The auto-tyre manufacturing industry is apparently “limiting” smallholder-dominated natural rubber (NR) sustainability norms, according to the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC).
Some 90% of the global supply of NR comes from the smallholdings production sector, but the resource-poor smallholders face mounting difficulties in moving towards a sustainable value-chain. The challenges include additional costs to adopt the prescribed practices and maintain standards, as well as an abnormally high fee for certification.
The inclusiveness of the smallholders in sustainability may be possible if the prescribed standards and certification system are adaptable to them. Thus, ANRPC’s upcoming annual rubber conference seeks to identify the standards and norms suitable for the smallholdings sector as well as other segments of the rubber industry’s value-chain, to push sustainability efforts.
Aptly themed, “Adaptive and Inclusive Path to Sustainable Value Chain”, the programme for the conference in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on October 7, 2019 is structured into a keynote speech, talks and a panel discussion represented by key policymakers of the 13 ANRPC member countries – the event is expected to have over 300 participants from around 20 countries, such as farmers, processors, traders, policymakers, researchers, rubber associations, and the media.