The Netherlands Committed to Support Sustainable Palm Oil in Indonesia

JAKARTA—The Netherlands reaffirmed its commitment to support the production and use of sustainable palm oil in Indonesia by signing MoU with Indonesia on the implementation of knowledge and technology improvement program for local oil palm farmers.

The Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sigird Kaag said that the Netherlands is consistent to cooperate with local farmers in an effort to develop technology and improve knowledge in sustainable palm oil production.

“That is our target, to build partnership with smallholder farmers that will enable them to produce sustainable palm oil,” Kaag said in Jakarta as quoted by Antara, (11/3/2020).

She said the program will support Indonesia to handle deforestation and carbon emissions problems that probably occurred when they produce palm oil. It is deemed necessary to improve self-awareness on sustainable development as palm oil has become important agricultural commodity for Indonesia.  

“I believe in transformative approach and that’s why we entered into a memorandum of understanding last year.  I hope we can make some improvements in the program,” Kaag said.

Seeing that involving all farmers in Indonesia is beyond the scope of the program, Kaag expected other parties as well as Indonesian government to enlarge the scope by implementing similar programs. “

The Netherlands imports 25% of Indonesian palm oil products, mostly to be reprocessed and re-export. The program, Kaag added, offer concepts on how to produce palm oil sustainably.  [Source: Antara]