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The palm oil industry continuously adopts sustainable practices in conducting plantation business to align with the Sustainability Development Goals program. One way to do this is by reducing pesticides, as Astra Agro Lestari Group practices.
The Company controls pests by reducing the use of pesticides. As is known, insect pests in the garden can have fatal consequences, ranging from decreased productivity to damaging plants. Astra Agro Lestari’s plantation area currently reaches 285,387 hectares in 2024.
Astra Agro Lestari conducted a series of researches to overcome pest attacks and increase pollination success so that fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production can increase. This step also protects plasma and independent farmers from pest attacks that threaten the community’s welfare.
Astra Agro Lestari CEO Santosa explained that the Company makes a serious effort to utilize pests by researching and digitizing the system to anticipate pest attacks. This is useful for increasing crop productivity. According to him, Astra Agro’s pest control with parasitoids reduces pesticide application costs.
Referring to the AALI 2023 Sustainability Report, the Company has adopted a natural food chain for pest control through biological control methods, using natural predators to suppress pest populations. For example, predatory insects are used for caterpillar pests, owls are used for rat control, and so on.
In addition, AALI also develops crop areas and conservation sites that serve as habitats for pest predators. By 2023, the Company expanded its beneficial crop areas to 2.81 million m², up from 1.97 million m² in 2021 and 2.5 million m² in 2022.
In addition, the conservation area also increased from 5,600 plots in 2021 to 8,200 plots in 2022 and reached 10,600 plots in 2023.
These sustainability practices were appreciated. Astra Agro Lestari President Director Santosa was awarded as one of the best CEOs of 2024.
Santosa was named The Best CEO with Special Mention: The Most Consistent Listed Company in Efforts to Reduce Pesticide in Pest Management at the Top CEO Indonesia Awards 2024. Last year, at the Top CEO Indonesia 2023 event in Bali, Santosa was also named the Best CEO in Agriculture for AALI’s outstanding performance.
After joining Astra Agro Lestari for a long time, Santosa understands that oil palm cultivation cannot be separated from pest problems. However, chemical pesticides are no longer the only solution, especially considering their adverse impact on the environment.
For AALI, chemical pesticides are now considered a last resort, and used only in the nursery process or during critical pest attacks.
Despite the challenges of commodity price fluctuations, AALI has shown consistent performance. As of September 2024, the CCompany’srevenue increased by 3.8% on an annualized basis (yoy), while EBITDA grew by 11.1% on an annualized basis, marking a positive recovery after the decline in palm oil prices in the previous year.
One of the figures who attended the award was Minister of Manpower Yassierli. He expressed his appreciation to all those who contributed to the nation’s progress.
“Congratulations on the organization of this extraordinary event. Congratulations to the selected Indonesian CEOs,” he said.
The professor who teaches at the Bandung Institute of Technology hopes that company leaders will work together to build the country. As is known, President Prabowo Subianto is pushing for eight percent economic growth to realize the goal of a Golden Indonesia 2045.
Source : suara.com
