Rotterdam, Netherlands – September 10, 2024- The Executive Director and Market & Statistics Officer of the International Coconut Community (ICC) attended the 3rd Sustainable Vegetable Oils Conference (SVOC), held at the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Center. Co-organized by the Netherlands Oils and Fats Industry (MVO) and the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), this year’s event aimed to move beyond conventional trade shows and scientific forums by focusing on tangible solutions to address the industry's most urgent challenges.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Rizal Affandi Lukman, Secretary General of CPOPC, emphasized the critical role of vegetable oils in ensuring both global food security and the transition to green energy. The conference underscored a vital takeaway: all vegetable oils are indispensable for securing global food and energy supplies. However, the persistent discrimination against certain oils, particularly palm oil in Europe, remains a pressing concern. The widespread use of "palm oil free" labels in supermarkets undermines producers and adversely impacts those facing food insecurity.
The discussions at the conference 
delved into the challenges of boosting productivity amid a changing climate, aging agricultural infrastructure, and the urgent need for greater investment and technological innovation. The cocoa industry was highlighted as a prominent example of these challenges. Participants also examined the complexities arising from geopolitical factors, distribution constraints, and the surging demand driven by a growing global population.
A key theme throughout the conference was the necessity of adopting science-based, market-driven policies, rather than those based on ideology. The conference reaffirmed the essential role of all vegetable oils in food and energy security and recognized the efforts of producing countries and companies to enhance sustainability and product quality.
The evolving concept of sustainability also came under scrutiny, particularly the shift in the U.S. toward a focus on resilience, a concept that contrasts with European sustainability models. The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) was cited as an example of this divergence, and the absence of EU Commission representatives to engage in these critical discussions was noted. While EUDR compliance poses challenges for many industries including smallholder farmers, the absence of coconut in the current regulation shows recognition of its role in sustainable agriculture, and provides time for the sector to strengthen sustainable practices.
In the closing remarks, Pietro Paganini reflected on the progress made since the first SVOC meeting in Bali, which initially focused on palm oil due to its significant global impact. Today, the conference has expanded to encompass a diverse range of vegetable oils and producing countries, fostering more robust dialogue and a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. Looking ahead to the next SVOC, the Council aims to engage more directly with the challenges posed by the EUDR, with a clear mission to sustain and expand the dialogue on sustainable vegetable oils.