IPB University’s Center for Palm Oil Studies Introduces the Benefits and Innovation of Palm Oil through Seminar and Fashion Show
IPB University’s Center for Palm Oil Studies introduced the benefits of palm oil from upstream to downstream through a National Seminar and Fashion Show themed ‘Palm Oil for Biomaterial and Textile Industries’ on Monday (30/9).
The event held at the IPB International Convention Center ((IICC) Bogor was attended by lecturers / researchers from universities, the National Innovation Research Agency (BRIN), industry practitioners, State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), startup companies, students, farmer groups, Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) to representatives of community empowerment institutions in the circumference of oil palm plantation villages.
This national seminar presented speakers from the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS), PT Perkebunan Nusantara, the Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs Association (GAPKI), the Research and Development Service (Dislitbang) of the Indonesian Army, the Polytechnic of the Bandung School of Textile Technology (STTT), IPB University, BRIN, and the Cellulose Industry Standardization and Service Center (BBSPJIS). The event was officially opened by the Rector of IPB University, Prof Arif Satria.
Chairperson of the seminar committee, Dr Siti Nikmatin revealed that this seminar was a link between palm oil research and industry and downstream as well as answering the needs and problems of the industry that could be solved by palm oil-based researchers.
“In addition, scientific sharing of industries that have been able to implement technology from palm oil research is also organized to share their experiences with participants from various institutions and stakeholders,” she explained.
Chief of the Center for Palm Oil Studies at IPB University, Prof Budi Mulyanto, conveyed in his speech how important collaboration is for all people who research, process, and utilize palm oil so that it can still provide benefits to Indonesia and compete in the global market.
Palm oil is an invaluable gift to this country. Its potential is enormous, not only as a major export commodity, but also as a raw material for various industries, ranging from food, energy, to biomaterials and textiles.
The National Seminar of IPB University’s Center for Palm Oil Studies also presented a Fashion Show, which showcased various textile products made from palm biomass byproducts (mainly oil palm empty fruit bunches/TKKS waste). TKKS, which has been known as waste, can be transformed into various textile products such as clothes, bags, shoes, hats, helmets, and bulletproof vests. (*/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)
