Genetic Research Strengthens Palm Oil Sustainability for Energy and Food Security

Efforts to reinforce national energy and food security do not always begin with downstream policy measures. In many cases, the foundation is laid far from public attention—through genetic research and biodiversity exploration. This is the path Indonesia is now taking by strengthening the Strategic Genetic Diversity (SGD) of oil palm, a move with impacts extending well beyond laboratory walls. In the short term, the initiative opens access to new genetic resources essential for developing superior oil palm varieties. Over the long run, it plays a crucial role in safeguarding palm oil supply for food and energy, enhancing national resilience, and...

2026/01/06

Productivity Determines Malaysia’s Palm Oil Competitiveness, MPOC Urges Realistic Yield Targets

The future competitiveness and sustainability of Malaysia’s palm oil industry is increasingly determined by its ability to improve productivity. Stagnant production growth has begun to constrain supply, a concern industry players say has been voiced for decades. The Chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), Carl Bek-Nielsen, said the palm oil industry has spent too long discussing yield improvements without achieving significant progress. In some cases, productivity has even declined. According to him, sustainability lies not in chasing ambitious targets, but in setting realistic and achievable goals. “If productivity is low and commodity prices fall, that is a recipe...

2026/01/06

Pakistan–Indonesia Strengthen Ties, Palm Oil Trade Remains a Pillar of Bilateral Relations

Pakistan and Indonesia on Tuesday agreed to expand cooperation in trade, health, agriculture, information technology, science, and education, while deepening coordination on regional and global issues, including Palestine. During a joint press conference at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening economic ties. He noted that bilateral trade currently stands at US$4.5 billion, over 90% of which consists of Indonesian palm oil exports to Pakistan. Shehbaz said Pakistan is ready to work closely with Indonesia to meet agreed trade targets and even offered medical professionals—including doctors, dentists, and professors—to support Indonesia’s healthcare...

2026/01/06

Government Races to Meet 4 Million-Hectare Target in Palm Oil and Mining Land Recovery

The Indonesian government is accelerating efforts to restore control over forest areas. The Task Force for Forest Area Control (PKH) is nearing its target of reclaiming 4 million hectares of palm oil and mining land by the end of 2025. PKH spokesperson Barita Simanjuntak revealed that, as of December 8, 2025, the state had regained control over 3.77 million hectares. “By the end of December, within the next two weeks, we will meet the 4-million-hectare target,” he said, as reported by Bisnis.com and quote by InfoSAWIT . Of the total reclaimed area, 1.50 million hectares have been transferred to Agrinas...

2026/01/04

Palm Oil Industry Needs Strong and Adaptive Human Resources, INSTIPER Formulates Strategic Roadmap

Indonesia’s palm oil industry is facing an urgent need for skilled, adaptive, and technically capable human resources. This challenge resurfaced during the Human Resources Workshop for the Palm Oil Plantation Industry titled “Preparing HR to Support Sustainability in the Palm Oil Sector” held at INSTIPER Yogyakarta on Tuesday (9/12/2025), as part of the university’s 67th anniversary series. Dr. Purwadi, Director of the Palm Oil Science Center (PSKS) at INSTIPER and moderator of the event, stressed the crucial role of higher education institutions in producing high-quality talent for Indonesia’s plantation sector. “Palm oil is the backbone of Indonesia’s economy. Universities that...

2025/12/26