PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (Astra Agro) has received international recognition, with its Research and Development (R&D) team winning the Consolation Prize in the Best Poster Competition at the Agriculture, Biotechnology and Sustainability (ABS) conference.
The competition is part of the MPOB International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition (PIPOC) 2025, scheduled to take place from November 18 to 20 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.
This award is highly regarded, as PIPOC is a biennial global congress organized by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
A panel of 31 leading academic experts and industry practitioners served as judges, making the PIPOC poster competition one of the most competitive scientific events in the global palm oil industry.
The poster that led Astra Agro to win the award was titled “Metagenomic Insights into Microbial Community Dynamics in Converted Peatlands: A Case Study from Oil Palm Plantations in Riau, Indonesia.”
The presentation highlighted the use of Metagenomic Profiling technology to study microbial community dynamics in peatlands with different productivity levels.
Cahyo Wibowo, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Astra Agro Lestari, stated that this metagenomic research is a key part of the company’s innovation roadmap.
Previously, Astra Agro developed Astemic, a biofertilizer for mineral land used on approximately 50,000 hectares, achieving a 25 percent increase in chemical fertilizer efficiency. To him, this success serves as a foundation for the company to expand its exploration to unique terrains such as peat, brackish water, and acid sulfate soils.
“Peatlands have distinct microbial characteristics and require a more precise scientific approach. Through this research, we mapped the dominant microbial communities and their functions, providing a foundation for developing new, adaptive bioinputs. This is part of our strategy to develop peat-specific biofertilizers,” said Cahyo.
These efforts were further supported by Metagenomic Profiling, which analyzes total DNA from soil microbes without the need for cultivation. This method provides a comprehensive view of microbial diversity and function, helping to identify microorganisms that enhance the availability of essential nutrients, such as Phosphate (P) and Potassium (K).
These findings provide a foundation for peatland conservation, emission mitigation, and optimized fertilization in sensitive ecosystems.
Tiar Aji Saputra, Microbiology Junior Expert at Astra Agro Lestari and team leader, stated that this achievement validates the research direction Astra Agro is pursuing.
This award demonstrates that the metagenomic approach is both scientifically relevant and strategic for future peatland management. Our findings lay the groundwork for more effective nutritional solutions for peatlands. “This is an important initial step toward Astra Agro’s target of producing peat-specific biofertilizers,” said Tiar.
The ABS conference, where this work was presented, is one of four major PIPOC conferences that bring together experts, researchers, academics, companies, and policymakers from around the world.
This event is held biennially as a global forum to showcase the latest technologies, publish research advancements, and build innovation-based collaborations under the overarching theme “Transforming Today, Empowering Tomorrow Thru Innovation.”
This achievement underscores Astra Agro’s commitment to strengthening biotechnology-based research as the foundation of sustainable agricultural practices.
This success also demonstrates that scientific innovation can be combined with efforts to increase productivity while conserving the peatland ecosystem, a crucial component of the plantation landscape in Indonesia.
Source: Agrofarm.co.id
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