Sabah: Pioneering Sustainable Palm Oil For A Greener Future

Sabah is transforming the palm oil industry through groundbreaking sustainable practices, proving that development and conservation can go hand in hand.

Rebuilding Forests Through Sustainable Palm Oil in Sabah

Many visitors to Sabah are understandably concerned about the widespread presence of oil palm plantations and the loss of forests. However, what many don’t realise is that Sabah is leading a groundbreaking transformation to become a sustainable palm oil producing state on a global stage.. As one of only three global pilots (alongside Ecuador and Indonesia), Sabah is implementing the Jurisdictional Approach for Sustainable Palm Oil (JASPO), working towards statewide certification for sustainable practices.

This innovative model ensures that economic development, environmental protection, and social equity are pursued together. With this approach, Sabah is setting an example for the world, turning public concern into opportunities for progressive change in sustainable agriculture.

Sabah’s Palm Oil in Numbers

Palm oil is not just an agricultural commodity for Sabah — it is a lifeline for over 32,000 smallholders and communities who depend on it for their livelihoods. Compared to alternatives like soybean and rapeseed oil, palm oil is significantly more efficient, producing up to 10 times more oil per hectare. This means less land is required to meet global demand. In contrast, switching to these other alternatives of vegetable oil would result in much larger deforestation and loss of biodiversity.

Recognising this, Sabah is pioneering the Jurisdictional Approach to ensure that palm oil production supports local communities while protecting forests and wildlife, leading the way toward a sustainable future.

Addressing Common Myths About Palm Oil

Sabah’s Jurisdictional Approach: A Global Solution

The Jurisdictional Approach is a revolutionary framework designed to address sustainability at a regional level, ensuring all stakeholders work together toward shared environmental, social, and economic goals.

Key Features:

• Scale: Covers all palm oil production - from planting to processing - in Sabah, ensuring every drop of oil meets rigorous sustainability standards like RSPO certification
• Collaboration: Includes governments, NGOs, smallholders, indigenous communities, and industry leaders
• Impact: Combines conservation efforts with sustainable economic growth, balancing progress and preservation

Why It Matters:
Unlike traditional approaches, which certify individual plantations, the Jurisdictional Approach ensures that sustainable practices are adopted across entire landscapes with multi-stakeholder involvement from government authorities, industry players and NGOs. This holistic solution addresses root problems like deforestation while benefiting local communities.

Learn more about the Jurisdictional Approach and its significance from a global context here.

The Three Pillars of Sustainable Palm Oil

Sabah’s Jurisdictional Approach focuses on three critical dimensions of sustainability:

JASPO: Sabah’s Vision for Certified Sustainable Palm Oil

The Sabah Jurisdictional Certification of Sustainable Palm Oil (JASPO) initiative is paving the way for a sustainable future, with the goal of making Sabah the first state in the world to achieve jurisdictional certification.

Key Highlights:

• Certifying All Plantations: Aiming for 100% RSPO certification in Sabah, ensuring compliance with stringent sustainability standards
• Global Support: Recognised and supported by international bodies, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Swiss government
• Collaborative Leadership: Bringing together government agencies, industry players, conservationists, and communities for a unified effort

Milestones:

• RSPO Recognition: Sabah has achieved Step 1 of the RSPO Jurisdictional Approach, laying the foundation for statewide certification
• Stakeholder Engagement: Enhanced collaboration among diverse stakeholders, fostering a unified approach to sustainable palm oil production

Be Part of the Solution

You can support Sabah’s efforts by:

• Choosing RSPO-Certified Products: Look for the RSPO logo when shopping
• Sharing Knowledge: Spread awareness of sustainable palm oil and Sabah’s initiatives
• Visiting Sabah: Experience firsthand how conservation and development co-exist

Learn how Sabah is transforming the palm oil industry with the Jurisdictional Approach. Explore the Sabah JASPO Initiative on Facebook and LinkedIn and how sustainable palm oil protects forests, wildlife, and communities.