InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA — For most Indonesians, 18 November may pass unnoticed. But for the palm oil community—from researchers to smallholders—this date carries deep historical significance. It marks the birth of Indonesia’s modern palm oil industry, commemorated annually since 2017 as National Palm Oil Day.
The date traces back to 18 November 1911, when oil palm was planted for commercial purposes in the Dutch East Indies for the first time, as recorded in a 1924 publication by researcher Hunger. The decision to commemorate the date was made during a 2017 gathering at the Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (PPKS) in Medan, initiated by the Indonesian Palm Oil Board (DMSI).
A Day of Reflection Amid a Growing Industry
Indonesia’s palm oil industry has since grown into an economic powerhouse, contributing export earnings, rural development, energy security, and millions of jobs. Yet the sector continues to face scrutiny—particularly around environmental concerns such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and land conflicts.
National Palm Oil Day serves not only to honor history but to reflect on the industry’s future trajectory.
Progress on Sustainability, but Gaps Remain
The Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification, introduced in 2011, represents a major milestone in aligning the industry with global sustainability norms. According to InfoSAWIT, 85% of GAPKI member companies are now ISPO-certified.
However, certification among independent smallholders remains limited. Data from Fortasbi shows that only 51 smallholder groups—covering 33,000 hectares, or just 0.2% of the country’s 6.5 million hectares of smallholder land—have obtained ISPO or RSPO certification. The mandatory ISPO requirement for smallholders by 2025, as mandated by Presidential Regulation 44/2020, poses a major challenge.
To address this, the ISPO Secretariat has simplified requirements for smallholders, reducing mandatory documents to four: STDB registration, land ownership proof, Internal Control System (ICS) team, and environmental management statement (SPPL).
National Palm Oil Day, ultimately, is a reminder that Indonesia’s palm oil journey is ongoing—balancing economic strength with environmental stewardship and social equity. (T2)
