markets.

However, achieving certification is not the end of the road, notes the report. Surveillance audits are conducted annually as RSPO certifications are valid for five years. The audits ensure that certified farmers and farms continue to address core sectoral sustainability concerns within the palm oil industry. This includes deforestation, fire, biodiversity loss, peat land drainage, forced labour and land tenure conflict.

The CSS’ continuous improvement programme supports ISHs in their annual surveillance audits to ensure the farmers maintain production of certified produce as well as continue being eligible for RSPO premiums. Good agricultural practices and best management practices training to all ISHs was introduced in 2024 by CSS.

Post-certification selected farms are also modelled as learning farms. The aim for learning farms is to provide a picture of a well-managed palm oil farm, operate as a learning and research centre and facilitate a smooth transition to sustainable agriculture.

Starting from nine farms in 2020, the programme has achieved 250 learning farms in the final quarter of 2023. CCS benefits from 19 control learning farms used for data collection and benchmarking for CCS research. Some key findings that resulted from the research include nutrient management, best farm management practices and yield intensification.

The analysis of data collected from the learning farms also provide insights on the economic and environmental value of growing certified and sustainable palm oil.

Originally published by The Edge.

KUALA LUMPUR: Lebih 400 pekebun kecil telah mencapai Pensijilan Pekebun Kecil Rundingan Meja Bulat Minyak Sawit Mampan (RSPO) di bawah Program Pekebun Kecil P&G, demikian menurut Laporan Impak Pusat P&G Untuk Pemilik Kecil Lestari (CSS) 2024.

Asia School of Business dalam satu kenyataan hari ini berkata seramai 400 lagi pekebun kecil persendirian dijangka akan menerima perakuan itu menjelang akhir 2025.

Program Pekebun Kecil P&G adalah kerjasama antara Asia School of Business, P&G, dan Temasek Foundation yang bertujuan untuk menggalakkan amalan pertanian yang mampan dan baik, serta memudahkan pengeluaran minyak sawit mampan yang diperakui daripada kalangan pekebun kecil persendirian di daerah Pontian dan Batu Pahat di Johor.

Laporan itu juga menyatakan bahawa 306 pekebun kecil yang diperakui telah menerima premium berjumlah US$42,630.00 (lebih RM200,000) pada 2021-2023 bagi hasil sawit mereka yang diperakui, sekali gus meningkatkan mata pencarian mereka.

“Melaksanakan amalan pertanian yang baik menggalakkan pengurusan sisa dan kimia yang lebih baik dalam kalangan pekebun kecil, termasuk menggunakan baja.

“Pusat Untuk Pemilik Kecil Lestari juga telah membantu penubuhan Pertubuhan Tani Niaga Lestari Negeri Johor, yang menyaksikan keahlian meningkat kepada lebih 700 pekebun kecil,” kata kenyataan itu.

Program ini juga telah membangunkan kurikulum ringkas tentang amalan pertanian yang baik dengan Pusat Untuk Pemilik Kecil Lestari telah melatih 1,972 pekebun kecil tentang amalan pertanian dan pengurusan sejak Julai 2022.

Malaysia merupakan pengeluar minyak sawit kedua terbesar di dunia dengan lebih 275,000 pekebun kecil, yang secara kolektif menyumbang kira-kira 17 peratus daripada jumlah kawasan tanaman kelapa sawit negara. 

Originally published by Utusan Sarawak

KUALA LUMPUR: Over 400 smallholder farmers have achieved the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Independent Smallholder Certification under the P&G Smallholders Programme, according to P&G’s Centre of Sustainable Small-owners Impact Report 2024.

Read the full article HERE.
Originally published by The Borneo Post.

KUALA LUMPUR: Lebih 400 pekebun kecil telah mencapai Pensijilan Pekebun Kecil Rundingan Meja Bulat Minyak Sawit Mampan (RSPO) di bawah Program Pekebun Kecil P&G, demikian menurut Laporan Impak Pusat P&G Untuk Pemilik Kecil Lestari (CSS) 2024.

Asia School of Business dalam satu kenyataan hari ini berkata seramai 400 lagi pekebun kecil persendirian dijangka akan menerima perakuan itu menjelang akhir 2025.

Program Pekebun Kecil P&G adalah kerjasama antara Asia School of Business, P&G, dan Temasek Foundation yang bertujuan untuk menggalakkan amalan pertanian yang mampan dan baik, serta memudahkan pengeluaran minyak sawit mampan yang diperakui daripada kalangan pekebun kecil persendirian di daerah Pontian dan Batu Pahat di Johor.

Laporan itu juga menyatakan bahawa 306 pekebun kecil yang diperakui telah menerima premium berjumlah US$42,630.00 (lebih RM200,000) pada 2021-2023 bagi hasil sawit mereka yang diperakui, sekali gus meningkatkan mata pencarian mereka.

“Melaksanakan amalan pertanian yang baik menggalakkan pengurusan sisa dan kimia yang lebih baik dalam kalangan pekebun kecil, termasuk menggunakan baja.

“Pusat Untuk Pemilik Kecil Lestari juga telah membantu penubuhan Pertubuhan Tani Niaga Lestari Negeri Johor, yang menyaksikan keahlian meningkat kepada lebih 700 pekebun kecil,” kata kenyataan itu.

Program ini juga telah membangunkan kurikulum ringkas tentang amalan pertanian yang baik dengan Pusat Untuk Pemilik Kecil Lestari telah melatih 1,972 pekebun kecil tentang amalan pertanian dan pengurusan sejak Julai 2022.

Malaysia merupakan pengeluar minyak sawit kedua terbesar di dunia dengan lebih 275,000 pekebun kecil, yang secara kolektif menyumbang kira-kira 17 peratus daripada jumlah kawasan tanaman kelapa sawit negara. 

Originally published by Berita Harian.

KUALA LUMPUR: Lebih 400 pekebun kecil telah mencapai Pensijilan Pekebun Kecil Rundingan Meja Bulat Minyak Sawit Mampan (RSPO) di bawah Program Pekebun Kecil P&G, demikian menurut Laporan Impak Pusat P&G Untuk Pemilik Kecil Lestari (CSS) 2024.

Asia School of Business dalam satu kenyataan hari ini berkata seramai 400 lagi pekebun kecil persendirian dijangka akan menerima perakuan itu menjelang akhir 2025.

Program Pekebun Kecil P&G adalah kerjasama antara Asia School of Business, P&G, dan Temasek Foundation yang bertujuan untuk menggalakkan amalan pertanian yang mampan dan baik, serta memudahkan pengeluaran minyak sawit mampan yang diperakui daripada kalangan pekebun kecil persendirian di daerah Pontian dan Batu Pahat di Johor.

Laporan itu juga menyatakan bahawa 306 pekebun kecil yang diperakui telah menerima premium berjumlah US$42,630.00 (lebih RM200,000) pada 2021-2023 bagi hasil sawit mereka yang diperakui, sekali gus meningkatkan mata pencarian mereka.

“Melaksanakan amalan pertanian yang baik menggalakkan pengurusan sisa dan kimia yang lebih baik dalam kalangan pekebun kecil, termasuk menggunakan baja.

“Pusat Untuk Pemilik Kecil Lestari juga telah membantu penubuhan Pertubuhan Tani Niaga Lestari Negeri Johor, yang menyaksikan keahlian meningkat kepada lebih 700 pekebun kecil,” kata kenyataan itu.

Program ini juga telah membangunkan kurikulum ringkas tentang amalan pertanian yang baik dengan Pusat Untuk Pemilik Kecil Lestari telah melatih 1,972 pekebun kecil tentang amalan pertanian dan pengurusan sejak Julai 2022.

Malaysia merupakan pengeluar minyak sawit kedua terbesar di dunia dengan lebih 275,000 pekebun kecil, yang secara kolektif menyumbang kira-kira 17 peratus daripada jumlah kawasan tanaman kelapa sawit negara.

Originally published by The Sun.

KUALA LUMPUR: Lebih 400 pekebun kecil telah mencapai Pensijilan Pekebun Kecil Rundingan Meja Bulat Minyak Sawit Mampan (RSPO) di bawah Program Pekebun Kecil P&G, demikian menurut Laporan Impak Pusat P&G Untuk Pemilik Kecil Lestari (CSS) 2024.

Asia School of Business dalam satu kenyataan hari ini berkata seramai 400 lagi pekebun kecil persendirian dijangka akan menerima perakuan itu menjelang akhir 2025.

Program Pekebun Kecil P&G adalah kerjasama antara Asia School of Business, P&G, dan Temasek Foundation yang bertujuan untuk menggalakkan amalan pertanian yang mampan dan baik, serta memudahkan pengeluaran minyak sawit mampan yang diperakui daripada kalangan pekebun kecil persendirian di daerah Pontian dan Batu Pahat di Johor.

Laporan itu juga menyatakan bahawa 306 pekebun kecil yang diperakui telah menerima premium berjumlah US$42,630.00 (lebih RM200,000) pada 2021-2023 bagi hasil sawit mereka yang diperakui, sekali gus meningkatkan mata pencarian mereka.

“Melaksanakan amalan pertanian yang baik menggalakkan pengurusan sisa dan kimia yang lebih baik dalam kalangan pekebun kecil, termasuk menggunakan baja.

“Pusat Untuk Pemilik Kecil Lestari juga telah membantu penubuhan Pertubuhan Tani Niaga Lestari Negeri Johor, yang menyaksikan keahlian meningkat kepada lebih 700 pekebun kecil,” kata kenyataan itu.

Program ini juga telah membangunkan kurikulum ringkas tentang amalan pertanian yang baik dengan Pusat Untuk Pemilik Kecil Lestari telah melatih 1,972 pekebun kecil tentang amalan pertanian dan pengurusan sejak Julai 2022.

Malaysia merupakan pengeluar minyak sawit kedua terbesar di dunia dengan lebih 275,000 pekebun kecil, yang secara kolektif menyumbang kira-kira 17 peratus daripada jumlah kawasan tanaman kelapa sawit negara.

Originally published by Bernama.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 (Bernama) — Over 400 smallholder farmers have achieved the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Independent Smallholder Certification under the P&G Smallholders Programme, according to P&G’s Centre of Sustainable Small-owners Impact Report 2024. 

In a statement today, Asia School of Business said another 400 independent smallholders are anticipated to be certified by end-2025.

The P&G Smallholders Programme is a collaboration between Asia School of Business, P&G, and Temasek Foundation, which aims to promote sustainable and good agricultural practices, as well as facilitate the production of certified sustainable palm oil from among independent smallholders in the districts of Pontian and Batu Pahat in Johor. 

The report also highlighted that 306 certified smallholders have received a total of US$42,630.00 (over RM200,000) in premium in 2021-2023 for their certified palm produce, increasing their livelihoods.

“Implementing good agricultural practices promotes better waste and chemical management among smallholder farmers, including using and applying fertilisers. 

“The Centre of Sustainable Small-owners has also facilitated the establishment of Pertubuhan Tani Niaga Lestari Negeri Johor, which saw membership rise to over 700 smallholders,” the statement said.

The programme has also developed a simplified curriculum on good agricultural practices with the Centre of Sustainable Small-owners having trained 1,972 farmers on agricultural and management practices since July 2022.

Malaysia is the second largest palm oil producer globally with over 275,000 smallholders, who collectively account for about 17 per cent of the country’s total oil palm planted area.  

Originally published by Bernama.

A TECH solution to enhance transparency and traceability within the upstream palm oil supply chain is in the pipeline.

The Social Innovation Challenge (SIC) winning team comprising Wei Jie See, Kaywen Zhen and Arinn Danish will be developing their innovation with a seed capital of RM20,000, courtesy of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) and the Center of Sustainable Small-owners (CSS) at the Asia School of Business (ASB).

The SIC, a dynamic competition designed for students, alumni and invited participants, was focused on action-based challenges to tackle pressing global issues.

Aimed at addressing critical issues within the palm oil industry, particularly in Malaysia, the inaugural challenge centred around the Collection Center First Mile Traceability Challenge.

The palm oil industry plays a pivotal role in global food and industrial markets but faces challenges such as incomplete traceability to plantations and inefficient data management practices.

These issues pose significant threats, including reputational risks and regulatory non-compliance, necessitating urgent solutions.

“We are excited to embark on this journey towards creating a more sustainable and transparent palm oil industry.

“By leveraging technology and working closely with small-holder farmers and the collection centres, we aim to increase yield and promote responsible production practices,” said Wei Jie, spokesperson for the winning team which comprised students from ASB, Universiti Tenaga Nasional and IMU University.

The team will be collaborating with small-holder farmers in Batu Pahat, Johor, on the project, a press release from ASB dated May 6 read.

IEC assistant director Dr Siti Najaa Zulkifli said the SIC embodied ASB’s mission to empower students to make a real impact in their communities and beyond.

“It’s all about inspiring positive change.

“The SIC champions innovation, collaboration and practical application, aligning seamlessly with ASB’s commitment to experiential learning for a comprehensive educational experience.

“We are incredibly proud of the creativity and dedication demonstrated by everyone,” she said.

For the palm oil industry, said CSS director Prof Dr Asad Ata, addressing challenges related to traceability and data management is crucial.

“By doing so, we can enhance transparency, strengthen accountability and reaffirm our commitment to sustainable practices. Together, we can build a more resilient and ethical supply chain,” he said.

Originally published by The Star.