An effort to prevent negative campaign often aimed against Indonesian palm oil industry makes PPKS ask stakeholders to protect the flagship commodity from domestic and international attack.
The International Oil Palm Conference (IOPC) 2018 is a routine agenda taking place for three days on 17-19 July 2018 in Medan, North Sumatra. The international scale event was officially opened by Indonesia’s Deputy of Food and Agriculture of the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, Musdhalifah Machmud, on Tuesday (17/7).
As written by Sawit Indonesia magazine edition 81, oil palm can be stated as the national commodity with strategic role in Indonesia’s economy. The palm oil commodity has been proven to increase the country’s foreign exchange, abrsorb labors, eliminate poverty, as well as improve economic growth in various regions in Indonesia. In 2017 alone, the palm oil commodity has contributed foreign exchange of US$23 billion. On the other side, 16 million of Indonesian labors also depend on oil palm sector.
”The negative campaign does not only affect public opinion globally, but also uses routes through consumers, producers, industries, supporting institutions, and governments.
Hasril HasanDirector of PPKS
However, aside from its high contribution to the country, the palm oil commodity is still facing various challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the negative campaign against oil palm. A concern from other vegetable oil producers over oil palm commodity becomes the root of the negative campaign against palm oil that is becoming increasingly intense. Now, the palm oil negative campaign does not only touch the health issue, but has spread to economic, social, and particularly environmental issue.
“The negative campaign strategy is structured, systematic, and massive, involving international and local anti-palm oil NGOs and using mass media and social media,” said the Director of PPKS Hasril Hasan. Moreover, the PPKS Director explained that the negative campaign does not only affect public opinion globally, but also uses routes through consumers, producers, industries, supporting institutions, and governments.
For example, in the consumers segment, various multinational companies have put the label “palm oil free” on their products. Furthermore, in the producers segment, there is a standardization by prioritizing sustainability. On the government level, the palm oil commodity is also facing pressure, such as the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) regulation from the European Union Government that removed the palm oil-based biodiesel as renewable energy. This obstacle certainly harm the Indonesian palm oil commodity, so it needs to be handled properly.
Source: Sawit Indonesia Magazine
