InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Amid mounting global pressures on the palm oil industry, Indonesia continues to make significant progress in strengthening the sector’s sustainability—starting from its most fundamental element: genetic resources.
Senior Vice President of Business Development at PT Riset Perkebunan Nusantara (RPN), Edy Suprianto, revealed that Indonesia has developed dozens of superior oil palm varieties through national research efforts.
“To date, we have 83 oil palm varieties. Of these, 76 are derived from Dura x Pisifera crosses, six are clones, one is semi-clonal, while 12 show moderate resistance to Ganoderma and four are drought-tolerant,” Edy explained.
Strong Foundation for Productivity and Resilience
Edy stressed that these figures represent years of sustained research and breeding efforts.
“This is the foundation. Without strong genetic resources, it is difficult to improve productivity while maintaining crop resilience,” he said.
From Dura Deli to Global Exploration
Indonesia’s genetic research traces back to Dura Deli material from East Sumatra, which has become a cornerstone for many global oil palm varieties.
Since 2008, RPN and national research consortia have expanded genetic exploration across oil palm centers of origin.
These include Cameroon (2008, 103 accessions), Angola (2010, 127 accessions), Ecuador (2019, 12 accessions), and most recently Tanzania (2024, around 100 accessions).
“Each region has unique genetic traits. Some offer disease resistance, others are more adaptable to extreme drought,” Edy noted.
Closing the Gap with Malaysia
Despite progress, Edy acknowledged that Indonesia still lags behind Malaysia in genetic resource collections.
Indonesia currently holds genetic material from three centers of origin, while Malaysia has collected from around 18 regions.
Therefore, the Tanzania expedition is seen as a strategic step to enrich Indonesia’s germplasm and strengthen its research base.
“This exploration is crucial so we don’t fall behind. The future of the palm oil industry depends on strong research and genetic diversity,” he emphasized.
With continued strengthening of genetic resources, Indonesia is expected to maintain competitiveness while adapting to global challenges in a sustainable manner. (T2)
Source: InfoSAWIT, November 2025 Edition
