Astra Agro Works Closely With Gov’t to Prevent Forest Fires in Riau

Jakarta. Astra Agro Lestari has said in a statement they have made a series of preparations in anticipation of extreme weather changes and potential forest fires during this dry season.  Working closely with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPPD), the National Police, the Army and the Environment and Forestry Ministry, Astra Agro already has 1,036 fire management personnel at the ready.  The company’s…

Govt lacks “strong” measures against palm oil barriers

THE JAKARTA POST/JAKARTA The government is lacking in strong measures to fight tariff barriers implemented by several palm oil export destinations, including India and the European Union, Indonesian Oil Palm Association (GAPKI) chairman Joko Supriyono has said. The country’s number one export commodity continues to face criticism over sustainability, such as deforestation issues raised by…

Indonesia to fund sustainability certification for palm smallholders under planned new rules

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia to issue a new palm sustainability regulation to give greater support for smallholders to get sustainability certificates, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution said on Wednesday.  Under the new regulation, the government will fund certification process by Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) for smallholders, he told reporters. The new decree,…

European elections put palm oil at risk

Monday, 24 June 2019 | The Jakarta Post The European parliamentary elections last month resulted in a significant and challenging outcome, especially for the palm oil industry. Both the Greens (Greens European Free Alliance) and the far-right nationalists gained additional seats, while the center-right and centerleft lost their majority. The main agenda item for the…

EU Palm Oil Usage Ban Threatens 16 Million Palm Oil Workers in IndonesiaEU Palm Oil Usage Ban Threatens 16 Million Palm Oil Workers in Indonesia

Tuesday, 23 April 2019 | www.en.netralnews.com The European Union policy to ban ban the use of palm oil as a raw material for biofuels is considered potentially threatening the survival of 16 million workers in the oil palm sector in Indonesia. The Executive Secretary of the Indonesian Palm Oil Workers Union (JAPBUSI) Network Nursanna Marpaung…

Palm oil being used as an ecopolitical pawn

Monday, 18 March 2019 | thestar.com.my DEFORESTATION, loss of bio-diversity, emission of greenhouse gases and global climate change have become the buzz words used by NGOs and other influential parties with self-interest to convince consumers to abandon the use of palm oil and turn instead to alternative vegetable oils such as sunflower, soybean and rapeseed, and…