Jakarta – The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) Chairman Eddy Martono said that the productivity of palm oil is the highest among all vegetable oils.
“Total acreage of oil palm plantations across the globe is only 24 million hectares, but their productivity reaches 3.2 tons per hectare per year. It’s the fact that cannot be matched by other vegetable oils. Oil palm productivity is amazing,” Eddy said during the FoodAgri Insight CNBC Indonesia, ‘Fighting Against European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in Jakarta on Tuesday, 01 August 2023.
Based on data, total area of the world’s soybean plantations reached 132 million ha and sunflower plantations at 30 million ha. Their acreages are much bigger than oil palm plantations. Even the acreage of oil palm plantations is the lowest in the world compared to other vegetable oils, but its productivity is the highest.
“Other vegetable oils are derived from seasonal crops, while the palm oil is derived from perennial plants. As perennial plants, the oil palm trees have also significantly contributed to the absorption of carbon emissions. Having broad leaves, the oil palm trees absorb CO2 and produce O2,” said Eddy.
“We see kind of trade war here. The government has applied the certification of ISPO. But then the EU does not accept it and applies the EUDR,” said Eddy.
Eddy, however, expressed his high appreciation to the Indonesian government for its fighting against the EU regulation. “The government knows that it will be the smallholders who will get the brunt of the impacts,” he said.
Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to establish a joint task force with European Commission to strengthen their cooperation in dealing with the implementation of the EUDR.
The joint task force was initiated by Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Plantation and Commodities Minister YAB Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof and Indonesia’s Economic Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto. The establishment of the joint task force was realized after the meeting of Indonesian and Malaysian representatives with the EU leaders in Brussel by the end of May this year.
During the meeting, the two ministers expressed their concern over the EUDR. They underlined the importance of the restricted commodities, especially palm oil, for the economies of the two countries, particularly for their smallholders. (*)
Source: cnbcindonesia.com
