International civil society organization, Solidaridad, has issued a set of recommendations to transform Ghana’s oil palm, as well as the global industry, into a more inclusive, ethical, and resilient system.
This initiative aims to put smallholder farmers at the heart of sustainable and inclusive development. These recommendations were made in the Palm Oil Barometer 2025, published by Solidaridad.
The report that focused on the global oil palm sector lamented that despite years of pledges and policies, there has been little large-scale success in genuinely including smallholder farmers in major policies. However, these farmers produce a significant share of the world’s palm oil but lack a priority in decision-making, ownership, and reward structures.
The Problem: Lack of Inclusion
The report cited by The High Street Journal draws attention to four core pillars of smallholder inclusion, which are ownership, voice, risk, and reward, and notes that progress across all four has been marginal. Despite corporate claims of sustainability, most procurement practices, financial systems, and policy frameworks remain skewed in favor of large actors, with smallholders shouldering high risks and reaping disproportionately low returns.
The Solution: Procurement for Prosperity
At the heart of Solidaridad’s call to action are four strategies for value chain actors, dubbed Procurement for Prosperity (PPPP). The approach is designed to shift the narrative from “sustainable sourcing” to inclusive procurement, rooted in fairness, equity, and shared benefit.
The following are the four strategies;
1. Policy
Companies must adopt clear internal policies that go beyond paper promises—committing to, and actually implementing, smallholder-inclusive practices across their supply chains.
2. Pricing
Solidaridad stresses the need for fair trading terms, including equitable pricing, prompt payment, and incentives for farmers who meet sustainability standards. “Sustainability must come with a price that reflects its value,” the report emphasizes.
3. Partnerships
A shift toward equal partnerships is essential. Companies should move from top-down procurement models to collaborative relationships with smallholders, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.
4. Programmes
Investments in smallholder development must become standard practice. This includes technical support, access to resources, and training to ensure that farmers can meet market requirements and thrive economically.
Shared Responsibility for Change
Solidaridad’s recommendations extend far beyond corporations. The international civil organization that operates in the palm oil, cocoa, and gold sectors is calling for a sector-wide effort, urging governments, multistakeholder initiatives, and financial institutions to play their part. It further calls on governments and policymakers to create an enabling policy environments that allow smallholders to thrive.
Moreover, they must include smallholders in national decision-making and sustainability policy design and ensure deforestation rules do not unintentionally exclude smallholders from global markets.
Solidaridad’s call reflects a growing consensus among sustainability experts that the palm oil sector must shift from compliance-driven measures to inclusive and equitable transformation.
