Indonesian Millennials Interested in Improving Knowledge of Palm Oil

ANOTHER event has been held to promote sustainable palm oil to the millennial generation in Indonesia. This time, the Indonesia Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) held a Talkshow for Millennial on Palm Oil with highly topical theme: Amazing Race Sawit Hunt 2019. The event held in Bogor Botanical Garden, Saturday (3/8/2019), was organized in collaboration with Warta Ekonomi magazine. The topics will be addressed by speakers from palm oil stakeholders including BPDPKS’ Corporate Secretary Achmad Maulizal Sutawijaya, Speaker of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) Tofan Mahdi, Senior Food Technologies Garudafood Brury Wijaya, and Marketing Director of Mustika Ratu Isabella Silalahi.

Maulizal said the talkshow was structured to be strictly about education on sustainable-related issues in palm oil sector. This was the second event after the first one held in F3 Atrium – FX Sudirman, June, 19 2019. He told audiences there are at least three major issues that are deemed necessary for public knowledge, especially millennial generation. Firstly, palm oil has contributed to economic benefits such as government revenues, profits for companies, employment, and raised incomes for smallholders. Secondly, palm oil is the healthy natural edible vegetable oil as it contains natural antioxidant.

“Thirdly, palm oil is the source of renewable energy that produce biodiesel. Currently, Indonesia makes it mandatory for biodiesel to have a bio-content of 20 percent (B20) and will be increased to B30 next year,” Maulizal said. Meanwhile, Isabella Silalahi told audiences about palm oil product in cosmetics.

“Cosmetics industry depends on palm oil greatly. It is an integral ingredient in all types of cosmetic products,” she said. At the same time, Tofan Mahdi spoke about challenges in the industry, saying that the European Union has implemented discriminatory policy that undermines palm oil. He said, the industry needs a strong government policy to meet the challenge. “Without extraordinary policy, the national palm oil industry will face an insecure future,” Tofan said. **