UMM and Bumitama Agro Strengthen Industry-Academia Collaboration to Develop Future Palm Oil Talent

The agreement was signed at UMM’s BAU Hall on May 29, 2026, marking a strategic partnership designed to strengthen human capital development in one of Indonesia’s most important industries. As the world’s largest palm oil producer, Indonesia faces increasing demand for professionals who not only possess strong academic foundations but are also capable of adapting to technological transformation and evolving business requirements. In addition to the signing ceremony, the event featured a guest lecture titled “Level Up Your Career: Employment Opportunities and the Future of the Palm Oil Industry,” attended by students from UMM’s Agrotechnology and Industrial Engineering programs. Through...

Kubu Raya Declares Commitment to Child Labor-Free Palm Oil Industry

The declaration was signed during a coordination meeting on child labor prevention in the agriculture and plantation sectors, held at Bank Kalbar’s Kubu Raya branch on June 2, 2026. The event was officially opened by Deputy Regent Sukiryanto. According to information obtained by from the Kubu Raya Regency Government, local authorities believe that addressing child labor requires more than regulatory enforcement. Instead, the issue must be tackled at its roots to ensure children can enjoy their rights to education, growth, and development. “Today we are holding this coordination meeting to ensure that children are not involved in palm oil plantation...

Indonesian Police Investigate Alleged Palm Oil Export Data Manipulation, Search PT MMS Offices

As part of the investigation, officers from the Directorate of Certain Crimes (Dittipidter) conducted searches at premises linked to PT MMS in an effort to gather additional evidence. Head of Sub-Directorate I of Dittipidter Bareskrim Polri, Senior Commissioner Setyo K. Heriyatno, said the searches were carried out after investigators found sufficient indications to advance the case. The operation took place at two locations: PT MMS’s office in Pademangan, North Jakarta, and a warehouse facility in Pakuhaji, Tangerang Regency, Banten Province. During the searches, investigators seized a number of documents and electronic devices believed to be related to the company’s export...

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GAPKI Urges Adaptive and Tech-Savvy Workforce to Strengthen Indonesia’s Palm Oil Industry

This message was highlighted by R Azis Hidayat, Head of Plantation Affairs at the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), during a press conference for the 4th Technology and Talent Palm Oil Mill Indonesia (TPOMI) 2026 attended by . Azis stressed that both companies and workers who fail to adapt to technological changes risk being left behind in an increasingly competitive industry landscape. “The palm oil industry competes in the global market. Therefore, human resources must possess strong competencies to compete with workers from other countries,” Azis said. According to him, the industry today places greater value on practical competence than...

Muba Plantation Agency Urges Palm Oil Mills to Continue Buying Smallholders’ FFB Amid Market Uncertainty

The appeal was outlined in a circular issued by the Head of the Musi Banyuasin Plantation Agency through Letter No. B-500.8/432/DISBUN/2026 dated May 26, 2026. The directive follows communication from the South Sumatra Provincial Plantation Agency urging precautionary measures to maintain conducive conditions amid ongoing developments in the palm oil market. Local authorities observed market reactions reflected in declining FFB purchasing prices at the Smallholders level, a situation viewed as potentially disruptive to plantation business stability and the distribution of harvested crops. In the letter, the Muba Plantation Agency firmly instructed companies to continue purchasing FFB in accordance with prevailing...

North Sumatra Agrarian Group Urges DPR Oversight on Supreme Court Ruling Over Oil Palm Land in Asahan

The letter, numbered 906/Maspera-Sumbagut/V/2026 and signed by DPW Maspera Sumbagut Chairman Darwin Marpaung, serves as a public complaint and a request for parliamentary oversight regarding the implementation of a court order mandating the revocation of Forestry Minister Decree No. SK.573/MENHUT-II/2009. According to DPW Maspera Sumbagut, the ministerial decree issued on September 28, 2009 granted the release of 4,773.90 hectares of convertible production forest (HPK) in the Nantalu forest group, Sei Kepayang District, Asahan Regency, North Sumatra, for oil palm plantation development under PT Citra Sawit Indah Lestari. However, local communities are said to have occupied and cultivated the land since...

Wilmar Clarifies Reports on Alleged Palm Oil Export Manipulation Investigation

The company responded after several national media outlets named Wilmar among major palm oil firms reportedly associated with alleged export value manipulation. In its official statement received by on Saturday (30/5/2026), Wilmar emphasized that it has not received any formal notification regarding an investigation as reported by sections of the media. “Wilmar wishes to clarify that we have not received any formal notification regarding the investigation referred to in media reports. Nevertheless, we are cooperating with relevant authorities to understand the issues that concern them,” the company said. Wilmar added that while no official notice has been delivered, it remains...

BRIN Pushes Early Detection and Eco-Friendly Solutions to Combat Ganoderma in Oil Palm

The issue took center stage during BRIN’s EstCrops_Corner #26 Webinar attended by on Friday (29/5/2026), where researchers and industry stakeholders discussed strategies to strengthen disease management across the national palm oil sector. Head of the Agriculture and Food Research Organization (ORPP) at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Puji Lestari, Ph.D., emphasized that oil palm plays a strategic role for Indonesia economically, socially, and environmentally. According to her, the sector supports the livelihoods of more than 16.2 million families nationwide, making sustainable production inseparable from the industry’s ability to address cultivation challenges, particularly plant diseases. “Oil palm offers enormous...

Bappenas Pushes IPB to Lead Indonesia’s Palm Oil Downstream Industry Through Research and Innovation

The message was delivered by Minister of National Development Planning and Head of Bappenas, Rachmat Pambudy, during a meeting with an IPB delegation led by Professor Sudrajat from IPB’s Faculty of Agriculture at the Bappenas headquarters in Jakarta. The meeting explored several strategic agendas, including land management, strengthening palm oil research centers, and developing downstream industrial models involving academia, government, and industry. According to Rachmat, Indonesia’s palm oil industry has entered a new phase that can no longer rely solely on exporting raw commodities. He said President Prabowo has instructed relevant institutions to accelerate palm oil downstreaming through stronger inter-agency...

FORTASBI Warns New Export Governance Could Marginalize Palm Oil Smallholders

This view was expressed by members of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Farmers Forum (FORTASBI), who believe that while strategic export policies could deliver positive outcomes, they also carry risks if implementation becomes overly centralized and lacks participation from stakeholders on the ground. Chairman of Koperasi Perkebunan Belayan Sejahtera (KPBS), Jamaluddin, said government efforts to combat under-invoicing and strengthen export oversight deserve support, but implementation must remain transparent and safeguard business opportunities for farmers and cooperatives. “We support the government’s objective of preventing export leakages and strengthening national trade governance. However, the system being developed must remain transparent, avoid creating...

SPKS Backs 80 Percent Plasma Plan, Calls It a Momentum for Palm Oil Agrarian Reform

Marselinus Andri of SPKS’s Advocacy Department said the proposed increase in plasma allocation represents an important step toward ensuring that more benefits from the palm oil industry are enjoyed by surrounding communities, particularly Smallholders living near plantation areas. “We appreciate the government’s plan to increase the community plasma share to 80 percent. This policy is important so that more benefits from the palm oil industry are received by communities and become an entry point for real agrarian reform in the oil palm plantation sector,” Marselinus said in a statement to on Tuesday (26/5/2026).   Plasma Expansion Seen as Opportunity for...

Palm Oil Smallholders Welcome One-Gate CPO Export Policy, SAMADE Calls It a Chance to Move Up the Value Chain

The policy, regulated under a Government Regulation on Natural Resource Commodity Export Governance, introduces a centralized export mechanism for strategic commodities through designated state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Chairman of SAMADE West Sumatra, Junaindra Sumawan, said President Prabowo Subianto’s policy should not be viewed merely as a change in trading procedures, but as part of broader efforts to establish a more structured and nationally oriented commodity trade system. Under the policy, exports of several strategic commodities—including crude palm oil (CPO), coal, and iron alloys—will be managed through appointed SOEs acting as single exporters. The government describes the scheme as a marketing facility,...

Bumitama Strengthens Palm Oil Supply Chain Traceability Down to Smallholder Plots

In the palm oil industry, the biggest challenge is often not what is produced, but where it comes from. As global markets increasingly demand full traceability—extending to the boundaries of farmers’ land plots—supply chains that once operated with limited visibility are now under growing pressure to become fully transparent. Bumitama has chosen to move beyond conventional sourcing practices by tracing FFB origins to the last identifiable farm plot, a technical effort that reflects a broader transformation in palm oil governance and sustainability standards. Palm oil remains one of the world’s most strategic commodities, yet its origins frequently disappear within long...

APKARINDO South Sumatra Sees Opportunity and Risk in Proposed BUMN-Led Palm Oil Export System

While the policy is viewed by some as a way to strengthen state control over strategic natural resources and increase government revenues, industry representatives also warn that poor implementation could create significant risks. Chairman of APKARINDO South Sumatra, Supartijo, said the policy introduced under President Prabowo Subianto is fundamentally aimed at shifting greater control of strategic commodity trading from private hands to the state. “The objective is clear—to ensure Indonesia’s natural wealth is managed more for the benefit of the people and not overly dominated by large corporations or foreign interests,” Supartijo said in an official statement cited by on...

Prabowo Highlights Export Leakages in Natural Resources, Says Palm Oil Hurt by Under-Invoicing

Speaking during the House of Representatives plenary session on the 2027 Macroeconomic Framework and Fiscal Policy Guidelines (KEM PPKF RAPBN 2027) on Wednesday (20/5/2026), Prabowo stated that despite Indonesia consistently recording trade surpluses for decades, much of the nation’s wealth has continued flowing abroad. “Our exports have always exceeded imports. Logically, this country should never experience economic crises. But in reality, much of our wealth flows overseas,” Prabowo said, as monitored by . The President cited United Nations data showing that Indonesia accumulated approximately US$436 billion in trade surpluses over the past 22 years, while capital outflows reached US$343 billion...

ASPEKPIR Pushes Replanting and Institutional Strengthening to Boost Smallholder Palm Oil Productivity

ASPEKPIR Chairman Sutiyono stated that enhancing plantation productivity will remain one of the organization’s top priorities in the coming years. Speaking during a discussion attended by on Tuesday (May 19, 2026), he emphasized that several strategic initiatives are currently being intensified to support Smallholders. “One of the key efforts is encouraging members to participate in the Smallholder Replanting Program (PSR), which is essential for replacing aging and unproductive oil palm trees,” Sutiyono explained. According to him, the replanting program is considered crucial for ensuring future productivity growth while maintaining the long-term sustainability of Indonesia’s palm oil sector. Beyond replanting, ASPEKPIR...

Sawit Watch Warns Centralized Palm Oil Export Plan Could Hurt Smallholders

The concern emerged after Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced plans to restructure the export governance of strategic natural resources as part of the 2027 Macroeconomic Framework and Fiscal Policy agenda. Under the proposal, a state-owned enterprise (SOE) would be appointed to manage exports of commodities such as palm oil, coal, and ferroalloys. Sawit Watch acknowledged that the initiative may strengthen Indonesia’s ambition to gain greater control over global CPO pricing. However, the organization argued that a highly centralized export system risks creating a monopsony structure that could weaken farmers’ bargaining power. “Creating a single export gateway for CPO effectively puts...

Indonesia Prepares National Export Agency as Palm Oil and Coal Become Initial Targets

The initiative is designed to strengthen oversight of Indonesia’s commodity trade flows while addressing long-standing concerns over under invoicing practices, which have been blamed for reducing potential tax revenues, royalties, and export foreign exchange earnings entering the domestic financial system. In its initial phase, the new agency is expected to focus on high-value export sectors, especially palm oil and coal, both of which remain key contributors to Indonesia’s export revenues. The government believes integrated supervision could improve transparency in commodity trading while enhancing control over export foreign exchange proceeds. The proposed concept has been described as a “Strategic National Commodity...

PT MM Named Suspect in Environmental Crime Case Over Oil Palm Activities Near River Buffer Zone

Director of Special Criminal Investigation at Riau Police, Ade Kuncoro, said the case demonstrates the authorities’ growing commitment to pursuing environmental crimes, including those involving large corporations. Investigators found that oil palm plantation activities had been carried out within the Air Hitam River buffer zone and forest areas located in Estate IV Division F of PT MM, Air Hitam Village, Ukui District, Pelalawan Regency. “Investigators discovered that the area had been cleared and planted with oil palm trees between 1997 and 1998,” Ade stated during a press conference at Riau Police Headquarters on Monday. The oil palm trees reportedly entered...