Vertical Integration of the Palm Oil Sustainable Global Value Chains in Indonesia and Thailand

Summary

This PhD thesis focuses on unfolding the role of local context and dynamics on the potential success of globally agreed sustainability initiatives, particularly certified agricultural value chains. By deepening the understanding of the local structure of the palm oil sector and related market dynamics and relationships between actors in the upstream palm oil value chain, this study aims to verify the implementation of vertical integration of material and information flows. This research studies the potential consequences of identified bottlenecks for the sustainability of the current and future production of palm oil in a global market setting and delivers a set of recommendations on how the potential obstacles identified can be addressed. This thesis makes use of case studies in two palm oil producing countries: Indonesia and Thailand.