Initiation of Palm Oil – Goat Integration Research Collaboration

The Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu, on Friday, March 8 2024, met with researchers from Wageningen University, the Netherlands and the Acronesia Team—Dr Maja Slingerlan from Wageningen University, accompanied by Acronesia CEO Jusrian Saubara Orpa Yanda, M.Sc. The meeting took place in the Meeting Room of the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, which was attended by the Head of the Faculty of Agriculture, the Head of the Animal Husbandry Department, the Head of the Agricultural Science Doctoral Study Program and several lecturers.

The general theme discussed is related to research that can be carried out on the process of rejuvenating oil palm plantations, both on corporate plantations and smallholder plantations. So far, it is common for oil palm plantations to be integrated with cattle farms, known as SISKA. Further to the existing integration system, efforts will be made to develop an integration system for oil palm with goat farming.

The Faculty of Agriculture welcomes the collaborative research plan for integrating oil palm and goat heads. Through the Animal Husbandry Study Program, the Faculty of Agriculture will involve 2 undergraduate students in Animal Husbandry to be involved in thesis research and accompany a research team of postgraduate students from Wageningen University, which is expected to start at the end of March 2024.