Fostering a climate-smart intensification for oil palm

Juan P. Monzon, Maja A. Slingerland, Suroso Rahutomo, Fahmuddin Agus, Thomas Oberthür, José F. Andrade, Antoine Couëdel, Juan I. Rattalino Edreira, Willem Hekman, Rob van den Beuken, Fandi Hidayat, Iput Pradiko, Dwi K. G. Purwantomo, Christopher R. Donough, Hendra Sugianto, Ya Li Lim, Thomas Farrell and Patricio Grassini ()
Additional contact information
Juan P. Monzon: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Maja A. Slingerland: Wageningen University and Research
Suroso Rahutomo: Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (IOPRI)
Fahmuddin Agus: Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (IAARD)
Thomas Oberthür: African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI)
José F. Andrade: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Antoine Couëdel: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Juan I. Rattalino Edreira: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Willem Hekman: Wageningen University and Research
Rob van den Beuken: Wageningen University and Research
Fandi Hidayat: Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (IOPRI)
Iput Pradiko: Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (IOPRI)
Dwi K. G. Purwantomo: Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (IAARD)
Christopher R. Donough: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Hendra Sugianto: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ya Li Lim: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Thomas Farrell: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Patricio Grassini: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Nature Sustainability, 2021, vol. 4, issue 7, 595-601

Abstract: Abstract Oil palm production in Indonesia illustrates the intense pressure that exists worldwide to convert natural ecosystems to agricultural production. Oil palm production has increased because of expansion of cultivated area rather than due to average-yield increases. We used a data-rich modelling approach to investigate how intensification on existing plantations could help Indonesia meet palm oil demand while preserving fragile ecosystems. We found that average current yield represents 62% and 53% of the attainable yield in large and smallholder plantations, respectively. Narrowing yield gaps via improved agronomic management, together with a limited expansion that excludes fragile ecosystems, would save 2.6 million hectares of forests and peatlands and avoid 732 MtCO2e compared with following historical trends in yield and land use. Fine-tuning policy to promote intensification, along with investments in agricultural research and development, can help reconcile economic and environmental goals.

Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-021-00700-y

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