InfoSAWIT, YOGYAKARTA – Palm oil industries that become the economic pillar in the globe now seriously face many challenges. Besides as the material producer for many sectors, these industries have to face environmental issues, such as, deforestation, the fire, and water pollution that press the reputation and sustainability. The other challenges are the decreasing productivity and negative campaigns. These make the industries worse.
Such issues were spoken in a palm oil seminar with the theme “The Roles of Smart Agricultural Technology to Support the Future Sustainable Palm Oil Industries”, on Tuesday at the hall of Kamarijani-Soenjoto, Faculty of Agriculture Technology (FAT), University of Gajah Mada (UGM). It was part of series of the 61st anniversary of the faculty.
Chandra Setyawan, the lecturer of FAT UGM emphasized that Indonesia was still as the biggest palm oil producer in the world that contributed 50% of the production globally. “But the challenges should need solutions that focus not only to escalate plantation productivity but also notice sustainability aspects both in the environment, economy, and social welfare,” he said, as InfoSAWIT quoted from the official page of UGM, Wednesday (14/8/2024).
Secretary of Directorate of Research, UGM, Prof. Diatri Nari Ratih said that smart agriculture technology could be the potential solution to solve some issues in palm oil industries. The technology that integrates information system and communication in agriculture, should escalate plantation productivity, optimize natural resource management, monitor environmental impacts, and perfect the cultivation process.
“By adopting smart agriculture technology, palm oil industries would improve production efficiency, minimize environmental impacts, and reinforce their position as the sustainable and responsible industries,” Prof. Diatri said.
In the same chance, FAT UGM, Badan Kejuruan Teknik Pertanian (BKTP), Persatuan Insinyur Indonesia (PII), and PT Kerry Sawit Indonesia (Wilmar) signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) about the implementation of Program Profesi Insinyur (PSPPI). Besides, FAT UGM did sign MoU with Institut Pertanian STIPER that would cooperate in the implementation of pascasarjana program as part of tridharma perguruan tinggi reinforcement. (T2)
