Research Library

Evaluating the effectiveness of palm oil certification in delivering multiple sustainability objectives.

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of RSPO plantations compared to non-certified plantations by assessing the relative performance of several key sustainability metrics (environmental, economic and social aspects) compared to business as usual practices.

Stakeholder perceptions of the environmental effectiveness of multi-stakeholder initiatives: Evidence from the palm oil, soy, cotton, and timber programs.

The main aim of this paper was to analyse the stakeholders' perceptions of the effectiveness of four globally significant MSIs: RSPO, RTRS, BCI and FSC. It also explored the differences between the views of the various stakeholder groups.

Identifying barriers and levers of biodiversity mainstreaming in four cases of transnational governance of land and water.

The aim of this study was to identify the barriers and levers for mainstreaming biodiversity into economic sectors that exert high pressure on biodiversity. Mainstreaming here refer to the process of embedding biodiversity considerations into policies, strategies and practices of key public and private actors that impact or rely on biodiversity. The study examined four cases which are Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in African land, and Mangrove co-management in Vietnam.

Is it all in the MIX? Consumer preferences for segregated and mass balance certified sustainable palm oil.

The research article published in the Journal of Cleaner Production aimed to elicit consumer willingness to pay for chocolate bars, which contain oil palm from either RSPO segregated (SG) or mass balance (MB) supply chains.

Socio-ecological perspectives of engaging smallholders in environmental-friendly palm oil certification schemes.

Published in Land Use Policy, this aims of the research are as follow: (1) Do independent and managed smallholders differ socially and economically?, (2) Do independent and managed smallholders differ in terms of knowledge, perception and attitudes towards farmland biodiversity, and (3) Do independent and managed smallholders have different expectation and willingness to participate in certification schemes?

Development of smallholders through participation in sustainable oil palm production: A case study of the members of Tapitak Palm Community Enterprise, Trang Province

This research aimed to develop smallholders towards sustainable oil palm production according to RSPO standard through group process in Thailand.

Costs and benefits of certification of independent smallholders in Indonesia

Published in the International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, this paper examined the pre-certification financial costs and benefits of RSPO certification for individual farmers and for the certified independent farmers group in Ukui, Indonesia.

Towards low GHG emission in new oil palm development – Results of RSPO’s approach

Published in The Planter Magazine in 2018, this study was authored by Gan Lian Tiong, Faizal Parish, Henry Cai and Javin Tan from the RSPO Emission Reduction Working Group (ERWG). The RSPO ERWG commissioned this study to understand the effectivness of RSPO GHG Assessment Procedure for New Development in guiding RSPO growers and millers to plan development in such a way that minimise net GHG emissions towards the goal of low carbon development.

RSPO certification impacts on oil palm smallholders’ welfare in Jambi Province

This paper aimed at analysing the benefits of RSPO certification on improving oil-palm smallholders’ welfare in Jambi Province. Read more (link)

Emerging markets and private governance: the political economy of sustainable palm oil in China and India

This research was done to examine the efforts of the RSPO to gain market uptake in China and India.