Oil Palm Ambassadors from Six Countries Visit IPB Jonggol Oil Palm Education and Research Farm
Jonggol Oil Palm Education and Research Farm (KPPS), Department of Agronomy and Horticulture (AGH), Faculty of Agriculture (Faperta) IPB University received a visit from 12 Young Elaeis Ambassadors from six countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Honduras, India, Pakistan and Ghana.
The visit was an initiative of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), which consists of Indonesia, Malaysia and Honduras. Apart from the producing countries, the Palm Oil Ambassadors also came from palm oil consuming countries, namely India, Pakistan and Ghana.
CPOPC Director of Strategy and Policy, Dr Puah Chiew Wei, who led the group of Young Elaeis Ambassadors, explained the reason for his visit to KPPS IPB Jonggol. He said the visit to IPB University was expected to broaden the knowledge of the Ambassadors about the importance of research activities and results in campaign activities.
“It is very important to show the research facilities owned by IPB University to achieve the achievement of palm oil research results ranked first in the world in terms of the number of international scientific articles indexed in reputable databases based on the analysis of Elsevier Research Intelligence Singapore,” he said.
Prof Sudradjat explained that KPPS IPB Jonggol was built as a means to provide facilities for education, research and community service. As well as generating income for the AGH Department of IPB University.
“Educational activities, research and community service are the tridharma of higher education which must run continuously and with quality to produce competent graduates,” said Chairman of the Department of AGH IPB University, Prof Edi Santosa.
KPPS IPB Jonggol is an academic business unit (SUA) under the management of the AGH Department of IPB University which continues to grow. In 2023, a Mini Palm Oil Processing Research Unit was built as a means of research, practice and student internships.
In addition to explaining about KPPS IPB Jonggol, the Vice Dean for Resources, Cooperation and Development of the Faculty of Agriculture of IPB University, Dr Syarifah Iis Aisyah, also explained the study programmes in the Faculty of Agriculture of IPB University. Research activities are not only palm oil but also fruit crops such as longan and avocado in Jonggol.
The Sawit Ambassadors also got an explanation and saw products produced from palm oil such as helmets, fabrics, shoes made from palm oil waste which is the work of Dr Nikmatin from the Center for Palm Oil Studies of IPB University. Research results from IPB University’s Surfactant and Bioenergy Research Center (SBRC) such as hand sanitiser, ethanol were also brought to their attention.
The Palm Oil Ambassadors also visited the Mini Palm Oil Processing Research Unit with a capacity of two tonnes of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) per hour. This processing unit is the first in the world owned by a university. The visit was completed with a demonstration of FFB sorting using internet of things (IoT) based sensors which is a collaboration between KPPS Jonggol and a startup managed by IPB University alumni. (*/Rz) (IAAS/RSL)
