PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) organized a Palm Oil Industry Introduction Workshop for participants of the 2025 National Student Research Competition. The event served as a capacity-building platform for 114 students from 32 universities across Indonesia, providing them with insights into the country’s palm oil sector—from upstream cultivation to downstream processing.
The participants, representing 40 research groups, were selected from a highly competitive pool of 814 proposals. Each group received research funding of up to IDR 20 million, with projects expected to run for six to eight months. At the end of the period, their research outcomes will be evaluated to determine the top three winners.
“This was a very selective process, with only 3 percent of proposals accepted. Our goal is to encourage young people to study, innovate, and explore the many benefits of palm oil,” said Mohammad Alfansyah, BPDP’s Director of Downstream Fund Distribution, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com (Thursday, September 4, 2025). He emphasized that student research plays a vital role in supporting sustainability, boosting productivity, and fostering innovation in the palm oil industry.
Also Read: BPDP Commits to Inclusive and Resilient Palm Oil Industry
The workshop featured three keynote speakers who also served as research competition judges:
- Dr. Bandung Sahari, Director of Agronomy Services and Sustainability at PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk, who highlighted efficiency and sustainability in palm oil as a leading global vegetable oil.
- Dr. Donald Siahaan, senior researcher at the Palm Oil Research Center, who discussed downstream industry opportunities, including the “Magic of Three”—cooking oil, oleochemicals, and biodiesel.
- Edy Suprianto, Ph.D., from PT Riset Perkebunan Nusantara, who provided guidance on scientific writing and academic standards for students.
In addition, Fitriyah, a BPDP research analyst, delivered a session on administrative and financial management in research, stressing that proper governance and transparency are key to producing high-quality studies.
Beyond the classroom, students will also visit the plantations and palm oil facilities of PT Gunung Sejahtera Ibu Pertiwi (GSIP), a subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari in Pangkalan Bun. The field trip will expose them to real-world practices in cultivation, mill processing, and research and development (R&D).
By combining theory, practice, and field-based research, BPDP hopes the program will not only strengthen students’ academic capacity but also generate practical solutions to address the challenges facing Indonesia’s palm oil industry in the years ahead. (P2)
