JAKARTA – The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) has been continually accelerating the transformation of Indonesian palm oil industry through the application of mechanization, digitalization, and automation of oil palm plantations. The steps are seen as part of an important strategy to increase productivity and strengthen competitiveness in the global market of vegetable oils.<\/p>\n
Those efforts were realized through the mechanization, digitalization & automation (MDA) Consortium, which was held at the plantation owned by PT Binasawit Abadipratama in Hanau District, Seruyan Regency, Central Kalimantan. This activity served as a benchmarking platform for modern palm oil technology among GAPKI member companies to accelerate the adoption of innovation in the national oil palm plantation sector.<\/p>\n
Dwi Asmono, Head of GAPKI’s Research and Development Division, stated that technological innovation is a key factor that determines the future of the Indonesian palm oil industry. He stated that competition in the global vegetable oil industry is currently intensifying, requiring palm oil companies to sustainably improve their efficiency and productivity.<\/p>\n
“The palm oil industry requires innovation, shared learning, benchmarking, and the courage to experiment with new technologies to continuously increase productivity,” he said.<\/p>\n
GAPKI has also established various strategic consortia, ranging from genetic resources consortia and Ganoderma consortia to oil palm plantation mechanization and digitalization. The goal is to build an industry collaboration ecosystem so that palm oil companies do not have to work alone in developing modern plantation technologies.<\/p>\n
The transformation to technology-based oil palm plantations is considered increasingly important as the industry faces various major challenges, such as labor shortages, pressures for production cost efficiency, demands for sustainability and traceability, climate change, and workforce regeneration in the plantation sector.<\/p>\n
During the event, participants also witnessed firsthand the implementation of plantation technology by PT Binasawit Abadipratama. One of the leading innovations introduced was the new replanting method, which is claimed to significantly increase oil palm yields.<\/p>\n
Benny Yusuf Setiawan, CEO of PT Binasawit Abadipratama, explained that mechanization and automation help speed up field work, which was previously done manually.<\/p>\n
According to Benny, the replanting method can increase the productivity of the first harvest to 15 to 20 tons per hectare, higher than the previous target of only around 10 tons per hectare at a plant age of 31 to 42 months after planting.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, GAPKI Central Kalimantan Office Head Rizki Djaya emphasized that collaboration between companies is key to maintaining the sustainability of the Indonesian palm oil industry.<\/p>\n
He said that Indonesia, as the world’s largest palm oil producer, must continue to strengthen its competitiveness by increasing productivity, improving production process, and implementing modern plantation technologies.<\/p>\n
Through the MDA Consortium, GAPKI hopes to establish a national benchmark for the palm oil industry, pilot projects for plantation technology, a roadmap for the digitalization of Indonesian palm oil, and prepare a younger generation of industry players who are more adaptable to technological developments.<\/p>\n
The transformation of the Indonesian palm oil industry now depends not only on land expansion but also on the ability of industry players to pursue innovation, efficiency, and collaboration based on modern technology. (*)<\/p>\n