Bogor, June 27, 2023 - Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) has launched an innovative high-resolution satellite imaging technology to map oil palm plantations more efficiently and in greater detail. The technology, named Oil Palm Identification Based on Machine Learning-IPB (OPTIMAL-IPB), was officially unveiled at the Launch of IPB's Outstanding Research Results: Palm 4.0.

The research was initiated to address the perceived low productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations. Despite smallholders contributing 40 percent of the total national oil palm plantation area, their productivity has been considered relatively low.

Prof. Ernan Rustiadi, the innovator of OPTIMAL-IPB, explained that the currently common area-based or polygon-based mapping technologies fall short in capturing the nuances of plantation fields. OPTIMAL-IPB, based on deep learning, enhances the mapping of plant objects to a more detailed level, capable of detecting small objects such as oil palm trees, even in narrow, scattered, and mixed locations.

"OPTIMAL-IPB is developed as an object-based mapping model, focusing on oil palm tree stands. This innovation can detect oil palm objects in high-resolution satellite images based on deep learning models," stated Prof. Ernan Rustiadi during the launch event held by the Research and Innovation Directorate of IPB University at the IPB International Convention Center, Bogor (27/6).

Prof. Ernan continued by highlighting that, with competitive productivity and palm oil prices, oil palm cultivation is not limited to large companies but also involves local communities. Oil palm remains a crucial commodity contributing significantly to the country's foreign exchange.

The results of oil palm detection using OPTIMAL-IPB technology are invaluable as basic data for delineating smallholder oil palm plantations. The spatial database of smallholder oil palm plantations is crucial to ensure that programs are not misdirected, ensuring they are not applied to oil palm plantations in forest areas, protected areas, or unsuitable lands.

OPTIMAL-IPB, a 4.0 technology-based research, received financial support from the Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP) through the Innovative Productive Research (RISPRO) funding scheme.

LPDP, through the RISPRO Competition (Policy/Governance) funding, has been supporting research led by Prof. Dr. Ernan Rustiadi, M. Agr, since September 18, 2020, in collaboration with two partners: the Plantation Service of Jambi Province and the Directorate General at the Ministry of Agriculture.

The research, titled "Development of Spatial Information Technology for Mapping Smallholder Oil Palm Plantations," resulted in technology used for mapping smallholder oil palm plantations using satellite imagery.

Wisnu Sardjono Soenarso, Director of Research Facilitation and Rehabilitation Education, present at the OPTIMAL-IPB launch event, expressed LPDP's hope that IPB's Research and Innovation Directorate, responsible for research management at IPB, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Plantation Service of Jambi Province as partners, and all supporting parties would maximize the research outputs to improve palm oil governance policies.

"Collaboration with all stakeholders is crucial so that Indonesia can overcome various challenges related to palm oil, including waste management, fertilizer needs, pest and disease control, oil palm rejuvenation, and addressing environmental issues or disputes related to palm oil with other countries or institutions such as the European Union (EU)," stated Wisnu Sardjono Soenarso in his presentation.

Apart from LPDP, support for the palm oil industry is also provided by government-based research, including contributions from the Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS), universities, BRIN, the Ministry's Research Institutions, and several other research institutions.