During the 2025 RSPO Annual Roundtable Conference (RT2025) on Nov. 5 in Kuala Lumpur, the global industry organization presented representatives from Perkumpulan Tani Maju Badang Sepakat (PTMBS), Perkumpulan Asosiasi Bentang Alam (PABA), Koperasi Produsen Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit (KPKS) Wahyu Agung and Perkumpulan Berkah Mulia Tani (PBMT) with their RSPO certificates.

Together, the four ISH groups represent 1,078 smallholders who manage a total certified area of 2,804 hectares across North Sumatra, Riau and Jambi.

The RSPO roundtable, which convenes stakeholders from across the palm oil supply chain including growers, processors, traders, consumer goods manufacturers, NGOs and governments, serves as a platform to discuss vital sustainability issues and share best practices for responsible palm oil production.

Building trust through collaboration and capacity building

Central to the success of the SMILE program is close collaboration among partners and sustained capacity building at the smallholder level. Through hands-on support and long-term engagement, the initiative helps independent farmers strengthen their practices, build confidence and meet international sustainability standards.

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Ivan Novrizaldie, head of sustainability at Asian Agri, emphasized the importance of partnership and collaboration in the SMILE program.

"Each of us plays a crucial role, but it is our shared commitment to smallholders that truly makes this program successful. Asian Agri provides hands-on training in good agricultural practices and helps smallholders prepare for sustainability certification," he said.

SMILE’s path to success has not been without challenges. Many smallholders were initially skeptical about joining the program, but consistent education and engagement allowed them to understand the long-term benefits of RSPO certification including premium prices for their fresh fruit bunches (FFB), which can significantly improve their livelihoods.

“At first, many people doubted the program, but once the benefits became clear, more farmers began joining in the second phase,” said Bambang Guntoro, head of the ISH group KPKS Wahyu Agung.

His experience reflects a broader shift in confidence as smallholders started to see real results.

A similar sentiment was shared by Eka Chandra, head of the ISH group PBMT, who highlighted the perseverance behind the achievement.

“Success is the ability to move through and overcome one failure after another without losing enthusiasm,” he said, adding that without the support provided through the SMILE program, it would have been far more difficult for farmers to stay committed through each challenge.

Advancing a responsible and inclusive supply chain

Beyond certification, SMILE reflects a broader commitment to building a responsible, inclusive and resilient palm oil supply chain. By aligning sustainability efforts across partners, the program supports long-term value creation from the field through to the market.

Tor Mooi-See, head of sustainability at Apical, underscored the ongoing nature of the effort.

“For us, sustainability is a continuous journey that we embark on together with our partners, suppliers and smallholders,” she said.

“This journey is defined by a transformative supply chain that embraces circularity, inclusivity and shared growth. By working hand in hand with smallholders, we are creating lasting, positive change from the field to the market.”

Building on the commitment, Apical will continue encouraging the uptake of smallholders’ RSPO credits in the coming months to further strengthen long-term support for certified ISHs.

Kao Corporation highlighted how collaboration under SMILE also strengthened the foundation of responsible sourcing across the value chain.

“Kao Corporation welcomes this milestone. Reliable, traceable supply chains help us maintain the high product standards our customers expect, and partnerships like SMILE give us the confidence to keep innovating and delivering consistent quality,” said Terasawa Kenji, vice president for procurement strategic sourcing of raw materials at Global Kao Corporation.

Since its launch, the SMILE program has provided smallholders with valuable training to enhance productivity, manage their land responsibly and meet international sustainability standards.

By 2030, the program aims to empower 5,000 independent smallholders through boosting yields, increasing incomes and achieving RSPO certification. More than 4,000 smallholders in North Sumatra, Riau and Jambi have participated in the program to date, of which 2,834 received RSPO certification as of October 2025.

The SMILE program highlights the effectiveness of collaboration in achieving lasting impact. Aligned with the 5C business philosophy, that its operations should be Good for Community, Country, Climate, Customer, Company, the program uplifts smallholders while contributing to broader sustainability goals.

By strengthening the palm oil supply chain, supporting environmental conservation and promoting socioeconomic development in Indonesia, SMILE exemplifies the power of shared commitment among stakeholders to drive the global transition toward responsible palm oil production.

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