PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA) expressed dissatisfaction with a recent article published by Reuters on its Context platform. The article, written by Adi Renaldi, a Southeast Asia correspondent for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was criticized for presenting a biased view that could harm the reputation of Indonesia’s palm oil industry. The piece focused on environmental issues, climate change, and deforestation linked to the palm oil sector but, according to IPOA, did not accurately reflect the situation on the ground.
Titled “How Indonesia’s Palm Oil Industry is Fueling the Climate Crisis,” Renaldi’s article discussed the impact of palm oil plantation expansion on Indonesia’s rainforests and its contribution to global carbon emissions. He cited data from Global Forest Watch and Nusantara Atlas, which claimed that the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan have lost most of their tropical forests due to palm oil expansion. Additionally, the article suggested that biodiesel production from palm oil could contribute to higher carbon emissions than fossil fuel-based alternatives.
In response, Edi Suhardi, Chairman of Palm Oil Raising IPOA, rejected Reuters’ claims, arguing that the article demonstrated a lack of understanding of Indonesia’s forestry laws. “New palm oil plantations can only be developed in designated areas, such as non-forest zones regulated by the government. Therefore, palm oil plantation development should not be classified as deforestation,” Edi emphasized, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from CSPO Watch on Monday (September 23, 2024).
IPOA also said that palm oil would be very significant for the economy of Indonesia, namely to provide employment and support the economic progress in the rural. He said, 41 percent of palm oil plantations in Indonesia belonged to the smallholders that lived around the plantations. “Palm oil industries provide employment for about 17 million men, starting from the agricultural sectors to the process and administration. But Reuters seemed ignored the fact,” he said.
IPOA also emphasized that palm oil significantly played its roles to minimize the dependence to fossil fuel by using biofuel (in palm oil – base). Indonesia, as the biggest palm oil producer in the world is committed to increase biodiesel in palm oil – base to minimize carbon emission.
IPOA was sorry for the article that was not balance and not based on the facts that were verified. “Reuters did not verify about their claims in the articles. This is one sample of black campaign to palm oil industries in Indonesia that foreign media always ignore,” Edi said.
In his thought, palm oil industries in Indonesia would do the best to qualify the sustainability standards and contribute to realize sustainable development goals, maintain the environmental balance while fulfilling the people’s economic needs. (P2)
