PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – In a bold move within the palm oil downstreaming strategy, a new chapter begins—not just about fuel or cooking oil anymore, but about national nutrition. The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) is taking a strategic leap by transforming the natural nutrients in palm oil into health supplements, specifically targeting vulnerable communities facing malnutrition.
This initiative was sparked during a kick-off meeting for a collaborative research project between the Indonesian Palm Oil Society (MAKSI) and PT Kimia Farma Tbk, held on Friday (May 9) in Jakarta. The joint project aims to develop palm-based supplements containing Betacarotene (Pro-Vitamin A) and Tocopherol (Vitamin E), as a concrete contribution to the government’s Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG).
“This is not just about industry—it’s about our nation’s nutritional resilience,” said Putu Juli Ardika, Director General of Agro Industry at the Ministry, in a statement quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com on Tuesday (May 13, 2025). He emphasized that crude palm oil, before undergoing chemical refining, is rich in hidden nutrients like Betacarotene, Tocopherol, MCTs, Squalane, and natural antioxidants.
Also Read: Ministry of Agriculture Commends Palm Oil Industry’s Shift Toward Digitalization and Sustainability
Unfortunately, many of these nutrients are lost in modern refining processes. To address this, the government is now shifting its approach—extracting and processing these nutrients into natural health supplements targeting at-risk groups such as school children, pregnant women, and low-income communities. “This isn’t just a nutrition fix—it’s a smart, strategic intervention,” Putu added.
This effort goes beyond research. The ministry aims to scale the project to an industrial level, involving nutrition experts, setting national supplement standards (RSNI), and inviting both state-owned enterprises and private companies to participate in supplement production.
The program also aligns with the President’s directive to expand the role of palm oil beyond energy (biodiesel) and food (cooking oil), making nutrition its third strategic pillar in strengthening national resilience.
“This collaborative research is a pioneering model. If successful, it could become a blueprint for building a socially impactful, innovation-driven agroindustry in Indonesia,” Putu concluded.
Beyond the often controversial reputation of palm oil lies a new promise—a transformation from oil to supplement, from plantations to nutritional protection. Indonesia is rewriting palm oil’s role—and this time, for the future health of the nation. (P2)
