Overcoming the challenges of certification for independent smallholders in the palm oil industry

[摘要] Independent smallholders;; certification in the palm oil industry has been recognized as a significant challenge both in the academic literature and in the interviews conducted with experts prior to writing this thesis. According to both sources, a massive certification of independent smallholders seems very unlikely in the medium-run. At the same time, smallholders are a critical component of the palm oil value chain, both in terms of production and land use. This thesis focuses on the challenges palm oil independent smallholders in South East Asia are faced with when it comes to certification. The paper is structured around four chapters. Chapter I opens the paper with an analysis of the current context in the palm oil industry and of the rising concerns related to sustainability. The main bottlenecks preventing smallholders to become certified are then developed in Chapter II. In Chapter III, certification of smallholders is presented through the lens of the collective action problem framework. Two case studies then illustrate the fact that certification can be achieved. Based on these case studies, as well as on interviews with experts and on academic papers, we formulate the necessary conditions to create a favorable environment for independent smallholders to achieve certification before suggesting ways to implement them (Chapter IV).

[发布机构] Massachusetts Institute of Technology