Blog: Blogs SMART SPOT Pekanbaru: Traceability as the entry to sustainable palm oil production

In May this year, Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food held the SMART Sustainable Palm Oil Training (SPOT) training programme aimed at its suppliers in Pekanbaru. This year’s theme was “Implementation of Traceability, Waste Management and Responsible Labour Practices in the Supply Chain”. It wasn’t without a particular reason that the SMART SPOT event this time around chose such theme. One of the regencies in Riau, Pelalawan, is home to the Tesso Nilo National Park which currently is the talk of palm oil businesses and those who follow the industry closely.

The series of events that lasted three days comprised activities such as interactive discussions, lectures, case studies and field trips. The speakers included the Head of the Planning, Protection and Preservation Section of the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Ujang Holisudin; Chairperson of the Riau Branch of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) Saut Sihombing; Nursamsu, a representative from Eyes on the Forest; Head of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Section of the Pelalawan Environmental Agency Eko Novitra; and Geotraceability representative, Tri Padukan. Besides that, speakers from within the Company also took part on this occasion, i.e. Sura Sendjaja from the HR Division and Hendra representing the Sustainability Division who both shared best practices that the Company had implemented.

One of the topics that grabbed the attention of many participants was traceability. In the related session, the participants came to a conclusion that traceability represents a key entry point for companies to achieving sustainable palm oil production. On the third day, participants were invited to have a practical session on the Traceability to the Plantation (TTP) process, in particular, the data collection phase. The participants took to the field to one of the smallholder estates that supply to the Company’s palm oil mill and together exercised their know-how on data collection process into this practice.

A total of 39 participants from 17 palm oil companies, GAPKI and Eyes on the Forest were actively involved in the discussions, sharing sessions on their experiences on the ground and encouraging each other to further collaboration with one another. Through this event the Company aims to have its suppliers apply TTP into their respective mills, in order to become more sustainable.

Ayu Pratiwi Lubis is a supply chain development specialist at Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food. She has a keen interest in environmental health topics, and works closely with the Company’s palm oil suppliers, focusing on improving their compliance with the GAR Social and Environmental Policy (GSEP). Ayu is a graduate of the University of Indonesia (Environmental Health Study Programme) and the Bandung Institute of Technology (Master of Business Administration).