PALMOILMAGAZINE, YOGYAKARTA – The global palm oil industry, a major economic pillar, is currently facing significant challenges. In addition to being a key raw material for various sectors, the industry is grappling with environmental issues like deforestation, fires, and water pollution, all of which threaten its reputation and sustainability. Other challenges include declining productivity and negative campaigns, further exacerbating the situation.
These issues were discussed during a seminar titled “The Roles of Smart Agricultural Technology to Support the Future Sustainable Palm Oil Industries,” held on Tuesday at the Kamarijani-Soenjoto Hall, Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FAT), University of Gajah Mada (UGM). The seminar was part of the faculty’s 61st anniversary celebrations.
Chandra Setyawan, the lecturer of FAT UGM emphasized that Indonesia was still as the biggest palm oil producer in the world that contributed 50% of the production globally. “But the challenges should need solutions that focus not only to escalate plantation productivity but also notice sustainability aspects both in the environment, economy, and social welfare,” he said, as Palmoilmagazine.com quoted from the official page of UGM, Wednesday (14/8/2024).
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Secretary of Directorate of Research, UGM, Prof. Diatri Nari Ratih said that smart agriculture technology could be the potential solution to solve some issues in palm oil industries. The technology that integrates information system and communication in agriculture, should escalate plantation productivity, optimize natural resource management, monitor environmental impacts, and perfect the cultivation process.
“By adopting smart agriculture technology, palm oil industries would improve production efficiency, minimize environmental impacts, and reinforce their position as the sustainable and responsible industries,” Prof. Diatri said.
In the same chance, FAT UGM, Badan Kejuruan Teknik Pertanian (BKTP), Persatuan Insinyur Indonesia (PII), and PT Kerry Sawit Indonesia (Wilmar) signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) about the implementation of Program Profesi Insinyur (PSPPI). Besides, FAT UGM did sign MoU with Institut Pertanian STIPER that would cooperate in the implementation of pascasarjana program as part of tridharma perguruan tinggi reinforcement. (P2)
