SNV at RSPO RT 2025: Driving regenerative agriculture with smallholders

At the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil 2025 (RT25), SNV joined hundreds of sustainability leaders in Kuala Lumpur for three days from 3-5 November 2025 to explore how palm oil can move beyond “sustainable” toward regenerative. From government actors and civil society partners to smallholder associations, all shared the sector’s most urgent priorities: How do we advance sustainable agriculture beyond production toward ecosystem restoration and resilient smallholder livelihoods?

With regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) reshaping global trade, the pressure to adopt sustainable, traceable, and forest-positive practices has never been greater. However, for smallholders who produce over 40% of Indonesia’s palm oil these requirements can become barriers unless they are supported meaningfully.

Over 100 participants stopped by the SNV booth to learn how smallholders in Indonesia are already leading this shift through practical, regenerative actions that improve soil health, enhance climate resilience, and stabilise household economies. We shared our long-standing work with farming communities across rural landscapes, where we promote soil-restoring practices, from cover cropping to reduced tillage, as the foundation of long-term productivity. However, we also stressed that regeneration cannot succeed without financial resilience. Replanting periods often create income gaps that make sustainable choices harder to maintain, so SNV supports farmers through business development services that strengthen financial literacy, diversify income streams, and connect them to market opportunities.

SNV's agroforestry models also highlight the importance of inclusivity. Inclusivity it promoted by creating pathways for women to participate in production activities such as intercrops, nurseries, and micro-enterprises while improving biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Three insights emerged strongly from our discussions at RT2025. First, regeneration must be financially viable for smallholders, meaning supply chains must reward better practices—not just demand them. Second, smallholders are innovators who already experiment with regenerative solutions adapted to their land. And third, meaningful scale can only occur when governments, markets, and communities move forward together.

The conversations at RSPO RT2025 were not just a moment, they were a momentum. And SNV is returning to the field with new partnerships, renewed commitment, and a shared vision with hundreds of others who believe in a regenerative future for palm oil