PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) continues its Palm Oil Grant Research Program (Grant Riset Sawit or GRS), a key initiative since 2015 to advance plantation development and strengthen the national palm oil industry. The program supports research spanning upstream to downstream activities. This year, 52 research projects were selected from 785 proposals, securing a total funding of IDR 95 billion.
Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) achieved remarkable success, with six of its lecturers securing grants worth IDR 15 billion, making ITB the university with the highest number of research collaborations in the GRS 2024 program. “This marks a significant improvement from last year, where only three proposals were funded,” noted Wibawa Hendra Saputera, Ph.D., one of the grant recipients.
Among the standout projects is a study on photocatalytic decarboxylation technology led by Wibawa. This innovative approach utilizes light energy to produce high-quality biohydrocarbons, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and supporting the energy sector’s decarbonization efforts. “The technology aligns with the commitment to a green energy transition and sustainability principles,” Wibawa stated, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from ITB’s official release on Thursday (28/11/2024).
The GRS 2024 program focuses on seven main areas, namely, Bioenergy, Biomaterials and Oleochemicals, Food, Feed, and Health, Land, Soil, and Cultivation, Post-Harvest and Management, Waste Management and Environment, and Socio-Economics, Management, Business, Markets, and ICT.
According to Wibawa, the program is expected to be a catalyst for collaboration between researchers, industry, and government in creating applicable research solutions. “Funding that is right on target can be directly implemented to increase productivity, efficiency, and sustainability of the palm oil industry, and provide real benefits for farmers and the wider community,” he added.
The following six ITB lecturers who received GRS 2024 funding are:
- Brian Yuliarto, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D.
Rapid Test Kit for 3MCPD and GE Detection Based on Modified Transition Metal Nanoparticles.
- Eng. Yosi Agustina Hidayat, S.T., M.T.
IoT-based Tracking and Theft Prevention Device Prototype for Vehicles and Palm Plantation Products.
- Ir. Melia Laniwati Gunawan, M.S.
Production of Alkali Methoxide as a Catalyst for Biodiesel Synthesis.
- Ir. Ronny Purwadi, M.T., Ph.D.
Production of Cellulase Enzyme to Support Second Generation Bioethanol.
- Hary Devianto, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D., IPM.
Biogas Utilization through CO2 Reduction to Formic Acid by Electrolysis and Photocatalysis.
- Wibawa Hendra Saputera, S.Si., M.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Photocatalytic Decarboxylation Technology for Biohydrocarbon Production from Palm Oil.
The signing of the cooperation agreement took place on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. The GRS program is an important momentum to improve the competitiveness of the Indonesian palm oil industry while ensuring sustainable and environmentally friendly plantation practices. (P2)
