SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE
HARVESTS OF CHANGE
REPORT
IMPACT
MARCH 2026
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN
As of July 2021, P&G Brands use
100% RSPO certified
Palm and Palm Kernel Oils and derivatives.
P&G CENTER FOR
SUSTAINABLE
SMALL-OWNERS
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN
A COMMITMENT TO
SUSTAINABILITY
P&G is committed to the Responsible Sourcing of
Palm Oils. The P&G Smallholder Program recognizes
the importance of supporting independent
smallholder farmers and growers, empowering them
through certification and compliance, increasing
their overall yield through training and
implementation of best-in-class, sustainable, and
good agricultural practices.
DEVELOPING LEADERS
FOR ASIA AND BEYOND
The P&G Center for Sustainable Small-owners (CSS) was launched in 2019, funded by Procter & Gamble (P&G),
to deliver on its Ambition 2030 goals through the P&G smallholders initiative. Hosted as a research center at
Asia School of Business (ASB), CSS is committed to empowering and improving smallholders' livelihoods
through traceability, compliance and capacity building through training and implementation of sustainable and
best in class agricultural practices in accordance with global standards.
CSS also conducts data-driven research focusing on smallholders, shares findings and promotes knowledge
sharing among the stakeholders of the palm oil industry, through publications as well as local and international
conferences.
Established in 2015 with MIT Sloan, Asia School of
Business nurtures transformative leaders devoted
to making a global impact.
Its vision is to be a global knowledge hub, with
regional insights from Asia and the emerging world.
The CSS is hosted as a research center at the Asia
School of Business, and operates from the campus
in Kuala Lumpur, with a field office in Johor, a state
in Southern Peninsular Malaysia.
CONTENTS
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
ABOUT THIS REPORT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
P&G SMALLHOLDER PROGRAM
CSS IMPACT FRAMEWORK
CSS SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY
CSS KNOWLEDGE ECOSYSTEM
IMPACT AREAS
IMPACT OVERVIEW
IMPACT REPORT
IMPACT AREA 1: COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
IMPACT AREA 2: LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT
IMPACT AREA 3: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
IMPACT AREA 4: SOURCING RESPONSIBLY
IMPACT AREA 5: THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY
SPECIAL FEATURES
SPECIAL FEATURE 1: GROWING PEOPLE
SPECIAL FEATURE 2: GROWING INSTITUTIONS
LOOKING AHEAD
SCAN
for online copy
IMPACT REPORT
March 2026
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None of this would have been possible without the
commitment and trust of the many people and organi-
zations who have walked this journey with us. Our
farmers and their families. The field team who lives the
work daily. Our smallholder association, PERTANIAGA.
demonstrated the ability of farmers to organize
themselves from the ground up. Collection centers who
aggregate the fruit do not look at it as a zero-sum game.
We thank our consultants, researchers, government
agencies and industry partners who showed up and
stayed engaged. They didn't just contribute to the
achievements in this report, they helped generate the
knowledge that will continue to benefit others.
As we enter the next phase, we recognize that sustaina-
ble change in this sector cannot be achieved in silos.
The challenges are complex, systemic and tied to
external forces with little influence from us i.e., the
global market shifts and the regulatory evolution that
remains dynamic. We welcome new partnerships that
share our commitment to strengthening independent
smallholders and building more sustainable, transparent,
and resilient supply chains. By working together and
continuing to learn from one another, we can expand
the reach of proven approaches and create the kind of
impact that actually serves farming communities across
Malaysia.
This report is an invitation to look beyond the outcomes
and understand the systems that hold them together.
Notice the relationships that enable them. Understand
the knowledge that makes change possible. It is through
these foundations we hope that lasting impact will be
created. And this is where the next chapter of our
journey begins.
DR. ASAD ATA
DR. ASAD ATA
Professor of Practice, Operations and Supply Chain Management
Faculty Director, P&G Center for Sustainable Small-owners (CSS)
Research Affiliate, MIT Sloan School of Management
As the program matured and our methods evolved, so did
our understanding of what actually matters.
Early on, we thought the path was straightforward:
onboard farmers, collect their documents and data, certify
them, teach them good agricultural practices which will
improve their yields and so on. But we kept encountering
farmers whose change sustained long after the training
ended and others where change was short-lived. We
realized that this difference had little to do with the quality
of what we taught them, but everything to do with wheth-
er they were embedded in a network of peers doing the
same work, learning from one another, adapting
knowledge to their own farm and circumstances.
The practical knowledge generated through field experien-
ces from our Learning Farms (LeFa) turned out to be more
valuable than any single training program. Knowledge was
shaped by what farmers discovered on their own, as to
what worked better on their land, backed by CSS field
research, scaled through collaboration and that continuo-
usly improved in real time. That kind of knowledge not only
travelled, it sustained.
This report reflects that evolution. Rather than presenting
activities in isolation, it explores how knowledge translates
into action, how action creates measurable change, and
how the resulting experience continues to strengthen
farmers, communities, supply chains, and the broader sma-
llholder ecosystem. The metrics in this report are framed
differently from past reports, they show not just what was
achieved, but how knowledge made that achievement
possible.
CSS functions as both a delivery vehicle and a research
center. That dual role matters. We connect practical field
experience with academic inquiry. We take what happens
on the ground and test it through research. We take what
research reveals and translate it back into practice. P&G
provided the long-term vision and unwavering financial
support to make this possible. The institutional anchoring
we needed comes through Asia School of Business. With
this, CSS created an environment for its farmers where
implementation and learning continuously strengthen each
other in a virtous cycle.
MESSAGE FROM THE
DIRECTOR
Over the past six years, the P&G Smallholder
Program has tracked its progress the way most
initiatives do: through measurable milestones.
Farmers certified, farms traced; yield improved,
partnerships forged. The numbers matter as
they signal to the stakeholders about the action
on the ground is producing tangible traceable
results.
P&G CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE SMALL-OWNERS
KNOWLEDGE IS WHAT ALLOWS IMPACT TO CONTINUE
LONG AFTER IMPLEMENTATION ENDS.
This report marks an evolution from reporting program outputs of the P&G Smallholder
Program to understanding how our knowledge ecosystem creates lasting impact.
This Impact Report is not only about what the program
has achieved. It is about the lasting impact it has created,
and how knowledge became the foundation that has
made that impact possible.
REPORT
SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE
HARVESTS OF CHANGE
ABOUT THIS
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE
Over six years of implementation,
the program gradually developed a
deeper understanding of what
enables sustainable change among
independent smallholders. While
global sustainability standards
provided the starting point, lasting
progress depended on translating
these requirements into practical
knowledge that farmers, communi-
ties, and local partners could
understand, apply, and continuously
improve.
As the program evolved, knowledge
no longer flowed in a single
direction. Experience from
implementation generated new
evidence, research validated
practical approaches, digital
innovation strengthened delivery,
and collaborating partners
continuously reinforced each other.
Within this ecosystem,
certification became the key
driver, but not the final
destination.
It was one milestone in a broader
learning journey in which knowledge
was continuously generated, shared,
applied, sustained within
communities, and amplified through
research and partnerships, creating
value that extends well beyond
individual projects.
The most valuable thing the program cultivated was not certification
itself, but the knowledge that made it possible. And when knowledge
takes root, its impact continues to grow long after a project ends.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
KNOWLEDGE TAKES ROOT
Over six years, the P&G
Smallholder Program has
demonstrated that lasting
sustainability begins not with
certification, but with
knowledge. Certification
remains an important
milestone, but the program's
greatest contribution has
been creating the knowledge,
systems, leadership, and
partnerships that enable
sustainable practices to
continue long after
implementation.
The program has achieved and
inspired significant outcomes in
certification, traceability, capacity
building, and community
development. Yet as the program
evolved, so too did our
understanding of what was driving
these outcomes.
The real transformation was not
taking place in the milestones
achieved. Rather, change was visible
in farmers who confidently applied
new practices on their farms.
Transformation was evident in the
communities that organized
themselves to support one another
through PERTANIAGA. Leadership
emerged in farmer-led learning, local
leadership, research collaborations,
and the growing ability of
communities to sustain progress
beyond direct program support.
Over time, CSS itself evolved. What
began as a program implementation
team has progressively become a
platform for generating, validating,
applying, and sharing practical
knowledge. Today, implementation,
research, digital innovation, and
strategic partnerships reinforce one
another to create a knowledge
ecosystem that benefits not only
participating farmers but also
researchers, industry stakeholders,
policymakers, and future
sustainability initiatives.
The program was cultivating a
knowledge ecosystem, with global
sustainability standards as its
foundation from which:
farmers contributed valuable
local experience and practical
insights.
CSS connected knowledge,
people, and opportunities.
Research helped validate and
strengthen approaches.
communities and institutions
such as PERTANIAGA played an
increasingly important role in
sustaining and sharing
knowledge.
P&G, ASB and other partners
provided guidance and
alignment to elevate the team’s
efforts.
It was an ecosystem through which
knowledge was continuously
generated, applied, strengthened,
and amplified.
This concept forms the
foundation of this year's report
theme, Seeds of Knowledge,
Harvests of Change.
Seeds of Knowledge, Harvests of Change
Knowledge developed through practical farm experience
generated new evidence, which research validated. This
strengthened training and tools, promoting continuous
improvement and knowledge sharing. The insights from
the program have resulted in changes in five key areas:
stronger communities, enhanced livelihoods, improved
environmental stewardship, greater awareness of supply
chain transparency, and an extended impact beyond the
program itself.
HARVESTS OF CHANGE
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
890+
smallholders active in PERTANIAGA
LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT
20–30%
yield improvement after two years
USD 129,000
premiums distributed to 892
farmers (2021–2025)
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
1,071.55 ha
brought under certification
SOURCING RESPONSIBLY
1,106
certified farms mapped and traced
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY
research outputs, publications and technical
resources developed and shared
Field implementation informing research, partnerships, and wider industry learning
Farmer-to-farmer learning and growing community leadership
Better record-keeping, yield monitoring, and informed farm management
Greater adoption of sustainable farming practices among certified smallholders
Sawit360 improving traceability and regulatory readiness
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Knowledge in Action
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
LOOKING AHEAD
As CSS enters its next phase, its role
is increasingly shifting from program
delivery to strengthening the know-
ledge ecosystem that supports ISHs.
Through research, digital innovation,
community leadership, strategic
partnerships, and evidence-based
implementation, CSS is progressively
developing its capacity to bridge
global sustainability expectations
with local implementation realities.
However, many approaches remain
at different stages of maturity and
must be tested, monitored, and
adapted before wider expansion.
The journey ahead will involve
scaling what has worked while
strengthening what remains
incomplete. Community ownership
and local leadership are growing, but
PERTANIAGA requires further
capability development to operate
more independently. Adoption of
improved farming practices remains
uneven, environmental outcomes
require longer-term evidence, and
digitalization must respond to
differences in user readiness,
infrastructure, and collection center
operations. Expansion into new
communities and areas will require
adaptation rather than replication.
This report presents progress made
through the collective efforts of
farmers, communities, partners,
researchers, and practitioners. It also
highlights the complexity of sustain-
ing change beyond certification,
particularly where technical support,
reliable data, institutional capacity,
and farmer participation remain
essential. The next phase will be
shaped not only by the knowledge
generated so far, but by CSS’s
willingness to assess what has
worked, address what has
progressed more slowly, and
continue learning alongside the
communities it serves. These are the
foundations for more resilient,
inclusive, and lasting impact.
10
CSS Inaugural Research Day in November 2025, on the sidelines of the Annual RSPO Roundtable
2025 (RT2025) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Dr. Asad Ata participated in a Panel Session during RT2025
CSS, P&G and PERTANIAGA representatives during RT2025
Prof Joe Cherian, ASB’s CEO, President,
Dean, and Distinguished Professor at the
CSS Research Day
Dr. Lee Kuan-Chun, P&G’s Principal Scientist
at the CSS Research Day
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
11
Smallholders doing groupwork during a CSS training
session
Launch of “Pak Hamid’s Sustainability Journey” Comic Book
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CSS Training to Smallholders in Pahang
KITA KITAR: Raising community
awareness on recycling and waste
management
Smallholder outreach to provide
guidance and support
P&G SMALLHOLDER
PROGRAM
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The P&G Smallholder Program was established to strengthen responsible
sourcing by supporting independent oil palm smallholders (ISHs) in
adopting sustainable farming practices, improving productivity, and
meeting internationally recognized sustainability standards.
Since its launch in 2019, the Program has been delivered by the P&G Center
for Sustainable Small-owners (CSS) through a collaboration between
Procter & Gamble (P&G) and the Asia School of Business (ASB).
As the Program evolved, so too has the role of CSS. What began as a center
focused on implementing certification and ISH farmer support is
progressively evolving into a platform for generating, applying, and sharing
knowledge. By connecting field implementation with research, digital
innovation, and cross-sector collaboration, CSS is laying the foundation for
a model where knowledge not only supports farmers, but also strengthens
industry practice and informs the future of sustainable smallholder
development.
From Translating Knowledge to Building a Sustainable Ecosystem
The first six years of the program reflect an evolution not only in scale, but in
how knowledge is created, applied, and shared. What began as the
translation of global sustainability standards into practical field guidance has
progressively developed into a collaborative ecosystem where farmers,
researchers, industry partners, and institutions continuously learn from one
another to improve smallholder sustainability.
2019-2021
TRANSLATING GLOBAL
KNOWLEDGE
2022-2024
APPLYING AND
ADAPTING KNOWLEDGE
2025-2026
GENERATING AND
AMPLIFYING
KNOWLEDGE
CSS KNOWLEDGE JOURNEY
(2019-2030)
2027-2030
SUSTAINING AND
SCALING KNOWLEDGE
2019–2021
Translating Global Knowledge
The program was established to
bridge the gap between global
sustainability requirements and the
realities faced by ISHs in Malaysia.
During this foundational phase, CSS
translated the Roundtable for
Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) ISH
Standard 2019 into practical training,
farm-level guidance, and a
structured certification pathway
suited to local conditions. The
establishment of a smallholder
association Pertubuhan Tani Niaga
Lestari Negeri Johor (PERTANIAGA)
and the successful certification of
Malaysia's first ISH group under the
RSPO ISH Standard demonstrated
that global sustainability
expectations could be successfully
implemented within local farming
communities.
2025–2026
Generating and Amplifying
Knowledge
The program entered a new phase
focused on sustaining impact
beyond individual projects. Farmer
leadership is strengthened through
Agri-Ambassadors and Section
Heads under PERTANIAGA, a digital
application, Sawit360, was launched
supporting knowledge management
and traceability, while applied
research, publications, and
partnerships continue to capture
and disseminate lessons from the
field. As regulatory expectations
evolve through initiatives such as
EUDR and growing ESG
requirements, CSS aims to
increasingly serve as a bridge
between global market expectations
and local implementation, helping
ensure that smallholders remain
active participants in sustainable
and resilient palm oil supply chains.
2022–2024
Applying and Adapting Knowledge
With the foundations in place, the
program expanded its focus from
certification to continuous improve-
ment. Farmer training broadened to
include Good Agricultural Practices,
environmental stewardship,
traceability, and in 2023, community
awareness through the Diffusion
Initiative, while Learning Farms
created practical demonstration
sites for peer learning. Strategic
partnerships strengthened the
program delivery, bringing progress
to environmental and traceability
initiatives, and enabled CSS to begin
documenting lessons through
research, posters, books and its
inaugural Impact Report in 2023.
During this period, knowledge flowed
in both directions - global standards
informed local practice, while field
experience generated new evidence
and practical solutions.
CSS KNOWLEDGE JOURNEY
P&G SMALLHOLDER PROGRAM
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CSS SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY
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ALIGNED WITH
UN SDGs
ESG Principles
RSPO Impact Areas
P&G Ambition 2030
▼
COMMUNITY
EMPOWERMENT
LIVELIHOOD
IMPROVEMENT
15,000
DIFFUSED ISH
FARMERS
PERTANIAGA
TRANSFORMATION
(COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT)
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
▼
EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES &
ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY
Increasing overall yield through training & implementation
of sustainable agricultural practices
FRAMEWORK
* Key targets have been revised for 2026-2030
SOURCING RESPONSIBLY &
IMPROVING LIVELIHOODS
2,000
CERTIFIED ISH FARMERS
BY 2030
PEER-TO-PEER
TRAINING ON
LEARNING FARMS
INCREASED
TRACEABILITY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN,
FOR CERTIFICATION READINESS
DATA & DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATION FOR FARMERS
AND COLLECTION CENTERS
CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT
RESEARCH
AND ADVISORY
▼
Supporting Malaysian independent oil palm smallholders
through certification & compliance
PROGRAM GOALS
PROGRAM IMPACTS
▼
PROGRAM STRATEGIES AND KNOWLEDGE ECOSYSTEM
DIFFUSION & AWARENESS
TRACEABILITY
CERTIFICATION
LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
RESEARCH FOR IMPACT
DIGITALIZATION
Conducting research that contributes to meaningful
action on the ground and creating a positive impact
RESEARCH FOR IMPACT
Expanding impact through diffusion of sustainable & good
agricultural practices to the broader smallholder communities
DIFFUSION & DISSEMINATION
PARTNERSHIPS
AND GEOGRAPHICAL EXPANSION
The CSS Sustainability Journey is underpinned by the CSS Knowledge Ecosystem, which explains how knowledge flows through the
program to enable the Sustainability Journey and ultimately create impact.
CSS KNOWLEDGE ECOSYSTEM
Knowledge empowers
people.
Knowledge strengthens
livelihoods.
Knowledge shapes
responsible practices.
SOURCING
RESPONSIBLY
Knowledge enables
transparency.
THOUGHT
LEADERSHIP
& ADVOCACY
Knowledge creates
broader impact.
CSS IMPACT
P&G SMALLHOLDER PROGRAM
see page 13 for full diagram
14
see page 12 for full diagram
PROGRAM TARGETS
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The CSS team guides the independent
smallholder farmers through a comprehensive
learning process, from commitment to
certification and livelihood improvement with
continuous improvement post-certification,
including training ambassadors for the program.
CSS SUSTAINABILITY
JOURNEY
How We Deliver
At the heart of the smallholder
program is the CSS
Sustainability Journey, a
framework developed by the
CSS team based on global
sustainable and good
agricultural practices, and
guided by Malaysian Sustainable
Palm Oil (MSPO) and RSPO
standards and documents.
This sustainability journey
provides a practical pathway for
smallholders to progressively
build their knowledge,
capabilities, and confidence,
enabling them to advance from
awareness and adoption
towards sustained ownership of
sustainable practices. The
journey also provides structure
to the CSS team, creating a
simple, streamlined process for
the work and engagements they
do with smallholders.
Strategic Partnerships
Advancing smallholder
sustainability requires more than
technical support; it requires
collaboration across the entire
ecosystem.
The CSS Sustainability Journey
is an evolving framework that
guides the P&G Smallholder
Program where each pillar brings
together multiple stakeholders
from industry, academia,
government agencies, farmer
organizations, and community
partners to strengthen market
readiness, improve sustainability
performance, and generate
evidence that informs future
practice. This collaborative
model enables knowledge to
move beyond individual farms,
supporting broader adoption of
sustainable agriculture while
contributing to more resilient
and responsible global palm oil
supply chains.
P&G SMALLHOLDER PROGRAM
15
KNOWLEDGE APPLICATION
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP),
traceability and certification
KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Training, mentoring, technical
guidance and partnerships
KNOWLEDGE AMPLIFICATION
Research, publications, thought
leadership and replication
KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
Smallholder leadership, peer learning and
farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange
Curriculum, research, guidance tools
and implementation frameworks
KNOWLEDGE CREATION
IMPACT REALIZED
EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES
IMPROVED LIVELIHOODS
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING
INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP
CSS KNOWLEDGE ECOSYSTEM
WHERE KNOWLEDGE TAKES ROOT, GROWS AND
CREATES LASTING IMPACT
16
CSS KNOWLEDGE
ECOSYSTEM
P&G SMALLHOLDER PROGRAM
Knowledge is crucial for an effective Sustainability Journey
The CSS Knowledge Ecosystem facilitates this journey and drives the achievement of the
program’s targets and goals by integrating knowledge creation, transfer, application, exchange,
and research. This continuous learning system supports program delivery, farmer development,
and evidence-based improvements. As knowledge circulates among the CSS team and its
consultants, implementers, partners, and the smallholder farming communities, new insights
enhance program design and effectiveness, contributing to broader outcomes.
Knowledge strengthens livelihoods. Certification and improved practices have contributed to farmers increasing
their yields by up to 30% and access over USD 129,000 in premiums. These outcomes enhance financial resilience,
uplift rural livelihoods, and through knowledge and practical skills, increase the individual and community
confidence and motivation for a longer-term outlook. In 2026, the program is shifting from helping farmers
achieve certification to helping them sustain and maximize the economic benefits that certification can generate.
LIVELIHOOD
IMPROVEMENT
COMMUNITY
EMPOWERMENT
Knowledge empowers people. The program fosters inclusive community leadership through the establishment of
PERTANIAGA, an ISH-led association supporting over 890 members, of whom 41% are women. Training, peer-
learning, and a growing network of agri-ambassadors and section heads have helped build grassroots capacity
and promote participatory governance among independent smallholders. In 2026, the communities are
increasingly taking ownership of knowledge sharing and program implementation, reducing long-term
dependence on CSS.
COMMUNITY
EMPOWERMENT
Knowledge shapes responsible practices. RSPO certification has embedded sustainable agricultural practices
across the community, with over 892 farmers adopting measures such as peatland protection and waste
management. These efforts are supported by CSS’s Continuous Improvement program, which helps farmers
maintain climate-resilient practices beyond certification. In 2026, CSS is moving beyond implementation to
generating long-term evidence on what sustainable farming practices deliver in real-world smallholder settings.
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
Knowledge enables transparency. The program strengthens sourcing responsibility through traceability and
verification of farms and digitalization of the supply chain, enabling smallholders to comply with NDPE policies and
upcoming regulations such as the EUDR. This secures their place in ethical supply chains and enhances market
competitiveness. In 2026, the program’s focus on traceability is evolving from a certification requirement into a
strategic capability that strengthens supply chain transparency and future market access.
SOURCING
RESPONSIBLY
Knowledge creates broader impact. CSS contributes to industry knowledge through its thought leadership,
research outputs, publications and policy advocacy. Through local and international engagements, sharing
research findings, delivering our training curricula, and via industry conversations and platforms, CSS advocates to
strengthen the support structures for smallholder inclusion in sustainable palm oil. In 2026, the program is
increasingly focused on amplifying knowledge beyond participating farmers and contributing to broader industry
learning and sharing.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
AND ADVOCACY
P&G SMALLHOLDER PROGRAM
IMPACT
AREAS
17
P&G SMALLHOLDER PROGRAM
METRIC/
DESCRIPTION
MEASUREMENT
VALUE
[2019-March 2026)
Metrics Evolution Highlights
(as at end March 2026)
COMMUNITY
EMPOWERMENT
Establishment of ISH
association,
community leadership,
training, outreach and
learning opportunities,
and women
participation.
Number of ISHs in
PERTANIAGA
membership
% of women in
PERTANIAGA leadership
roles
Number of farmers
trained on GAP
Number of Agri-
ambassadors
Number of Ketua
Bahagian (Section
Heads, or KB) trained
Number of collaborating
agencies
892 members
38%
6,515 ISH
no longer applicable#
40 ISH
26
PERTANIAGA transition
towards more self-
management model (CSS
transition to advisory role)
Diffusion model targeting
15,000 ISH through
farmer-to-farmer
knowledge transfer
Expansion of partnerships
and outreach through
engagement with district
farmer organizations,
small and medium
enterprises, universities
and strategic networks.
LIVELIHOOD
IMPROVEMENT
Certification brings
positive environmental
impact, through
increased yield, fruit
quality and reduced
costs. It also provides
access to RSPO
Premium.
Number of ISH Certified
with RSPO ISH Standard
2019
Number of certified
farms
Hectarage of certified
area
% of Yield Improvement
Amount of RSPO
Premium received
Number of ISH
receiving Premium
Amount of fertilizer
distributed
Number of farms in
fertilizer supply chain
program
892 ISH (5 groups)
1,106 farms
1,071.55 Ha
Range 20-25%, up
to 30%
USD 129 thousand
892 ISH (2021-2025)
341 tonnes (since
2023)
352 farms
Due to the number of
certified ISH, there was a
shift in program focus
from helping farmers
achieve certification to
helping them sustain and
maximize the economic
benefits that certification
can generate.
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
Certification brings
positive environmental
impact through the
implementation of
Good Agricultural
Practices and
controlled
management of peat,
waste, chemicals and
nutrients (soil).
Area of Final
Conservation Liability
(Ha)
Number of Learning
Farms established
Chemical management
tracking
Number of peat farms
monitored
Indicators monitored
Waste collected (Kita
KITAR program)
Number of ISH trained
on waste management
Zero
252 farms
1,106 farms
303 farms
Water table (monthly)
Soil subsidence
(annually)
Fire (daily)
760 kg (since 2024)
892 ISH
Establishment of Learning
Farm Database (LFD) for
long-term monitoring.
Vegetative growth, soil,
foliar and trunk sampling
across Learning Farms.
Biannual GAP
Quantification Audits
(GQA).
Continuous Improvement
program supporting
adoption of sustainable
farming practices.
IMPACT
OVERVIEW
18
Note: Unless otherwise stated, program metrics are cumulative from 2019 to 31 March 2026 and are drawn from CSS operational records, certified smallholder
records, collection center data and program research. Research findings may relate to defined samples and should not be interpreted as representing every
participating smallholder. The report has not been independently assured.
# The CSS Agri-Ambassador initiative was highlighted in the CSS Impact Report of March 2025 as a community empowerment program launched in 2024. In
2025, with the introduction of the Ketua Bahagian (KB) initiative, the responsibilities of the Agri-Ambassador role became integrated into the KB's duties.
P&G SMALLHOLDER PROGRAM
METRIC/
DESCRIPTION
MEASUREMENT
VALUE
[end March 2026)
Metrics Evolution HIghlights
(as at end March 2026)
SOURCING
RESPONSIBLY
Traceability is a critical
first step toward
meeting sustainable
supply chain
requirements and
ensuring long-term
market access for
ISHs, providing proof
of origin, legality, and
responsible
production.
Number of traced and
verified ISH
Number of traced and
verified farms
Hectarage of traced
and verified area
Peat farms (and area)
traced and verified
Mineral farms (and area)
traced and verified
Percentage of farms
traced that have
achieved certification
TTP solution integration
completed in collection
centers (NEW)
1,499 ISH
1,856 farms
1,687.24 Ha
439 farms (536.16 Ha)
1,327 farms (1,151.08
Ha)
60%
2 collection centers
Established the
foundation for
sustainability readiness
through standardized data
management and
Traceability-to-Plantation
(TTP)
Strengthened collection
center capabilities via
monitoring, coaching, and
traceability advisory
support
Prepared collection
centers for digital
integration through CSS
digital application
Enhanced traceability and
data governance to
support EUDR and future
sustainability
requirements
THOUGHT
LEADERSHIP AND
ADVOCACY
Progress on promoting
environmentally
sustainable practices
through knowledge
creation and sharing.
Number of research
posters, papers, and
articles
Number of publications
STA Master Trainers in
CSS team
20 research outputs
(13 posters, 3 working
papers, 4 articles
10 publications
(4 books, 2 curricula,
1 comic and 3 reports)
9 STA Master Trainers
Continued development
of modular training
content
Research and monitoring
through LFD
Increasing focus on
amplifying knowledge
beyond participating
farmers and contributing
to broader industry
sharing.
19
Note: Unless otherwise stated, program metrics are cumulative from 2019 to 31 March 2026 and are drawn from CSS operational records, certified smallholder
records, collection center data and program research. Research findings may relate to defined samples and should not be interpreted as representing every
participating smallholder. The report has not been independently assured.
SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE
HARVESTS OF CHANGE
20