Yogyakarta, 20 February 2025 , PT Bumitama Gunajaya Agro (BGA) continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing innovation within Indonesia’s palm oil sector through the implementation of its 2025 Open Innovation Program. The program was formally introduced during a socialization event held at the Tropical Biology Auditorium, Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and was attended by faculty members and students.
This activity also marked the continuation of collaboration between PT BGA and the Faculty of Biology UGM in the previous year. In his opening address, Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., underscored the strategic importance of partnerships between academia and industry in enhancing the relevance and quality of research and innovation. He expressed appreciation for the opportunity to strengthen this partnership, noting that he was a recipient of the BGA Innovation Grant in the previous cycle.
Dr. Ade Agung Laksono, Head of the Bumitama Academy Department at PT BGA, delivered the keynote presentation titled “Integrated Innovation for Advancing the Indonesian Palm Oil Industry.” In his presentation, Dr. Ade reaffirmed BGA’s dedication to facilitating broader participation by Indonesian researchers in addressing practical challenges within the national palm oil industry.
“BGA operates primarily in upstream plantation management. Through this research grant initiative, we seek to explore the potential of Indonesian researchers in delivering applied solutions to key issues in the palm oil sector,” Dr. Ade stated.
Among the critical challenges highlighted were the decline in production capacity due to pest outbreaks and inefficiencies in the processing of crude palm oil into refined products. To address these issues, BGA is offering researchers access to plantation land, thereby providing an opportunity to apply their research’s findings.
Among the critical challenges highlighted were the decline in production capacity due to pest outbreaks and inefficiencies in the processing of crude palm oil into refined products. To address these issues, BGA is offering researchers access to plantation land, thereby providing an opportunity to apply their research’s findings.
In addition to faculty researchers, the 2025 Open Innovation Program is also open to university students across Indonesia. This initiative is expected to further promote research-based innovation originating from academic institutions such as the Faculty of Biology UGM, contributing meaningfully to the development of the national palm oil industry. Furthermore, it aligns with key objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs No. 4 on Quality Education and SDGs No.17 on Partnerships for the Goals.
Through this initiative, PT BGA aspires to strengthen the integration between higher education institutions and industry, while fostering impactful and solution-oriented research in the fields of agriculture and plantation science in Indonesia.
