The Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) is the biggest contributor to global palm oil research according to a recently released report by Netherlands-based scientific research publisher Elsevier, the university has said in a statement.

The 2020 Elsevier Research Intelligence on Evidence-Based Policymaking for Indonesia reveals that the IPB has produced a total of 69 scientific papers on palm oil, followed by University of Goettingen (UGOE) in Germany with 42 papers, Putra Malaysia University (UPM) with 35 papers, Malaysia Sabah University (UMS) with 26 papers and the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) with 24 papers.

IPB has collaborated with UGOE and CIFOR on several research projects that address the Oil Palm Adaptive Landscape and the Global Challenges Research Fund’s Trade, Development and the Environment Hub.

“Research-based integration of the upstream palm oil supply chain is very important to ensure a sustainable palm oil business in Indonesia, which is a significant driver of national economic growth,” said IPB rector Arif Satria in a statement on Thursday as quoted by Antara news agency.

IPB has conducted research on palm oil with support from the National Research Agency (BRIN), the Indonesian Oil Palm Estate Fund (BPDP-KS) and a number of private parties.

“We are committed to improving the quality of palm oil research in Indonesia, either through an interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary approach, to increase its impact on sustainability,” Arif said. (rfa)