Towards Sustainable Palm Oil Production in Indonesia: A Joint Effort by Indonesia and The Netherlands through SustainPalm
Joining Forces to Support Sustainable Palm Oil Production in Indonesia
The global demand for sustainable agricultural practices is growing, and palm oil production is no exception. Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of palm oil with an estimated production of 46.82 million metrics tons in 2023, and the Netherlands, a key export destination within the EU, have a shared interest in ensuring that palm oil is produced sustainably. Recognizing this shared interest, Indonesia and the Netherlands launched a joint implementation programme under the name “SustainPalm” in early 2023. Supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indonesian Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, this collaborative initiative is aimed at identifying and implementing sustainable strategies for palm oil production in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Moreover, SustainPalm is designed to support Indonesia’s National Action Plan for Sustainable Palm Oil (NAP-SPO), promoting responsible land use while maintaining vital income for oil palm farmers. Most palm oil in Indonesia is produced by smallholders. For the Netherlands, the program shows how it may be possible to comply to EU regulations on deforestation free commodities by maintaining the moratorium on deforestation, without decreasing oil-palm-related income.
Key Work Packages
A multidisciplinary consortium consisting of Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Institut Pertanian Bogor, and Universitas Lambung Mangkurat are organized into three strategic work packages, each targeting critical aspects of sustainability in the entire palm oil production value chain.
Work Package 1 (WP1) focuses on increasing palm oil yields through alternative crop and livestock integration, Work Package 2 (WP2) looks at repurposing residues from palm oil mills and field biomass, thereby adding value to products and create new, alternative job opportunities for palm oil farmers. Work Package 3 (WP3) is concerned with drained peatland areas, such as palm oil plantations and the potential for alterative land-use systems to reduce GHC emissions, rehabilitate ecological functions and generate income for small-holder farmers and larger palm-oil companies.
Members of WP2 on a fieldtrip to study fast detection of oil palm trunk sugar content, Pegajahan, North Sumatra.
A Hands-On Approach Through Living Labs
One of the main approaches taken to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices is through geographically based Living Labs – experimental spaces where cross-sector stakeholders work together to test and refine innovative practices in real-world environments. Students play a critical role in Living Labs, and likewise, the Living Lab approach is an important methodology for students to be part of practice and come up with new ways to tackle key challenges.
Max de Kruijff, a student Tropical Forestry at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, spent 10 weeks in WP3’s Living Lab location in Pencing Bekulo, Riau Province, Sumatra. Together with his peer Caspar Wolf and students from IPB University, Max explored challenges faced by smallholder farmers working on peatlands. Their fieldwork focused on improving biodiversity and developing solutions for peatland management. Max and Caspar shared their findings through a Knowledge Clip.
“We had several interviews with smallholders and measured the biodiversity within the area of Pencing Bekulo. We gained valuable insights and learned a lot from others and ourselves. We wanted to make a product which is beneficial for the project, the farmers, and future students,” Max explained. Nowadays, Max also shares about his study experiences in Indonesia as a WilWeg ambassador for Nuffic.
Max de Kruijf and Caspar Wolf during their fieldwork in the SustainPalm Living Lab in Pencing Bekulo.
SustainPalm during the Week of Indonesia Netherlands Education and Research (WINNER)
As SustainPalm approaches its halfway point of the in total three-year programme duration, the upcoming WINNER conference provides a platform to showcase SustainPalm’s progress and review the dynamics, challenges and successes of its implementation strategies. In the session titled “Complexities of Living Labs to Realize Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration“, hosted on the third day of the WINNER conference, Yessie Widya Sari, co-lead PI of WP2, is one of the speakers representing the SustainPalm consortium.
Yessie’s team has been exploring the rapid detection of sugar content in oil palm trunks to streamline the process of harvesting and processing oil palms, potentially leading to increased efficiency and improved yields. Recognizing the potential impact of oil palm trunks on the sustainability of the palm oil industry, one of the ways WP2 aims to promote innovation is by means of the Oil Palm Trunk Challenge and Symposium for 2025, which invites stakeholders to explore new uses for these trunks, particularly in the furniture and home decor sectors.
Additionally, their team has been supported by students from WUR and IPB University who spent one month in Pegajahan area, North Sumatra, to employ a community-based problem-solving approach, engaging various stakeholders including farmers, traders, consumers, and local government officials.
During the WINNER session, Yessie will be sharing insights into her ongoing work within WP2, focusing on the application of the living lab approach to address challenges and opportunities related to oil palm.
In addition to this session, WINNER’s virtual poster exhibition will feature research posters related to various sustainability aspects of palm oil production, including a digital platform for palm oil intercropping, peatland restoration with paludicultre, and Integration of Oil Palm and Beef Cattle Production. Attendees of the Virtual Poster Expo will have the opportunity to explore these projects in greater detail and engage directly with researchers. Register here.