17 Countries Study Sustainable Palm Oil Practices in Indonesia
Representatives from 17 like-minded countries studied sustainable palm oil practices in Indonesia, especially in the province of Riau.
IDXChannel - Representatives from 17 like-minded countries studied sustainable palm oil practices in Indonesia, especially in the province of Riau.
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry conducted the Capacity Building Training for Sustainable Commodity Management Based on Smallholder Agriculture for Like-Minded Countries in West Java and Riau from 22 June until 2 July.
"It is hoped that this visit provides valuable lessons and benefits for the participants that they can take back to their respective countries," Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Ambassador Adam M Tugio, said in a media release on Tuesday (2/7/2024).
Participants had the opportunity to visit palm oil plantations in Siak, Riau, managed by smallholder farmers. The plantation is committed to sustainable practices, with 80 farmers already Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certified.
Additionally, the visited plantations prioritize local wisdom and forest conservation in their management practices, exemplified by the use of bio-pesticides and organic fertilizers. The visited plantations have also implemented traceability practices using the Polygon Mapping method.
Prior to the field visits, participants attended in-class sessions in Bogor, West Java covering topics such as barriers, challenges, and opportunities in the palm oil sector; lessons learned from the ISPO certification process and sustainability; and best practices in sustainable palm oil plantations. Participants also engaged in discussions on good and sustainable agricultural practices from each participating country.
"Indonesia consistently advocates for its sustainable palm oil commodities through diplomacy and norm-setting in various multilateral forums. Indonesia remains committed to sustainable farming practices," said Ditya Agung Nurdianto, Director of Trade, Industry, Commodities, and Intellectual Property at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The training, set to continue for the next five years, focuses on managing various plantation commodities by smallholder farmers with sustainable practices. (WHY)