SouthSouth exchange Organised by CIFOR as part of the project Bioenergy, sustainability and trade-offs: can we avoid deforestation while promoting bioenergy? 21 27 September 2011 Bogor, Indonesia Background The palm oil industry is anticipating further expansion to fulfil growing demands for food, and to supply palm oil for the biofuels markets. Indonesia is the worlds largest producer of palm oil. Indonesia and Malaysia together supply 85% of the global demand for palm oil. Indonesia has the potential to become a world biodiesel leader with a model for plantation sustainability. Due to its long history in the development of this commodity, Indonesia offers valuable lessons on the pros and cons of different business models for land use and benefits distribution. The expansion plans for oil palm in Indonesia, however, have also raised concerns about unintended social, economic and environment implications. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil has established an international standard for certified palm oil, but recent developments in the country indicate the creation of a new national standard is needed. This exchange aims to examine lessons on what has worked to date with the national RSPO standards and potential adjustments so as to blueprint a credible international standard. We have witnessed a rising demand for palm oil; increasing land allocated to oil palm plantations in many countries in Latin America and Africa; and the shift in oil palm investment by corporate actors from Southeast Asia region to some African countries. Therefore, sharing lessons amongst relevant actors on sustainable and equitable oil palm development options would benefit many stakeholders. Purpose - This SouthSouth exchange initiative aims to promote the sharing of experiences and knowledge amongst key policy decision makers, industry representatives and researchers from countries in southeast Asia, sub- Saharan Africa and Latin America, including Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Ghana, Indonesia and Malaysia. Topics will include sustainable and equitable options for oil palm development, and recommended policy shifts in these countries to support the transitions towards more equitable and sustainable models. Participants Participants will include two representatives each from Cameroon, Colombia, Brazil and Ghana; four from Malaysia; and invited participants from Indonesia linked to the government, the private sector and independent policy advisors. The participants are expected to share their experiences of oil palm development in their own countries during the formal and informal sharing sessions. Field visits will provide opportunities for more informal sharing and discussion around the different topics to be covered. Approaches The exchange will include the following activities. Discussions and face-to-face interactions with relevant institutions and organisations Field visits to oil palm plantations to learn from experiences of the private sector and from local actors Attend a discussion forum on the options and challenges for oil palm development as part of the CIFOR workshop Forests Indonesia: Alternative futures to meet demands for food, fibre, fuel and REDD+ Topics Topics to be covered during these events will include: Legal and institutions frameworks governing oil palm business and development Land acquisition and production partnerships amongst large-scale plantations and smallholders Effectiveness of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and corporate social responsibility On-the-ground