Asian Agri’s palm oil plantations recently received praise from EU ambassadors who visited Jambi as part of an executive oil palm program for ambassadors.
According to the ambassadors, Asian Agri is able to optimize productivity of its oil palm plantations while safeguarding the environment and empowering local communities through its plasma and independent smallholder scheme.
Vincent Guerend, EU Ambassador for Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, who had a firsthand look at Asian Agri’s process of managing palm oil plantations in Tungkal Ulu, was surprised at how Asian Agri is able to convert palm oil waste into electrical energy through its biogas power plants.
“Having extensive experience helps with implementing good practices. There is an optimization process which is good for business, good management, a good harvesting process – this is extraordinary information,” said Vincent.
Siebe K. Schuur, Head of the Economic Department at the Netherlands Embassy in Jakarta, said that what he has seen in the Asian Agri palm oil plantation is a good example of the best palm oil plantation management practices.
He noted that Asian Agri has continued to involve smallholders throughout the company’s 30 years of operations.
“I think this is very important because it shows how serious Indonesia is about sustainable palm oil and ultimately about the zero-deforestation policy,” he explained.
