The P&G Centre of Sustainable Smallowners (CSS), at the Asia School of Business, in collaboration with MIT Sloan, announced the release of the CSS Impact Report 2025.
This marks five years of progress in empowering independent smallholders and strengthening their role in Malaysia’s palm oil sector, while also aligning with their commitment to global sustainability.
The P&G smallholders programme is a collaboration between the Asia School of Business, Procter and Gamble Company (P&G) and Temasek Foundation.
Globally, smallholders contribute over 40 per cent of the world’s palm oil supply, yet they often face exclusion from formal supply chains due to barriers in certification, traceability, and access to knowledge.
In Malaysia, independent smallholders account for 17 per cent of palm oil producers, and their inclusion is critical not only to national economic resilience but also for global climate, food security, and ESG goals.
P&G Chemicals sustainability programme director Francis Wiederkehr shared, “At the heart of the 2025 report are stories of resilience and transformation. These personal journeys highlight how knowledge, support, and inclusion can unlock leadership and generational change.”
“This report highlights how consistent support and collaboration can help smallholders build more resilient livelihoods while adopting better practices.
“We are pleased to support an approach that not only uplifts smallholders, but also contributes to reducing the two environmental impact of palm oil production in the long term,” said Heng Li Lang, Head, Climate & Liveability, Temasek Foundation.
The Asia School of Business Chief Executive Officer, President, Dean and Professor Joe Cherian noted that, “This year’s report once again underlines the importance of academic industry collaboration and shared responsibility in uplifting underserved communities.
“It demonstrates how certification – whether RSPO or national sustainability standards – can promote both genuine environmental stewardship and economic resilience among smallholders.
“We are pleased that this long-standing collaboration between Asia School of Business, P&G and Temasek Foundation continues to deliver high impact outcomes.”
Malaysia is the world’s secondlargest producer of palm oil, with over 275,000 independent smallholder farmers contributing to the industry.
Unlike organised smallholders, these independent farmers typically manage smaller plots of land and have limited access to knowledge, technology, and guidance.
Originally published by Borneo Post.