World Oil Palm Smallholders Elected New Leadership
The coalition appointed Amb. Inyang and other global representatives to lead its international executive assembly.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in People
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The World Coalition of Oil Palm Smallholders elected Amb. Inyang as Chairman of its General Assembly during an international forum in Indonesia. The body also named Dr. Gulat Manurung as President and Dr. Djono Albar Burhan as Executive Director.
Why it matters
The coalition serves as a unified advocate for small-scale farmers, holding a mandate to promote the economic interests of cultivators on a global scale. This leadership transition aims to strengthen the organization's influence as it manages the needs of millions of agricultural workers.
The coalition represents a constituency of more than 50 million smallholders worldwide. Approximately 400 delegates participated in the unanimous election process held during the forum.
The players
Amb. Inyang
He is the newly elected Chairman of the coalition's General Assembly and the President of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria.
Dr. Gulat Manurung
He was elected as the President of the World Coalition of Oil Palm Smallholders.
Dr. Djono Albar Burhan
He was elected as the Executive Director of the World Coalition of Oil Palm Smallholders.
The details
The General Meeting took place in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, where delegates gathered to formalize the coalition's leadership structure. New officers were elected to represent the interests of the sector, supported by entities from Indonesia and Malaysia.
Timeline
The World Coalition of Oil Palm Smallholders held its leadership elections in October 2026.
Market Landscape
This leadership election follows global industry efforts to align production with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification standards. The coalition's new structure reflects an ongoing shift toward centralized advocacy for small-scale farmers against industrial competitors.
Smallholders worldwide may see new advocacy efforts aimed at improving their market representation and bargaining power. The shift could eventually impact global palm oil supply chain operations and sustainability requirements for retailers.
The takeaway
The election of a new international board marks a significant effort to consolidate the voice of 50 million small-scale palm producers. Stakeholders should monitor upcoming policy announcements to see how these leaders intend to leverage their new mandate on the global stage.
Further reading
For more information on organizational leadership, visit the People section.
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