PALMOILMAGAZINE, LAMPUNG – Students from Lampung University (Unila) have achieved another proud milestone. A team of 2023 Electrical Engineering students has been selected to receive 2025 research funding from the Indonesian Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP). Out of over 1,300 proposals submitted, only 40 teams were chosen, including Unila’s innovative project titled: “TELSA Super App: ERP Platform to Support ISPO Implementation for Smallholder Palm Oil Plantations.”
The research covers social, economic, business management, market, and IT aspects. Under the guidance of Dr. Ing. Melvi, S.T., M.T., the team developed TELSA Super App (TSA), a web-based ERP application featuring tools for certification document management, plantation management, and supply chain tracking. The innovation aims to provide a practical solution for smallholder palm oil farmers to obtain Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification, which will become mandatory starting November 2025.
Currently, of the 6.94 million hectares of smallholder palm oil plantations in Indonesia, only about 1.4% are ISPO-certified. Limited farm management capacity, high certification costs, and complex administrative requirements are the main obstacles. TSA is expected to bridge these gaps effectively.
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The Unila team’s research journey began with a BPDP workshop in Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan, on 27–28 August 2025, equipping participants with knowledge on cultivation, processing, and downstream palm oil products. Over the next eight months, the research will undergo progress audits leading up to the final presentation. If the team ranks in the top 10 nationally, they will have the opportunity to present their research at the national final stage.
“The Pangkalan Bun workshop opened our eyes to the complexities of the palm oil industry from upstream to downstream. Through this research, we hope the TELSA Super App can provide a real solution for smallholder farmers to implement ISPO while promoting sustainable palm oil plantations,” said a TSA team representative, as reported by Palmoilmagazine.com from Unila on Wednesday (3/9/2025).
This achievement highlights Unila’s contribution in nurturing young innovators who actively strengthen Indonesia’s strategic industries through research and technology. (P2)
