PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUALA LUMPUR — PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (Astra Agro) has once again secured international recognition after its Research and Development (R&D) Team won a Consolation Prize in the Best Poster Competition at the Agriculture, Biotechnology and Sustainability (ABS) Conference. The competition took place as part of the prestigious MPOB International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition (PIPOC) 2025, held from 18 to 20 November 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The award carries significant prestige, as PIPOC is a globally recognized biennial congress organized by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). A total of 31 judges—comprising leading academics and industry experts—evaluated the competition, making it one of the most competitive scientific poster events in the global palm oil sector.
Astra Agro earned the award with a poster titled “Metagenomic Insights into Microbial Community Dynamics in Converted Peatlands: A Case Study from Oil Palm Plantations in Riau, Indonesia.” The work highlights the use of Metagenomic Profiling to understand the dynamics of microbial communities in peatlands with varying productivity levels.
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Cahyo Wibowo, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Astra Agro Lestari, explained that metagenomic research is a key pillar of the company’s innovation roadmap. Astra Agro previously developed Astemic, a biofertilizer for mineral soils that has been applied across 50,000 hectares, reducing chemical fertilizer use by up to 25%.
He noted that this success has supported the company’s expansion into more complex land types such as peat, brackish soils, and acid sulfate soils. “Peatlands have very distinct microbial characteristics and require highly precise scientific approaches. Through this research, we map dominant microbial communities and their functions, which lays the groundwork for developing more adaptive bio-inputs. This is part of our strategy to produce peat-specific biofertilizers,” Cahyo said in a statement received by Palmoilmagazine.com on Wednesday (26/11).
The initiative is strengthened by the application of Metagenomic Profiling—an approach that analyzes total soil microbial DNA without cultivation, providing comprehensive data on microbial diversity and functions. This method also enables the identification of beneficial microorganisms that contribute to nutrient availability, particularly phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). These findings form a crucial foundation for peatland conservation strategies, emission mitigation efforts, and optimized fertilization in sensitive ecosystems.
Echoing this progress, Microbiology Junior Expert and team leader Tiar Aji Saputra stated that the achievement serves as a strong validation for Astra Agro’s ongoing research direction. “This award shows that metagenomic approaches are not only scientifically relevant but strategically important for the future of peatland management. Our findings provide a solid basis for designing more effective nutrient solutions for peatlands. This is an essential first step toward Astra Agro’s goal of producing peat-specific biofertilizers,” Tiar said.
The ABS Conference, where the poster was presented, is one of the four major conferences within PIPOC. It brings together experts, researchers, academics, companies, and policymakers from around the world. This year’s PIPOC attracted more than 1,000 participants, 100 speakers, 200 poster presenters, and over 400 exhibitors. Held biennially, the event serves as a global platform for showcasing new technologies, presenting research advancements, and fostering innovation-driven collaboration under the theme “Transforming Today, Empowering Tomorrow Through Innovation.”
This accomplishment underscores Astra Agro’s commitment to strengthening biotechnology-driven research as the foundation for sustainable agricultural practices. It also demonstrates that scientific innovation can go hand in hand with productivity improvements and peatland ecosystem conservation—an essential component of Indonesia’s plantation landscape. (P3)
