12 June 2025
East Kutai’s commitment to sustainability: A Hands-On Approach
In East Kutai, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, a four-day visit by representatives from the East Kutai Regional Planning Agency (Bappeda), East Kutai Agriculture Department (Disbun), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Proforest, Barry Callebaut and PepsiCo in May 2025 underscored the region's steadfast commitment to sustainable agriculture production.
The visit was designed to provide participants with a first-hand look at the progress made under the Sustainable Landscape Initiative in East Kutai (SUSTAIN KUTIM) and its impact towards transforming and conserving sustainable landscapes.
SUSTAIN KUTIM is a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, coordinated by GIZ, Proforest and Tanah Air Lestari (TAL), aligning with the East Kutai District Government’s ongoing sustainability strategy.
Launched in 2023, SUSTAIN KUTIM aims to support the district government’s pledge to achieve sustainable agriculture production, particularly in palm oil.
The initiative focuses on enhancing the capacity of governments, communities, smallholders, workers, and plantation companies to cooperate in transforming East Kutai into a sustainable agricultural region.
The visit commenced with a dialogue session in Miau Baru village, one of five priority villages identified as a High Conversation Value (HCV) protection area. Villagers shared their concern and hopes for forest conservation, emphasizing the need for external support.
“We are forest people. When we found out that the forest is depleting, we agreed to protect the forest,” said Amai Martin, one of the Dayak elders from Miau Baru.
“We realised that this is not only our problem, but also to everyone else around the world. That is why we need help and support from all parties to protect our forest,” he added.
Jessica Wettstein, Forest and Climate Programme Manager - Ingredients at Barry Callebaut expressed the company’s commitment to supporting landscape programmes such as SUSTAIN KUTIM, noting the community’s openness to collaboration.
“Hearing firsthand from members of the Miau Baru community about the importance they place on protecting the forests and the challenges they face was deeply insightful. Visiting the forest itself added another layer of perspective, making it a truly unique opportunity to grasp the significance of the Sustain Kutim Landscape Project,” she said.
Following the dialogue, participants trekked along Mejang river, one of the few remaining unpolluted rivers closest to Miau Baru. The surrounding forest is a biodiversity hotspot, home of medicinal herbs like Bajakah, reputed for relieving muscle soreness.
Djaka Riksanto, sustainable agriculture senior analyst from PepsiCo, emphasised the importance of continued collaboration: “The efforts to conserve the forest and implement sustainable agricultural practices need the support of all relevant stakeholders, including the government and partners in the existing collaboration."
On the second day, participants visited a smallholder palm oil plantation in Tepian Baru village, where SUSTAIN KUTIM has assisted nine RSPO Independent Smallholder (ISH) certified groups to achieve RSPO certification. Representatives from the cooperatives discussed challenges such as forming certified groups and managing administrative tasks. To overcome these issues, ISH are exploring new markets for their palm oil to fund education, conservation, and cooperative development initiatives.
The visit concluded with a dialogue with local government representatives about the future of sustainable landscape in East Kutai. Drs Poniso Suryo Renggono, Assistant District Head of Governance and Public Welfare of East Kutai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote community prosperity and livelihoods.
Sustain Kutim has received funding from the Switzerland State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), PepsiCo, Nestlé, McDonalds, and Barry Callebaut, highlighting the significant role of both government programmes and private sector engagement in supporting sustainability efforts.
