Makassar – December 9, 2024, the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) held a hearing with a team of researchers from the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) of Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) to discuss the direction of palm oil research policy in 2025. The discussion was led by Dr. Ir. Arief Rahman Maulana Akbar, M.Si., IPU, who also serves as the BPDPKS Research and Development Commission.
During the meeting, BPDPKS expressed its high hopes for research collaboration with LPPM UNHAS to increase national palm oil productivity. The research will focus on post-harvest cultivation, bioenergy processing, socio-economic agriculture, information technology (IT), and health.
“Palm oil is the second largest contributor to the country’s foreign exchange after the mining sector. However, current research is still not sufficiently applicable and does not have a significant impact. We encourage future need and regenerative research to ensure the sustainability of this sector,” said Dr. Arief.
He emphasized that BPDPKS is ready to allocate an unlimited budget, as long as the research has a major impact on the Indonesian economy, especially in the palm oil sector.
In addition, BPDPKS highlighted the importance of an innovative approach in the development of palm oil research. “We are committed to supporting regions throughout Indonesia that have palm oil resource potential to participate in this program,” he added.
Through collaboration with LPPM UNHAS, BPDPKS hopes to boost the development of research that is more focused, applicable, and has a real impact on the national palm oil sector.