REA Launches SPACE Programme to Strengthen Smallholder Partnerships

Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, October 10, 2025 — PT REA KALTIM PLANTATIONS (REA) marked an important milestone in its commitment to inclusive and sustainable palm oil through the official launch of the Smallholder Partnership AcCEleration (SPACE) Programme and the handover of STDB (Surat Tanda Daftar Budidaya) and SPPL (Surat Pernyataan Pengelolaan Lingkungan) certifications to independent smallholders under the SmallHolder Inclusion for Ethical Sourcing (SHINES) Programme. The ceremony took place at the Kecamatan Kembang Janggut Government Hall and was attended by the Bupati Kutai Kartanegara, Dinas Perkebunan Kabupaten Kutai Kartanegara, Dinas Koperasi, UKM Kabupaten Kutai Kartanegara, Camat Kembang Janggut, Camat Tabang, together with representatives from cooperatives, village heads and farmer groups.

SPACE: Partnerships for Sustainable Futures

Through SPACE, REA is building strong and lasting partnerships with farmers, cooperatives, and villages. The programme focuses on four core areas, namely, strengthening smallholder inclusion, improving farmers’ livelihoods, driving community economic development, and protecting forests. 

In its first phase, SPACE will engage with Kembang Janggut Village, the Merah Putih Cooperative, and more than 100 farmers. Smallholders will benefit from a faster payment mechanism that reduces waiting times, training in sustainable good agricultural practices, technical support for replanting, and opportunities for responsible replanting and new planting on legal non-forest land.

By working directly with cooperatives and village-owned smallholders, SPACE also aims to contribute to community development, stimulate entrepreneurship, and strengthen local economies. At the same time, the programme reinforces forest protection by ensuring that palm oil supply chains are traceable and legally compliant, preventing expansion into protected areas.

“SPACE is not just another programme, it represents a new way of working hand-in-hand with farmers and communities,” said Luke Robinow, President Director of REA. “We want smallholders to be partners in shaping the future with us. That is why SPACE focuses on helping farmers improve their income, providing replanting support to enhance yields sustainably, and offering training that builds real skills. The goal is simple: farmers, communities, environment and the business progress together.”

In addition, the ceremony was also marked by the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) under the SPACE programme, strengthening cooperation at the village, cooperative, and smallholder levels. The MOUs were signed by Ardiansyah, Head of Kembang Janggut Village, representing the village government; Yadi, S.Pd, Chairman of the Merah Putih Kembang Janggut Cooperative, representing the cooperatives; and Anwar, from Berkat–Kembang Janggut Village, representing independent smallholders. These MOUs reflect the shared commitment of villages, cooperatives, smallholders, and REA to strengthen partnerships through SPACE, fostering inclusive collaboration and sustainable palm oil development in Kutai Kartanegara.

Continuing Supply Chain Inclusivity Through SHINES

Alongside the SPACE launch, REA celebrated an important achievement of the SHINES Programme. Since its launch in October 2024, SHINES has partnered with five cooperatives: Koperasi Perkebunan Belayan Sejahtera, Koperasi Perkebunan Bina Wana Sejahtera, Koperasi Perkebunan Gotong Royong, Koperasi Perkebunan Karya Peno’on, and Koperasi Perkebunan Tunas Harapan.

At today’s ceremony, 173 smallholders submitted STDB applications, 105 e-STDB have already been issued by the Plantation Agency of Kutai Kartanegara, and 59 SPPL were successfully facilitated. In addition, REA has supported RSPO readiness by registering 103 farmers from two cooperatives, covering a total of 279.6 hectares, and has also supported EUDR readiness for 256 smallholders with a total area of 1,016.94 hectares.

These documents are essential to strengthening farmers’ capacity to meet sustainability standards such as RSPO certification, while also preparing them to comply with national and international regulations such as the EUDR and to be part of the global deforestation-free supply chain. By securing these certifications, smallholders are better equipped to access formal markets, enhance yields, and achieve long-term economic stability.

“For smallholders, STDB and SPPL are more than compliance documents. They are proof of legal recognition, a requirement for certification, and an entry point to global markets,” said dr. Aulia Rahma Basri, M.Kes Bupati of Kutai Kartanegara. “By working together, farmers, cooperatives, government, and REA are ensuring that palm oil from Kutai Kartanegara is recognised as both legal and sustainable.”

One smallholder, Erwinsyah. K shared, “Before, many of us were uncertain whether our land would be formally recognised and whether buyers would accept our fruit. With STDB and SPPL, we now have legality, recognition, and new opportunities. Through SHINES and SPACE, this gives us more confidence that our harvest will be accepted, and that our families can rely on a steadier income.

The Village Head of Kembang Janggut, Ardiansyah, also underlined the importance of collaboration. “In our village, palm oil is the main livelihood. With support from SHINES and SPACE, farmers are learning how to manage their land responsibly while gaining access to legal documents and training. This has helped strengthen our cooperative, and at the same time, given the community a sense of pride that our palm oil can meet international standards.”

Commitment to Inclusive Growth

By launching the SPACE Programme alongside the SHINES certification handover, REA emphasised a holistic approach to inclusive growth, where smallholders are provided with more opportunities to participate in building sustainable futures.

These initiatives form part of REA’s Empowering Livelihoods pillar, one of four strategic pillars in our sustainability framework alongside Sustainable Development, Climate Action, and Forest Conservation. Empowering Livelihoods reflects our commitment to working with smallholders and local communities, providing them with access to resources, training, and financial support to strengthen their resilience and enhance long-term opportunities. 

“We want smallholders who work with REA to have both legal recognition and better livelihoods as they progress together with us,” said Dr Bremen Yong, Group Chief Sustainability Officer. “SPACE gives farmers practical support such as improved payment mechanisms and replanting assistance, while SHINES helps them meet legal and environmental requirements. Taken together, these efforts create meaningful changes, that gives farmers the stability to plan ahead and help communities to secure a better livelihood for their families.” 

Through SPACE and SHINES, REA is demonstrating how partnerships rooted in trust can deliver real impact for people, communities, and forests. This milestone continues REA’s efforts to strengthen smallholder livelihoods, community development, and forest protection, while building a more sustainable supply chain for the future.