InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Few realize that the future sustainability of Indonesia’s palm oil industry depends not only on fertilizers or market prices, but also on genetics—and even insects. From expeditions to Tanzania to quarantine laboratories in North Sumatra, researchers work quietly to ensure oil palm remains a national asset for the next century.

Indonesia has made significant progress in safeguarding the genetic sustainability of its palm oil sector. “So far, we have developed 83 oil palm varieties,” said Edy Suprianto, Senior Vice President for Business Development at PT Riset Perkebunan Nusantara (RPN). These include 76 Dura x Pisifera hybrids, six clonal varieties, one semi-clone, 12 varieties moderately resistant to Ganoderma, and four drought-tolerant varieties.

Behind these figures lies decades of breeding and research aimed at ensuring oil palm trees remain resilient, efficient, and productive. The journey began with Dura Deli, a classic genetic material from East Sumatra that became the foundation for many global varieties.

Since 2008, RPN and a national research consortium have expanded genetic exploration to multiple centers of origin: Cameroon (2008, 103 accessions), Angola (2010, 127), Ecuador (2019, 12), and most recently Tanzania (2024, 100 accessions).

“Each region offers unique genetic traits—some excel in disease resistance, others in drought tolerance,” Edy explained. Currently, Indonesia holds genetic collections from only three centers of origin, while Malaysia has gathered material from 18. The Tanzania expedition is therefore seen as a strategic step to strengthen Indonesia’s research base and close the gap. (T2)

For more details, see InfoSAWIT Magazine, November 2025 edition.