PALMOILMAGAZINE, SANUR – Vice Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono emphasized the importance of soil restoration, reducing pollution risks from pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and rehabilitating degraded ecosystems at the 7th International Conference of Oil Palm and Environment (ICOPE), held today in Bali.
Sudaryono pointed out that environmental degradation has reached a critical level, with global repercussions. He highlighted climate change as a direct consequence of ongoing environmental damage, with one of the most visible impacts being land fires. These fires not only disrupt the palm oil industry but also pose significant threats to communities.
According to data from the Palm Oil Research Center (PPKS), haze from land fires can obstruct photosynthesis and reduce palm oil productivity by up to 5.5%. Given this, Sudaryono stressed the need for fire prevention to be an integral part of palm oil plantation management.
To ensure the sustainability of the palm oil industry, he advocated for integrated pest management and soil conservation techniques. “These measures can improve soil health and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers while also preserving biodiversity,” he stated during his keynote speech at the ICOPE conference, attended by Palmoilmagazine.com in Sanur, Bali, on Wednesday (February 12, 2025).
However, Sudaryono acknowledged the economic challenges and resource limitations that could hinder sustainability efforts in the palm oil sector.
He urged all stakeholders to recognize, assess, and measure the contribution of ecosystem functions to agriculture. He also proposed several innovative approaches to sustainable agricultural management:
- Resource Efficiency – Optimizing the use of water and land while minimizing harmful inputs such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers to reduce reliance on costly and environmentally damaging external resources.
- Emission and Pollution Reduction – Implementing low-emission technologies, including agroforestry and soil conservation techniques, to prevent erosion and nutrient loss.
- Ecosystem Restoration and Long-Term Sustainability – Applying agroecological techniques such as intercropping, organic fertilization, and integrated palm-livestock systems to maintain soil and ecosystem health for sustainable palm oil production.
“It is time for us to adopt a more efficient, low-emission, and sustainable agricultural model to secure a more resilient future for the palm oil industry,” Sudaryono concluded. (P2)
