Indonesia's Diplomatic Achievements in Promoting Sustainable Vegetable Oil
Jakarta, January 27, 2021 - As the country with the largest palm oil production in Southeast Asia, Indonesia has sought to eliminate the negative campaign against the fast-growing oil palm in the European Union, one through the implementation of the First Joint Working Group (JWG) on Palm Oil between ASEAN and the European Union on January 27, 2021.
JWG is an agreement that has been initiated since January 2019, but can only be agreed on December 1, 2021 at the 23rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting with the European Union. Indonesia has succeeded in expanding the scope of the JWG discussion to all vegetable oils, not just palm oil and agrees to see the challenges in vegetable oil seen in the parameters of achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development target.
The first JWG is co-chaired by Indonesia and the European Union and attended by Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.
The meeting was an achievement of Indonesia's diplomacy which succeeded in placing the discussion of palm oil sustainability at a level equal to that of other vegetable oils, such as canola oil, sunflower oil, olive oil and soybean oil.
This confirms that to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 agenda, a holistic and non-discriminatory discussion of all vegetable oils is required.
"The challenge of sustainable development is how we can minimize new land clearing and increase the effectiveness of existing land, considering that demand for vegetable oil will continue to increase in the future," said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Mahendra Siregar, in his opening speech.
The European Union also agrees that the continuous clearing of new land will have an adverse impact on the environment and on the diversity of existing flora and fauna. ASEAN and the EU need to discuss this in depth.
"It is hoped that this JWG can develop joint policies to achieve sustainable vegetable oil for ASEAN and the EU. I also hope that in the future, ASEAN and the EU can develop jointly recognized certification of vegetable oil, "said the Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister.
The inaugural JWG meeting attended by delegates from ASEAN and the EU has discussed the scope of vegetable oil, data and information, as well as proposals for technical cooperation that need to be prepared for discussion at the second JWG meeting which is planned to be held on 19 April 2021. This first meeting has determined that coverage of discussions that need to be held together to promote a perspective on the protection of vegetable oils for global needs and their contribution to environmental protection
Read Original Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Download Press Release from the first meeting of the EU-ASEAN JWG on vegetable oils. Excerpt:
"Participants engaged in open, frank and productive initial discussions on sustainable
vegetable oils. In order to meet sustainability goals, including those related to the UN
Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals, participants in the working
group acknowledged the importance of addressing sustainability at the level of
vegetable oils in general, and palm oil in particular, to address the challenges in this
important sector, notably through:
1. Establishing a dialogue on the challenges faced in sustainable vegetable
oil production;
2. Ensuring that the environmental challenges within the palm oil sector are mutually
understood with a view to addressing them in a holistic, transparent and nondiscriminatory manner;
3. Sharing relevant information on sustainable vegetable oil production and
contribute towards a better mutual understanding of the sustainability criteria and
the process of certification for vegetable oils, and the overarching framework
provided by the Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals;
4. Discussing and considering possible technical cooperation to underpin this
process, which may include: collaboration to promote sustainability efforts and
practices in the palm oil industry, especially for smallholders; and studies or
research on sustainability criteria and certification of vegetable oils.
JWG is an agreement that has been initiated since January 2019, but can only be agreed on December 1, 2021 at the 23rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting with the European Union. Indonesia has succeeded in expanding the scope of the JWG discussion to all vegetable oils, not just palm oil and agrees to see the challenges in vegetable oil seen in the parameters of achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development target.
The first JWG is co-chaired by Indonesia and the European Union and attended by Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.
The meeting was an achievement of Indonesia's diplomacy which succeeded in placing the discussion of palm oil sustainability at a level equal to that of other vegetable oils, such as canola oil, sunflower oil, olive oil and soybean oil.
This confirms that to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 agenda, a holistic and non-discriminatory discussion of all vegetable oils is required.
"The challenge of sustainable development is how we can minimize new land clearing and increase the effectiveness of existing land, considering that demand for vegetable oil will continue to increase in the future," said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Mahendra Siregar, in his opening speech.
The European Union also agrees that the continuous clearing of new land will have an adverse impact on the environment and on the diversity of existing flora and fauna. ASEAN and the EU need to discuss this in depth.
"It is hoped that this JWG can develop joint policies to achieve sustainable vegetable oil for ASEAN and the EU. I also hope that in the future, ASEAN and the EU can develop jointly recognized certification of vegetable oil, "said the Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister.
The inaugural JWG meeting attended by delegates from ASEAN and the EU has discussed the scope of vegetable oil, data and information, as well as proposals for technical cooperation that need to be prepared for discussion at the second JWG meeting which is planned to be held on 19 April 2021. This first meeting has determined that coverage of discussions that need to be held together to promote a perspective on the protection of vegetable oils for global needs and their contribution to environmental protection
Read Original Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Download Press Release from the first meeting of the EU-ASEAN JWG on vegetable oils. Excerpt:
"Participants engaged in open, frank and productive initial discussions on sustainable
vegetable oils. In order to meet sustainability goals, including those related to the UN
Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals, participants in the working
group acknowledged the importance of addressing sustainability at the level of
vegetable oils in general, and palm oil in particular, to address the challenges in this
important sector, notably through:
1. Establishing a dialogue on the challenges faced in sustainable vegetable
oil production;
2. Ensuring that the environmental challenges within the palm oil sector are mutually
understood with a view to addressing them in a holistic, transparent and nondiscriminatory manner;
3. Sharing relevant information on sustainable vegetable oil production and
contribute towards a better mutual understanding of the sustainability criteria and
the process of certification for vegetable oils, and the overarching framework
provided by the Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals;
4. Discussing and considering possible technical cooperation to underpin this
process, which may include: collaboration to promote sustainability efforts and
practices in the palm oil industry, especially for smallholders; and studies or
research on sustainability criteria and certification of vegetable oils.