Indonesian Palm Oil Research Articles

The effect of hydraulic retention time on stabilisation unit in anaerobic – contact stabilisation (A-CST) for treating palm oil mill effluent

The increased use of palm oil in Indonesia has triggered an increase in the quantity of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME). The contents of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solid (TSS), as well as oils and grease in palm oil mill effluent, need to be reprocessed, in accordance with the provisions of the Ministry of Environment Regulation No. 5 of 2014, concerning Wastewater Quality Standards, before being discharged into water bodies. In this study, a modification of the treatment unit involving the integration of suspended growth and attached growth in anaerobic and aerobic processes, known as Anaerobic – Contact Stabilisation (A-CST) unit, was conducted to reduce the high concentration of organic matter in POME. This modification can shorten the detention time and reduce the land usage for treatment. The objective of this research was to analyse the performance of the modified A-CST system, based on variations in the detention time and modelling the estimation of biokinetics under unsteady-state conditions, through numerical analysis, statistical tests, and model validation. The research focused on the stabilisation unit, with variations in Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of 6 hours, 5 hours, and 4 hours. The results of this study revealed that, the highest percentage of removal was obtained at an HRT variation of 6 hours, with a COD 88%.

Plantation Life: Corporate Occupation in Indonesia's Oil Palm Zone

Plantation Life: Corporate Occupation in Indonesia's Oil Palm Zone

Pengaruh Gaya Kepemimpinan, Kerjasama Tim dan Budaya Organisasi terhadap Prestasi Kerja pada PT. Kencana Sawit Indonesia

This research aims to determine leadership style, teamwork and organizational culture simultaneously on work performance of PT employees. Indonesian Palm Oil Calendar. This research uses quantitative methods with a sample of 97 employees using a saturated sampling technique. The research results showed that there was a positive and significant influence of leadership style on work performance, there was a positive and significant influence of teamwork on work performance, there was a positive and significant influence of organizational culture on work performance and there was a positive and significant influence of leadership style, teamwork and organizational culture together on work performance. The contribution of leadership style, teamwork and organizational culture to work performance is 0.683 or 68.3% while the remaining 40.6% is determined by other variables not analyzed in the model in this study.

Mitigation of 3-MCPDE and GE in palm oil in Indonesia

Among consumed-vegetable oils, RBDPO (refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil) is indicated containing higher level of 3-MCPDE and GE, which have been classified as potentially carcinogenic and/or genotoxic to human. Those contaminants in RBDPO are formed during deodorization process with high temperature and also correlate with chloride content and quality of CPO as raw material. The maximum limit for 3-MCPDE and GE content in vegetable oil has been set at 2500 and 1000 µg kg-1, and as low as 750 and 500 µg kg-1 when used for production of baby food and cereal-based foods for infants and young children. The mitigation of 3-MCPDE and GE in RBDPO is quite challenging for palm oil refineries in producing a good quality of palm oil in term of sensory, stability, safety, and nutritional value, especially in Indonesia. It has been proven that modification of conventional refining process can reduce the 3-MCPDE and GE content. They are including pre-treatment of CPO by water washing to reduce the chloride content, alkali neutralization to remove any acids present in the oil prior to deodorization, using neutral bleaching earth, adding antioxidants after bleaching to reduce free radical-mediated formation of 3-MCPDE and GE, lowering the deodorization temperature with a longer time, and even double bleaching and/or double deodorization of the palm oil. Post-refining treatment using specific adsorbents is also applied to remove the 3-MCPDE and GE. However, palm oil refineries have to apply combination of several mitigation strategies to adequately reduce the levels of 3-MCPDE and GE, including using good quality of CPO with low FFA, chloride, and oxidized components content.

Mitigation of 3-MCPDE and GE in palm oil in Indonesia

Among consumed-vegetable oils, RBDPO (refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil) is indicated containing higher level of 3-MCPDE and GE, which have been classified as potentially carcinogenic and/or genotoxic to human. Those contaminants in RBDPO are formed during deodorization process with high temperature and also correlate with chloride content and quality of CPO as raw material. The maximum limit for 3-MCPDE and GE content in vegetable oil has been set at 2500 and 1000 µg kg-1, and as low as 750 and 500 µg kg-1 when used for production of baby food and cereal-based foods for infants and young children. The mitigation of 3-MCPDE and GE in RBDPO is quite challenging for palm oil refineries in producing a good quality of palm oil in term of sensory, stability, safety, and nutritional value, especially in Indonesia. It has been proven that modification of conventional refining process can reduce the 3-MCPDE and GE content. They are including pre-treatment of CPO by water washing to reduce the chloride content, alkali neutralization to remove any acids present in the oil prior to deodorization, using neutral bleaching earth, adding antioxidants after bleaching to reduce free radical-mediated formation of 3-MCPDE and GE, lowering the deodorization temperature with a longer time, and even double bleaching and/or double deodorization of the palm oil. Post-refining treatment using specific adsorbents is also applied to remove the 3-MCPDE and GE. However, palm oil refineries have to apply combination of several mitigation strategies to adequately reduce the levels of 3-MCPDE and GE, including using good quality of CPO with low FFA, chloride, and oxidized components content.

Analysis of Indonesian Palm Oil Competitiveness in the Main Export Destination Countries

Indonesia is the largest palm oil producing country in the world with a production volume of nearly 43 million tons/year. The high production of Indonesian palm oil is a new opportunity that needs to be developed in this globalization era to compete with its main competitors. Therefore, an analysis is needed in order to discover the competitiveness of Indonesian palm oil commodity in the main export destination countries. Export is an activity conducted by a country by selling its products abroad using the payment system, quality, quantity, and other sales terms that have been agreed upon by the exporting and importing countries. This study aims to analyze the level of competitiveness of Indonesian palm oil exports in the Asian and European markets represented by six countries: India, Malaysia, Singapore, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain. The analytical method used is Revealed Competitive Advantage (RCA) to see the comparative advantage and to determine whether the performance of Indonesian palm oil products in the main export destination countries increases or decreases by using the Revealed Comparative Advantage Index (RCA Index) calculation. The data used are secondary data in the form of time series during the period of 2014 to 2020 and cross sections of the main export destination countries of Indonesian palm oil. The results of the calculation of the RCA value show that in the period 2014 to 2020 the RCA value of Indonesian palm oil products in the main export destination countries is higher than one (> 1). Thus, Indonesian palm oil products have a comparative advantage in the main exports of destination countries from year to year. In contrast to the RCA index calculation results in this study, Indonesian palm oil products are still able to show a positive trend every year. This is proven by certain years’ RCA index of the main export destination countries: India, Malaysia, Singapore, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain is still less than one (<1) even though the average RCA index value for each country is higher than one (>1). Hence, it can be said that the performance of Indonesian palm oil products increases or decreases frequently every year in each of the main export destination countries.

Principles of Human Rights (HAM) in Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO)

Palm oil is Indonesia's leading commodity that is able to compete in the international market. However, there are often accusations that Indonesian palm oil is unsustainable due to problems of deforestation, corruption and human rights violations against land grabbing of indigenous and local communities. So that they lose their homes and find it difficult to meet their needs because they depend on the forest. In response to this, the government has updated the ISPO regulations through Presidential Regulation Number 44 of 2020 concerning the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil plantation certification system. The formulation of the problem from this research is whether ISPO is in accordance with human rights principles and what is the future conception so that ISPO is more in line with human rights principles. This research is included in normative legal research using a legal and conceptual approach. Based on the research results, it is known that ISPO has complied with several human rights principles, such as universal principles and non-discrimination. ISPO principles and criteria should be adjusted to the capacity of independent smallholders, so that there is equality in efforts to increase oil palm production.

Situational Crime Prevention Dalam Kejahatan Pencurian Kelapa Sawit di PT Bintara Tani Nusantara, Sumatera Barat

This article discusses crime prevention strategies with a situational approach in palm oil theft atPT Bintara Tani Nusantara (BTN). Situational Crime Prevention theory focuses on theopportunity, the place or context in which the crime is committed, and the target of the crime. Thisanalysis explains the factors of palm oil theft in PT BTN's plantation then the application of crimeprevention strategies in security implemented by PT BTN. The method used in this research isdescriptive qualitative research method. The research was conducted in the plantation of PT BTNSungai Beremas Sub-district and was conducted within five months. This research obtained datafrom three sources. The first source is an Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil System (ISPO) staff atPT BTN, then the second source is PT BTN plantation security, and the last source is a formerconvict of palm oil theft at PT BTN. The results of this study show that the security measuresimplemented by PT BTN in guarding the plantation area include guard posts, barrier portal, ditchessurrounding the plantation area and roving security guards who conduct surveillance by walkingaround the PT BTN plantation area.

The Influence of K3 (Occupational Health and Safety), Training and Career Development on the Performance of PTPN IV Kebun Gunung Bayu Employees

The Indonesian palm oil industry is important for the Indonesian economy with palm oil trade performance continuing to increase. However, the challenge of developing oil palm is limited human resources. Companies implement K3 because many activities involve work accidents and disease risks. Training to provide, and develop competencies. Career development is company support to motivate employees to be able to develop their careers better. This research aims to analyze the influence of K3, training and career development on the performance of PTPN IV Kebun Gunung Bayu employees. The research method is quantitative. Data analysis methods are validity testing, reliability testing, classical assumption testing, multiple linear regression analysis and hypothesis testing. The research results show that K3, training and career development have a significant effect on employee performance.

Shannon entropy on near-infrared spectroscopy for nondestructively determining water content in oil palm

<span lang="EN-US">Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of palm oil. To preserve its competitive advantages, the Indonesian oil palm sector must expand high-quality palm oil output. In oil palm quality control, the water content is a crucial parameter as it can be used as a reference to determine the right harvest time. Thus, this study proposed a near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a fast and non-destructive analysis to assess oil palm water content. NIR spectra were processed using Shannon entropy to describe the characteristics at each wavelength. In this study, oil palm fruit samples at various maturity levels were collected with eight different maturity fractions. Based on the analysis, the Shannon entropy value is closely related to any changes in the water content of palm oil. The entropy value has a decreasing trend as the water content increases. The proposed technique can predict the water content of an oil palm with satisfactory performance with values of 0.9746 of coefficient of determination (R<sup>2</sup>) and 2,487 of root mean square error (RMSE). Application of this model will lead to a fast and accurate prediction system related to oil palm water content.</span>

How External Adaptation, Internal Integration, and Basic Assumptions Affect the Performance of Indonesian Palm Oil Companies

The point of this study is to look into and try how organisational culture can be used to predict how well a palm oil company in Indonesia will do. It is a quantitative type of field study that is being used. Using purposive sampling, the population and group for this study were all managers of private oil palm plantation companies. There were 103 people in total, so 100 respondents were studied, and a Likert scale was used to measure them. The method for analysing the data uses both descriptive and proof analysis, along with the Partial Least Square (PLS) method and Smart PLS software. The study shows that external adaptation has a big and positive effect on how well people do their jobs. Adapting to changes outside the company has a positive and significant effect on its performance. On the other hand, integrating within the company does not have a positive and significant effect on overall work performance. and have a big impact on how well the company does, It is true that basic beliefs have a positive and significant effect on work performance, but they don't have any positive or significant effect on company performance. Additionally, work performance has a positive and significant effect on company performance.

Pengaruh Aplikasi Kompos Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) Terhadap Pertumbuhan Vegetatif Bibit di Main Nursery

This research was carried out in the practice garden and Laboratory of the Indonesian Palm Oil Institute (ITSI) Medan. It will be carried out from March to June 2022 to get the growth and development of oil palm seedlings by applying empty palm fruit bunch compost as the use of organic fertilizer during the nursery period. This study used a Non-Factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD) with one factor studied, namely variations in the application of compost to oil palm seedlings. Parameters observed were plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, root length, root volume, root fresh weight, shoot wet weight, root dry weight, shoot dry weight. The data obtained was analyzed statistically by Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA). Based on the results of observations and analysis of variance, it was shown that the application of empty palm fruit bunch compost had a significant effect on shoot wet weight and had a significant effect on shoot dry weight and had a significant effect on stem diameter growth at 16 WAP observations, and had no significant effect on plant height, number leaves, root length, root volume, root wet weight, root dry weight.

Environmental Law for Sustainable Palm Oil Development to Combat Deforestation and Climate Change Impact

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examie how environmental law to mitigate the impact of climate change caused by deforestation in Indonesia due to the high demand for palm oil. Theoretical framework: Theoretical framework incorporate principles from international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), aligned with environmental law with Indonesia's national policies and strategies, such as the National Action Plan for Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO). Design/methodology/approach: The research method used a qualitative approach with data collected through library research. Various sources, including articles, journals, books, reports, and documents, were utilized to gather comprehensive and reliable information on the Indonesian palm oil problem and its environmental and societal impact. Findings: The result of the study concluded that addressing deforestation and the environmental impact of palm oil production requires several measures. These include reducing global demand for palm oil, promoting sustainable palm oil production, and adopting best practices in the palm oil industry. Implementing environmentally friendly approaches, protecting critical conservation areas, respecting the rights of local communities, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are essential steps to mitigate the issue Research, Practical & Social implications: The study outline the role of engage all stakeholders, including producers, companies, governments, civil society, and global consumers, in these efforts. Striking a balance between economic interests and environmental concerns is vital. By promoting sustainable agricultural practices, negative impacts on the environment and society can be minimized, and progress can be made towards achieving climate change mitigation and sustainable development goals. Originality/value: The value of the study lies in its holistic approach to addressing multiple interconnected issues. It not only focuses on environmental conservation but also considers the socioeconomic aspects of small-scale farmers in Indonesia. This integrated perspective is vital for finding sustainable solutions that benefit both the environment and local communities.

Land-use change from market responses to oil palm intensification in Indonesia.

Oil palm is a major driver of tropical deforestation. A key intervention proposed to reduce the footprint of oil palm is intensifying production to free up spare land for nature, yet the indirect land-use implications of intensification through market forces are poorly understood. We used a spatially explicit land-rent modeling framework to characterize the supply and demand of oil palm in Indonesia under multiple yield improvement and demand elasticity scenarios and explored how shifts in market equilibria alter projections of crop expansion. Oil palm supply was sensitive to crop prices and yield improvements. Across all our scenarios, intensification raised agricultural rents and lowered the effectiveness of reductions in crop expansion. Increased yields lowered oil palm prices, but these price-drops were not sufficient to prevent further cropland expansion from increased agricultural rents under a range of price elasticities of demand. Crucially, we found that agricultural intensification might only result in land being spared when the demand relationship was highly inelastic and crop prices were very low (i.e., a 70% price reduction). Under this scenario, the extent of land spared (∼0.32 million ha) was countered by the continued establishment of new plantations (∼1.04 million ha). Oil palm intensification in Indonesia could exacerbate current pressures on its imperiled biodiversity and should be deployed with stronger spatial planning and enforcement to prevent further cropland expansion.

The Performance of Indonesian Crude Palm Oil Export

This research aims: (1) to examine Indonesia’s CPO production and CPO export trends in the international market, (2) to analyze Indonesia’s CPO comparative advantages compare to other main exporters, (3) to find out which export target the country has the best market share to expand between main export target countries and (4) to know the factors that affect export volume. This research used descriptive analytics with CPO related time-series data from 2006 until 2016. The research showed that (1) Indonesia’s production and export trends are expected to increase each year (2) Indonesia has better comparative advantages compared to other main export country and on maturity stage (3) The best CPO market share to expand is China compare to other export target countries (4) Factors affecting export volume are CPO international price, Indonesia’s GDP and total population.

Implementation of the Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) Policy on Oil Palm Plantations in West Kalimantan

When it comes to palm oil, Indonesia dominates the global market. However, the European Union Parliament’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED) policy created roadblocks for the Indonesian palm oil industry’s European exports because the product did not adhere to sustainability principles. In 2009, Indonesia adopted the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) policy in response to the European Union’s RED. This policy aims to promote sustainable practices on oil palm plantations. The government of Indonesia is likewise working to increase ISPO’s visibility abroad. Regarding Indonesian provinces, West Kalimantan has the third-largest area dedicated to oil palm plantations. However, only a few palm oil producers have obtained ISPO certification. This study aims to determine why the ISPO policy was ineffective in West Kalimantan by examining the challenges of enforcing the policy through the lenses of sustainable development and policy implementation. A descriptive qualitative method was applied, with data gathered through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. Non-specific policy substance, information restrictions, governmental policies not supporting implementation, and probable distribution problems among the parties engaged in execution were only a few factors this study cited impeding the ISPO policy implementation in West Kalimantan.

Resistance of Eleusine indica to non-selective herbicides in Indonesian oil palm plantation

Abstract. Umiyati U, Kurniadie D, Widianto R, Widayat D, Nasahi C. 2023. Resistance of Eleusine indica to non-selective herbicides in Indonesian oil palm plantation. Biodiversitas 24: 4661-4667. Indonesia is the world's largest producer of oil palm. One biological constraint that may reduce the national oil palm production is Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn (goosegrass). This weed is usually controlled chemically using non-selective herbicides, such as glyphosate, paraquat, and ammonium glufosinate. Although these herbicides are widely used, there are minimal case reports of weed resistance in Indonesia. This study aimed to map and quantify the herbicide resistance of goosegrass in Indonesian oil palm plantations. Weed mortality after herbicide application was used to determine the resistance. The study collected samples from Indonesia's six primary oil palm regions: West Sumatra, North Sumatra, Riau, Lampung, Belitung, and West Kalimantan. The sample collection process was supplemented by conducting interviews to get information on the herbicide application practices of palm oil growers. The results showed that 15 samples of goosegrass from various locations were resistant to glyphosate, 17 were resistant to paraquat, and one showed developing resistance to ammonium glufosinate. The most resistant goosegrass was found in North Sumatra, with a resistant index of 3.32 and 3.81 to glyphosate and paraquat, respectively. At the same time, the resistance to ammonium glufosinate could not be measured because the low doses of ammonium glufosinate were sufficient to control the weeds.

Examining Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) Performance in the Palm Oil Industry with the Triple Bottom Line Approach

The palm oil industry has emerged as one of the leading producers and exporters, as supported by data from the Central Bureau of Statistics in 2021, which indicates that Indonesian palm oil exports reached an impressive value of USD 18.44 billion, or IDR 258 trillion, in 2020, marking 18.43 percent growth compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the domestic markets for palm oil and palm kernel oil remain substantial despite improvements in export quantities. Various industries, including cooking oil refineries, specialty fats, shortening, margarine, bath soaps, and oleochemicals, present potential markets for palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel oil (PKO). The palm oil industry encompasses four related subsectors, namely growers, millers, refiners, and oleochemicals, forming an integrated value chain from upstream to downstream. The current focus on environmental, economic, and social sustainability drives companies to adopt internal green activities and expand their efforts toward sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). Implementing SSCM practices is often seen as economically beneficial, as research has demonstrated their positive impact on corporate performance from a resource perspective. Many green management applications are utilized in the palm oil industry. This study examines and highlights existing sustainable management practices across the entire palm oil supply chain, focusing on producing high-quality palm oil. This study utilized a systematic review methodology. A total of 62 articles were analyzed, which involved an extensive review of the relevant literature to identify research trends, gaps, and issues. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by expanding the theory of organizational readiness to prepare globally competitive palm oil products. The research findings hold practical significance for practitioners and academics by providing a comprehensive road map for implementing green management applications at the organizational level in the palm oil industry’s upstream-to-downstream chain.

Trade dispute over palm oil involving Indonesia, Malaysia, and the EuropeanUnion

Palm oil is a predominantly utilized raw ingredient in the production of food, cosmetics, andhousehold cleaning products. The global usage of this product is on the rise, rendering it asignificant asset in international commerce. Given its status as the leading palm oilproducer, Indonesia encounters trade obstacles from nations that impose restrictions onpalm oil imports based on environmental concerns, including deforestation and greenhousegas emissions. The European Union, a significant recipient of Indonesian palm oil exports,has implemented the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and RED II. These regulationsimpose limitations on the use of palm oil in biodiesel starting from 2021 and progressivelyprohibit it entirely by 2030. These rules, although designed to safeguard the environment,are seen by some as protectionist measures aimed at safeguarding local biofuel producers.The governments of Indonesia and Malaysia have voiced concerns and are actively pursuingequitable and enduring resolutions to preserve their market entry

Mammals diversity in Indonesian oil palm plantation: identifying its functional role in the agroecosystem

The conventional profile of oil palm plantations that are not environmentally friendly, high-cost, and non-ecologically oriented, are not in line with sustainable development goals. There is a broad understanding of the role of mammalian species in the oil palm plantation landscape to create healthy oil palm plantations. To understand the functional role of these mammals, we identified various research over the last 10 years in Indonesia on mammals found in oil palm plantation landscapes through a systematic literature review approach. We use the Google Scholar search engine by entering search keywords and screening and analyzing the publications obtained. In the final stage, we analyze the possible use of mammals for production and ecological purposes. We found an increase in oil palm research in Indonesia over the last decade. Most of the research was conducted in large oil palm plantations, and the types of mammals found included large and small mammals, with the research focus on looking at the diversity and abundance of mammalian species, biodiversity loss and gain, as well as feeding guilds or tropic levels of mammalian species. The abundance of potential populations as pests is also a concern in several studies. Mammals in the context of contributing to production and ecology have a broad spectrum of roles, including various guild and tropic levels in the food chain, balancing ecosystems, pollinators, pest control, and other essential functions. We also focus on the gaps in research and management activities to achieve a healthy agroecosystem. The result can be served as a guide for future research priorities, conservation strategy, and management planning toward healthy oil plantations.