Are sustainable pathways possible for oil palm development in Latin America?
COLOMBINE LESAGE, LAURENE FEINTRENIE
The palm oil sector in Latin America emerged in the 1930s with investments of private industries. After a long period of poor development, the sector has known a new youth in the 1970s with the involvement of the States. Public incentives then favored an agro-industrial business model. Since the 1980s it has been experiencing a promotion of more growers’ inclusion in the value chain, local development and sustainability of production. ‘Strategic alliances’ and ‘social sector’ models emerged as answers to this demand. They now represent almost 30% of the regional production. The agro-industrial sector is also moving towards a more sustainable production by adopting the RSPO criteria and certification, and by developing ‘strategic alliances’, with the support of national public policies. Latin America appears on the way to lead sustainability in the palm oil sector. But challenges are numerous and the way is still long and perilous.
Event: Land Governance in an Interconnected World_Annual World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty_2018
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