DPR Says Indonesian Palm Oil Industry is a Target of European Trade Interests

Member of Commission IV of the House of Representatives, Firman Soebagyo, said that the Indonesian palm oil industry is often the target of negative campaigns that are not entirely based on environmental concerns, but are wrapped in the interests of the economy and trade protectionism of developed countries, especially Europe.

According to him, the accusation that palm oil is the main cause of deforestation, environmental damage, and human rights violations is often presented unilaterally without seeing the global context and comparative facts with other commodities.

"The environmental issues directed at palm oil do not stand in a vacuum. There are very strong trade interests behind it. Our palm oil is too competitive, too efficient, and it disrupts the vegetable oil market of European countries," said Firman in his statement, Tuesday, December 30.

The Golkar Party legislator from the Central Java III District believes that oil palm has the highest productivity compared to other vegetable oil commodities. With a smaller land area, said Firman, oil palm is able to produce a large amount of oil, so that it is more environmentally efficient if managed properly.

Firman also highlighted the double standards that are often played in the global anti-palm oil campaign. He assessed that the countries that are most vocal in criticizing palm oil actually turn a blind eye to their own agricultural practices, which also have significant environmental impacts.

"When it comes to the environment, it must be fair. Don't just highlight palm oil, while soybeans, sunflowers, or rapeseed that need much wider land have never been questioned," said the Deputy Chairman of KADIN Indonesia.

Furthermore, Firman reminded that millions of Indonesians depend on the palm oil sector, ranging from small farmers, plantation workers, to UMKM players in the production center area. Therefore, according to him, the narrative that blindly discredits palm oil has the potential to threaten the economic and social resilience of the community.

"For us, palm oil is not just an export commodity. This is about employment, poverty alleviation, and the sustainability of rural economies. Don't sacrifice the interests of the people just to meet the standards of a developed country," said Firman.

The Deputy Chairman of the Golkar Party Faction of the MPR RI also admitted that the sustainability of the palm oil industry remains an important concern. However, he hopes that Indonesia will not remain silent by implementing various policies, ranging from ISPO certification, a moratorium on new permits, to strengthening the transparency of plantation governance.

"Indonesia and Malaysia have moved towards a sustainable palm oil industry. This is a fact that is often ignored by NGOs and critic countries," said Firman.

He also dismissed the notion that palm oil is always synonymous with environmental damage. According to Firman, with proper management, palm plantations actually have ecological contributions, including carbon absorption and land use improvement.

"What we have to fight is not the palm oil, but the bad practices. If managed properly, palm oil should actually be a solution, not a problem that we should be worried about," said this member of the DPR Baleg.

Firman also encouraged the government to be more aggressive in building international diplomacy and fighting global disinformation about Indonesian palm oil. He emphasized the importance of data-based narratives and national interests so that Indonesia does not continue to be in a defensive position.

"We must not continue to ask for understanding. We must speak firmly, based on data, and defend the interests of farmers and our own nation," he concluded.