InfoSAWIT, SANUR – Bali once again hosted over 500 participants from various countries at the International Conference on Oil Palm and the Environment (ICOPE) 2025. The event, held at the Bali Beach Convention Sanur, was organized by Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), and WWF Indonesia.
The conference was attended by delegations from countries such as India, the Netherlands, France, Malaysia, the UK, Finland, Colombia, and Spain. They gathered to collaborate on formulating sustainability, climate adaptation, and transforming the palm oil industry to be more environmentally friendly.
The conference, opened by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, served as a platform for academics, scientists, government officials, financial institutions, industry players, and NGOs to discuss the future of the palm oil industry based on scientific research.
"If we work together, we can go further and faster. The sustainability of the palm oil industry is an 'golden egg' for Indonesia," said Sudaryono while opening the 7th ICOPE event attended by InfoSAWIT on Wednesday (February 12, 2025). He also emphasized that Indonesia has great potential to support the three main priorities of President Prabowo Subianto, namely food sovereignty, energy sovereignty, and industrial downstreaming.
Jean-Pierre Caliman, Co-Chairman of ICOPE 2025, revealed the importance of global involvement in turning environmental challenges into opportunities. "We share the same goal, which is to create a more climate-friendly and sustainable palm oil agricultural system," he said.
This year's conference theme is "Agro-Ecological Transformation of Palm Oil: Towards Climate-Friendly and Environmental Agriculture," reflecting the urgency to address climate change challenges.
Franky O. Widjaja, Chairman and CEO of Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, emphasized that the future of the palm oil industry depends on innovation and close collaboration between the government, businesses, academia, and society.
"We are committed to implementing best practices in sustainable agriculture while protecting biodiversity and ecosystems around us," said Franky.
Dewi Lestari Yani Rizki, Director of Conservation at WWF Indonesia, also highlighted the importance of transforming the palm oil industry towards sustainability to support Indonesia's carbon emission reduction targets. "Serious governance is needed for the palm oil industry to meet global market challenges," she added.
Jean-Marc Roda, Regional Director of CIRAD, stated that ICOPE aims to be a catalyst for change in the palm oil industry. "This conference serves as a venue for researchers to share the latest data and recommendations to guide the evolution of this sector," he explained.
Amid increasing climate change challenges and global food needs, this conference is expected to produce tangible solutions. With a science-based approach and international collaboration, ICOPE 2025 is believed to lead the palm oil industry towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. (T2)
