Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu and PT Agricinal Establish Cooperation

On Monday, March 13, 2023, the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu, held a meeting with PT Agricinal to discuss possible cooperation. Universities are expected to expand cooperation with the Indonesia: World Business Industry (DUDI).

In this meeting, the Faculty of Agriculture was led directly by Dean Prof. Dwi Wahyuni Ganefianti. Meanwhile, PT Agricinal was attended by the Director of PT Agricinal, Mr. Immanuel Manurung, and his staff. From the University of Bengkulu, the Vice-Rector for Cooperation, Vice Deans, Head of UPT KSLI, Head of Department and Head of Study Program, and related lecturers were also present.

In this meeting, cooperation related to research, student internships, teaching practitioners, and others was discussed by optimizing resources from both parties. Some of the research focuses discussed related to:

• Intercopping model of palm oil with food crops/horticulture
• Environmental aspects related to carbon balance because PT Agricinal is currently replanting. The carbon balance in oil palm plantations can be reduced from the beginning before there is a crop for several years.
• Integration of cattle and palm oil that has been initiated long before and cow feed technology from palm oil waste.
• Palm oil waste handling technology such as empty bunches and others, for example, to produce briquette products.
• Diversification of palm oil products.
• Genetic resource breeding

In addition, MBKM internships for students and teaching practitioner activities were also discussed.

This collaboration is also a follow-up to the cooperation plan between the University of Wageningen Netherlands, PT Agricinal, PT Acronesia and the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu. Wageningen University and PT Agricinal are currently involved in Project Sustain Palm.

Previously, in early February 2023, the Faculty of Agriculture UNIB also visited the location of PT Agricinal to meet several parties. The visit also saw the management of oil palm land by intercopping watermelons and bananas, a collaboration between PT Agricinal and PT Acronesia. Hopefully, this cooperation can continue and produce benefits for all parties