24 February 2015: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Indonesia announced the launch of a pilot project to implement the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) system on smallholder plantations. The project, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, is expected to engage 2,200 smallholders represented by six cooperatives.

The project will provide technical assistance and training as well as support throughout the certification process. Expected outcomes include the broadening of the ISPO, which has, to date, only been applied to the private sector. In doing so, the project intends to support biodiversity conservation and formalize land tenure. The project also expects to increase incomes among smallholders by providing access to global supply chains, many of which require sustainability certification. [UNDP Press Release]