SPKS: Palm Oil Plantation Enforcement in Forest Areas Must Be Followed by Legal Certainty

Marselinus Andri, Head of Advocacy at the Smallholders Palm Oil Union (SPKS), made the statement during the Pre-National Conference Webinar on Smallholder Plantations II attended by , on Friday, September 4, 2026. According to Andri, enforcement measures undertaken by the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH) have yet to answer the central questions of who owns or controls the land, how control over the land was established, and what legal certainty is available to farmers who have been managing the plantations. He said spatial mapping is important as an initial step, but it cannot be the sole basis for...

Indonesia Tightens Palm Oil Governance, TBS Pricing Oversight

The policy direction was outlined during the Ministry of Agriculture’s Palm Oil Governance Socialization and Coordination event held on September 2, 2026. The government views FFB pricing as an important mechanism to protect partner smallholders, ensure market access for their harvests, secure raw material supplies for palm oil mills, and prevent unfair business practices. The framework is based, among other regulations, on Minister of Agriculture Regulation No. 13 of 2024 concerning the Purchase of FFB Produced by Partner Smallholders. Regional Teams to Determine FFB Prices Under the mechanism, FFB prices are determined by the head of the provincial agriculture agency...

Indonesian Lawmaker Urges Palm Oil to Become a Major Energy Source

Ateng made the remarks during a limited discussion forum organized by Rumah Sawit Indonesia in cooperation with IPB University in Bogor. The discussion also touched on the direction of national environmental and climate policies. reported from Ateng Sutisna’s statement at the forum on Monday (August 31, 2026), that palm oil-based energy development should be considered in national policymaking as the government and parliament work on revisions to environmental legislation and prepare a Climate Change Law. Palm Oil for Food, Feed and Energy Ateng said palm oil has strategic potential because its development can involve communities while supporting national priorities. He...

Indonesia Accelerates Smallholder Oil Palm Replanting in East Kutai to Boost ISPO Certification

The PSR initiative targets approximately 1,900 hectares of smallholder oil palm plantations in East Kutai, supported by funding from Indonesia’s Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) of Rp60 million per hectare. According to an official statement from Solidaridad received by on Thursday, September 3, 2026, the program is expected to involve around 900 smallholders. The replanting process will prioritize certified high-quality planting materials to improve fresh fruit bunch (FFB) productivity while maintaining the economic sustainability of farming communities. Aging Plantations Put Smallholder Incomes Under Pressure Oil palm cultivation in East Kutai expanded rapidly from around 1999 through the early 2000s. After...

West Kalimantan Records 6,526 Hotspots as Link-AR Borneo Calls for Palm Oil Governance Review

According to a statement from Link-AR Borneo received by on Thursday, September 3, 2026, data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry’s SiPongi monitoring system showed 6,526 hotspots in West Kalimantan as of August 29, 2026. The figure was nearly double the number recorded one day earlier and placed West Kalimantan second among Indonesia’s six priority provinces for forest and land fire management, behind Central Kalimantan. Across the six provinces, 20,378 hotspots were recorded. Hazardous Air Quality Raises Public Health Concerns The fires have also contributed to severe air pollution in parts of West Kalimantan. IQAir monitoring showed that Pontianak’s air quality...

Bengkalis Palm Oil Plantation Owner Named Suspect in Alleged Illegal Use of 4-Hectare Forest Area

The case emerged during police handling of a forest and land fire (karhutla) in Buluh Apo Village, Pinggir District, Bengkalis Regency. , citing Antara on September 1, 2026, reported that Bengkalis Police Chief AKBP Fahrian Saleh Siregar said the legal action formed part of efforts to address forest and land fires while also taking action against suspected illegal activities in forest areas. “This disclosure demonstrates the seriousness of the Indonesian National Police in handling forest and land fires while taking action against illegal activities carried out in forest areas,” Fahrian said. JFP was named a suspect on August 29, 2026,...

Indonesia’s Domestic Palm Oil Consumption Reaches 12.99 Million Tons as Sustainable Market Gains Momentum

The growing importance of domestic demand was highlighted by Angga Prathama Putra, Sustainable Commodities Lead at WWF Indonesia, during the Regional Learning Forum on Sustainable Commodities in Jakarta. Angga said strengthening the domestic market should form part of a broader strategy to transform sustainable commodity markets, alongside efforts to improve upstream production and expand international market access. Data from the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) showed that domestic palm oil consumption reached 12.99 million tons during January-June 2026, up 5.48% from 12.27 million tons during the same period a year earlier. In June alone, domestic consumption stood at around 2.20...

GAPKI and PWI Strengthen Media Partnership to Promote Sustainable Palm Oil Governance

The press is seen as playing a crucial role in delivering balanced and critical coverage while helping the public better understand the industry’s sustainability practices. The issue emerged during a journalism workshop jointly organized by the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) and the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) in Yogyakarta. The forum was designed to broaden journalists’ understanding of the palm oil industry while strengthening communication around sustainable and environmentally responsible plantation practices. GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono said Yogyakarta was deliberately chosen because the city is not known as a major palm oil-producing region. The workshop therefore provided an opportunity to...

Indonesia’s Palm Oil Exports Surge 64.08% in June 2026, Reaching US$3.92 Billion

The increase was mainly driven by stronger exports of processed palm oil products, crude palm oil (CPO) and processed palm kernel oil (PKO) products. Processed palm oil exports reached 2.357 million tonnes in June, up 66% from 1.423 million tonnes in the previous month. CPO exports recorded an even sharper increase, jumping from 31,000 tonnes in May to 335,000 tonnes in June, representing growth of around 980%. As reported by , citing an official statement from GAPKI received on Wednesday (August 26, 2026), exports of processed palm kernel oil products also increased from 55,000 tonnes to 116,000 tonnes, or approximately...

Indonesia Pushes Palm Oil Downstreaming and Sustainability to Strengthen Global Competitiveness

Trade Minister Budi Santoso said Indonesia’s palm oil export strategy needs to go beyond price competitiveness by strengthening traceability, meeting international standards, diversifying export markets and making greater use of existing and emerging trade agreements. Budi delivered the remarks as a keynote speaker at the Regional Learning Forum on Sustainable Commodities in Jakarta on August 28, 2026. The forum brought together stakeholders from Indonesia’s cocoa and palm oil sectors as well as participants from overseas. According to Budi, competition in global markets is no longer determined solely by price. Buyers are increasingly taking sustainability, food safety and supply chain reliability...

MPOC: Monsoon Season Could Cushion Super El Niño Impact on Malaysia’s Palm Oil Production

Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) Chief Executive Officer Belvinder Sron said the impact of El Niño on palm oil production typically emerges after a lag of around nine to 12 months. Speaking to Bernama, Belvinder pointed to the previous Super El Niño in 2015, which was followed by a 13% decline in Malaysia’s palm oil production the following year, equivalent to roughly 2.6 million tonnes. However, he noted that dry weather conditions in 2026 have developed more slowly than during the 2015 event. As a result, rainfall between September and November will be crucial in determining the severity of drought...

BGA Shifts Focus from Infrastructure to People Development in Palm Oil Communities

According to , citing BGA Corporate Affair Director Johan Sukardi in an interview conducted in mid-May 2026, the shift is more than a change in the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. It reflects BGA’s broader view that sustainable development should leave behind not only physical infrastructure, but also knowledge, skills and stronger communities. The company is therefore moving away from a development model centred primarily on assistance and physical projects toward a capacity-based approach. The focus, in essence, is not only on what is built, but on who is able to grow and benefit from the development process. This...

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Global Agribusiness Giants Tighten Their Grip as Palm Oil Supply Chains Become a Strategic Battleground

A growing number of major agribusiness corporations now extend their influence far beyond seeds, pesticides, fertilisers and agricultural machinery. Their reach increasingly spans commodity trading, food processing, bioenergy and vegetable oil supply chains, including the global palm oil industry. The trend was highlighted in recent research by ETC Group and GRAIN, which examined the growing concentration of corporate power across the global food system. Their 2025 findings show that corporate concentration remains particularly high across major agricultural sectors. Five of the six sectors examined—commercial seeds, pesticides, agricultural machinery, animal pharmaceuticals and pig genetics—display characteristics associated with oligopolistic markets, where a...

GAPKI Strengthens Fire Prevention Measures as Palm Oil Companies Prepare for 2026 Dry Season

The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) has urged its member companies to reinforce preventive measures, maintain active firefighting teams and strengthen cooperation with government agencies, security forces and surrounding communities. According to GAPKI, forest and land fire prevention cannot be handled by a single institution or sector. Effective control requires coordinated action involving businesses, government agencies, law enforcement, local communities and other stakeholders. GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono said the stronger coordination reflects a shared responsibility to protect plantation areas and surrounding landscapes from fire risks. As part of its preparedness measures, GAPKI issued Circular No. 088/GAPKI/III/2026 on March 13, 2026,...

I-EU CEPA Set to Open New Export Path for Indonesian Palm Oil in Europe

The government is currently accelerating coordination across ministries and institutions to complete the legal, regulatory and technical groundwork required before the agreement takes effect. Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the preparations include finalising ratification documents, aligning domestic regulations and ensuring the technical readiness needed for implementation. The issue was discussed during the I-EU CEPA Implementation Preparation Dialogue held at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Jakarta on August 21. The meeting was chaired by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and attended by representatives from government institutions and ambassadors from European Union member states. Budi said Indonesia is...

Indonesia Explores Second-Generation Bioethanol from Empty Palm Fruit Bunches

The initiative is being explored by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) in collaboration with PT Pertamina (Persero), with discussions focusing on the possible development of a small-scale pilot plant using biomass residues from the palm oil industry. The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto and Pertamina Vice President Director Oki Muraza on Wednesday (August 19, 2026). One of the key issues discussed was the potential development of a pilot-scale 2G bioethanol facility. Kemdiktisaintek has also held preliminary discussions with India’s Praj Industries regarding biomass processing technology and...

UGM Identifies Genetic Marker Candidates to Improve Phosphorus Uptake Efficiency in Oil Palm

The study identified EgPti1 and EgPap3 as candidate molecular markers associated with phosphorus-use efficiency. The findings could support future breeding programmes aimed at developing oil palm planting materials that are better adapted to conditions where phosphorus availability is limited. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant growth and development. However, its availability is not always optimal, particularly in certain tropical soils. This makes phosphorus fertilisation an important component of plantation management while also creating opportunities to develop oil palm varieties that can absorb and utilise the nutrient more efficiently. The UGM research, titled “Identification and Characterisation of Genes Associated with...

Palm Oil Companies Urged to Strengthen Gender Committees to Prevent Sexual Violence

The issue gained renewed attention following a sexual violence case involving EZ, a member of SERBUNDO and the Palm Oil Workers Coalition (KBS). The case has prompted stakeholders to push for stronger protection systems for women workers across Indonesia's palm oil industry. The call was raised during the International Seminar on the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence in Palm Oil Plantations, organised by KBS together with its global partner, International Palm Oil Workers (IPOW), in Medan on August 21, 2026. The Netherlands-based FNV also participated online, reflecting wider international concern over worker protection in the palm oil sector. Sumarjono...

BRIN Research Tracks Ganoderma, the Silent Threat Lurking Beneath Oil Palm Plantations

Ganoderma, one of the most serious diseases affecting oil palm, has long been a major challenge for the plantation industry. Researchers at Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) are now seeking ways to detect its presence earlier, before infected palms begin showing obvious signs of decline. For the palm oil industry, Ganoderma is more than a plant disease. It represents both an economic threat and a scientific challenge that remains far from fully resolved. Siti Hardiyanti, a junior researcher at the Plantation Crops Research Center under BRIN's Research Organization for Agriculture and Food, explained that Ganoderma boninense is the...