Bali - 12 February 2025. Over 500 participants have gathered at the Bali Beach Convention Sanur, Bali, for the International Conference on Oil Palm and the Environment (ICOPE) 2025.

The event, hosted by Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and WWF Indonesia, has attracted delegates from countries including India, the Netherlands, France, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Finland, Colombia, and Spain to collaborate on formulating a sustainable, climate- and nature-positive transformation for the palm oil industry.

The conference was officially opened by Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, Sudaryono, as a platform for academics, scientists, government representatives, financial institutions, industry players, and non-governmental organisations to develop a sustainable, science-based framework for the palm oil industry. "If we work together, we can go far and faster. The sustainability of palm oil is a golden egg for us," he said.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture explained that Indonesia has great potential to support the three priority programs advocated by President Prabowo Subianto, namely food self-sufficiency, energy self-sufficiency, and industrial downstreaming. Through the wise management of natural resources, Indonesia can achieve progress in the food and energy sectors and improve the overall welfare of the people.

Jean-Pierre Caliman, Co-Chairman of ICOPE 2025, emphasised the importance of involving global stakeholders. "We are united by a common goal: to transform environmental challenges into opportunities for more sustainable, eco-friendly palm oil agriculture," he stated.

This year’s conference theme, “Agro-Ecological Transformation of Palm Oil: Towards Climate and Nature-Friendly Agriculture,” highlights both the urgency of addressing climate and environmental change and the hope that through innovation and collaboration, stakeholders can build a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable agricultural system.

“We are here to discuss, exchange views, and find collective solutions for a better and brighter future in the palm oil industry. Palm oil is not only a key part of the global economy but also plays a crucial role in maintaining the world’s environmental and climate balance,” added Caliman.

Faced with growing challenges of climate change and increasing global food demand, continued evolution is imperative for the palm oil sector. The industry must balance a focus on increasing production with enhancing sustainability and implementing agro-ecology principles into palm oil agriculture.

Meanwhile, Franky O. Widjaja, GAR’s Chairman and CEO, stated, "We believe that the future of the palm oil industry relies on sustainable innovation and close collaboration between stakeholders from government, businesses, academia, NGOs, and communities. We are committed to implementing best practices in sustainable agriculture and protecting biodiversity and ecosystems around us."

Widjaja emphasised that the conference offered an important opportunity to reinforce stakeholders’ commitment to sustainability. "Through the discussions and collaborations at ICOPE 2025, we anticipate the emergence of actionable solutions that will position the palm oil industry as part of the global solution to climate and environmental challenges."

Dewi Lestari Yani Rizki, Director of Conservation at the WWF Indonesia Foundation, said, "We believe the palm oil industry can transform into a sustainable business in the future to support the Indonesian government's goals of reducing carbon emissions and saving biodiversity." Dewi continued, "For this, the palm oil industry must be serious in implementing governance toward sustainability in order to meet the challenges of the global market."

Jean-Marc Roda, Regional Director of CIRAD, highlighted the event’s role as a catalyst for change in the face of pressing challenges. “ICOPE strives to be a catalyst for change. We believe this event is the best place for researchers to share the latest data and recommendations to guide the evolution of the palm oil sector. We are very optimistic about the change we have achieved so far and believe that ongoing collaboration, based on the latest scientific research, can continue to deliver necessary evolution of our industry.”

ABOUT ICOPE

The International Conference on Palm Oil and the Environment (ICOPE) 2025 is an international conference held every two years and aims to become a scientific platform for the development of sustainable palm oil to overcome environmental challenges. ICOPE was held in collaboration between Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia, and CIRAD France. The upcoming ICOPE is scheduled to take place at the Bali Beach Convention, Sanur – Bali, on 12-14 February 2025.

For more information, visit our website: www.icope-series.com and get the latest updates by following ICOPE Series Instagram.

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