The palm oil industry is a crucial pillar of the global economy, supplying raw materials for various products and other industries.
However, this sector faces serious issues requiring sustainable solutions. Environmental concerns such as deforestation, forest fires, and water pollution are major issues, and declining productivity and negative campaigns against the industry threaten its sustainability and reputation.
This was highlighted at the Palm Oil Seminar titled “The Role of Smart Agriculture Technology in Supporting a Sustainable Future for the Palm Oil Industry,” held on Tuesday (Aug. 13) in the Kamarijani-Soenjoto Auditorium at UGM’s Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP UGM). The seminar was part of the faculty’s 61st-anniversary celebrations.
Professor Chandra Setyawan, a lecturer and Chair of the 61st Anniversary Committee at FTP UGM, stated that Indonesia remains the leading palm oil producer, contributing over 50% of global palm oil production.
Therefore, efforts are needed to address the various issues in the palm oil industry and move towards more sustainable practices from environmental, economic, and social perspectives.
“All parties need to formulate solutions to various issues in the palm oil sector from upstream to downstream,” said Professor Setyawan.
Professor Diatri Nari Ratih, Secretary of the UGM Directorate of Research, revealed that smart agriculture technology could be a promising solution to the problems faced by the palm oil industry.
Integrating information and communication technology with agricultural systems is expected to enhance palm oil productivity, manage resources more efficiently, monitor environmental impacts, and optimize cultivation processes.
“By adopting smart agriculture technology, the palm oil industry can improve production efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen its position as a sustainable and responsible industry,” Professor Ratih stated.
Meanwhile, Professor Eni Harmayani, Dean of FTP UGM, who gave the opening remarks and officially opened the palm oil seminar, mentioned that the seminar would serve as a platform for experts, practitioners, and academics in the palm oil industry and agricultural technology to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices.
“FTP UGM is ready to strengthen cooperation and collaboration to achieve a sustainable national palm oil industry,” Professor Harmayani said.
The seminar was conducted in a hybrid format and divided into two sessions. The first session, “Smart Agriculture Technology in the Upstream Palm Oil Industry,” featured speakers from the Ministry of Agriculture, PT Wilmar International, and UGM’s Agricultural Engineering and Biosystems Department.
The second session, themed “Development of Smart Agriculture Technology in the Downstream Palm Oil Industry,” included speakers from the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) and two professors from FTP UGM.
Before the presentations began, FTP and the Agricultural Engineering Technical Committee (BKTP), the Indonesian Engineers Association (PII), and PT Kerry Sawit Indonesia (Wilmar) signed MoUs to strengthen cooperation and collaboration among stakeholders in the palm oil industry and implement the Professional Engineer Program (PSPPI).
Additionally, an MoU was signed between FTP UGM and the STIPER agricultural institute to cooperate on postgraduate programs and strengthen the tri-dharma of higher education.
Author/Photographer: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Afif