SustainPalm Highlights Oil Palm Intercropping at ICOPE 2025

From February 12-14, 2025, the 7th edition of the International Conference on Oil Palm and Environment (ICOPE) took place in Bali, Indonesia. Organized by Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the conference gathered influential stakeholders from across the oil palm sector, including government representatives, NGOs, private companies, research institutions, and universities.

Under the compelling theme “Oil Palm Agro-ecological Transformation: Towards Climate and Nature-Positive Agriculture,” one of the highlighted sustainable practices discussed was oil palm intercropping. To address this innovative topic, ICOPE invited the SustainPalm project team led by Aritta Suwarno, alongside her colleagues Jusrian Saubara Orpayanda and Theresa Amoritha Siahaan, presented their pioneering work in oil palm intercropping implemented in living labs located in Bengkulu and Central Kalimantan, showcasing intercrops such as bananas, watermelons, and coffee.

During their presentation, they shared compelling insights into the positive impacts of intercropping practices on local communities. They demonstrated how these systems significantly enhance farmers’ income, provide alternative revenue streams before oil palm plantations mature, and create new employment opportunities, especially benefiting local women. The project notably empowers women through direct involvement in agricultural practices and the processing of intercrop harvests, such as transforming bananas into marketable banana chips.

The team also highlighted potential environmental benefits of oil palm intercropping, including improved soil health, reduced soil erosion, enhanced biodiversity, increased carbon sequestration, and optimized land usage to mitigate deforestation. However, they emphasized the necessity of long-term environmental monitoring and robust scientific validation. To address this, the SustainPalm team called upon research institutions and universities to collaborate in comprehensively evaluating and confirming these ecological benefits.

Additionally, SustainPalm detailed their closed-loop ecosystem strategy implemented at their living lab sites. Farmers receive support through access to agricultural inputs, expert agronomic guidance, and guaranteed market contracts provided by committed offtakers. This approach simplifies the adoption process for farmers, significantly reducing risks associated with crop failures.

Beyond their informative presentation, SustainPalm attracted substantial attention through their exhibition booth. They showcased intercrop products directly from farmers, including watermelons from Bengkulu, and banana chips and coffee from Central Kalimantan. Visitors—comprising NGOs, major plantation representatives, and government officials—engaged with the team through meaningful discussions on potential partnerships to expand intercropping projects to other regions. Informative flyers and policy briefs developed by the SustainPalm team further enriched these interactions.

Ultimately, SustainPalm leveraged the ICOPE 2025 platform to encourage stakeholders from various sectors to actively collaborate in advancing sustainable oil palm cultivation in Indonesia. They advocated for integrating intercropping practices with globally recognized sustainability certification schemes such as ISPO and RSPO.