infotech

Astra Agro Lestari (AALI) Implements SDGs, Intensifies Pest Control Research, And Minimizes Pesticide Use

The palm oil industry is embracing sustainable practices in its plantation operations to align with the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). One of the strategies employed by PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (AALI), part of the Astra Agro Lestari Group, is to reduce pesticide usage by managing pest populations effectively.

In general, insect pests in plantations can have severe consequences, ranging from decreased productivity to crop damage. As of 2024, Astra Agro Lestari's plantation area spans 285,387 hectares. The company conducts a series of research initiatives aimed at addressing pest infestations and enhancing pollination success, thereby increasing the production of fresh fruit bunches (FFB). This initiative is part of the company's commitment to safeguarding the welfare of plasma farmers and independent farmers from pest threats.

Astra Agro Lestari's CEO, Santosa, emphasized the serious efforts undertaken by the company to utilize natural pest control methods through research and the digitization of pest attack anticipation systems. This approach is beneficial for improving crop productivity. "The use of parasitoids for pest control at Astra Agro has significantly reduced pesticide application costs," Santosa stated in a press release dated Sunday, November 17, 2024.

According to the AALI 2023 Sustainability Report, the company has adopted a natural food chain approach for pest management through biological control methods, utilizing natural predators to suppress pest populations. For instance, predatory insects are employed against caterpillar pests, while owls are used for rodent control, among other strategies.

Astra Agro Lestari (AALI) has also been actively developing plant areas and conservation sites that serve as habitats for pest predators. As of 2023, the company has expanded its beneficial plant area to 2.81 million square meters, an increase from 1.97 million square meters in 2021 and 2.5 million square meters in 2022. Additionally, the conservation area has grown from 5,600 plots in 2021 to 8,200 plots in 2022, reaching 10,600 plots in 2023.

These sustainability practices have garnered recognition from Tempo and IDNFinancials, both of which awarded Astra Agro Lestari's CEO, Santosa, as one of the best CEOs of 2024. Santosa received the accolade of The Best CEO with Special Mention: The Most Consistent Listed Company in Efforts to Reduce Pesticide in Pest Management at the Top CEO Indonesia Awards 2024, held by Tempo-IDNFinancials in Bandung, West Java, on Friday, November 15, 2024.

Last year, at the Top CEO Indonesia 2023 event in Bali, Santosa was also honored as the Best CEO in Agriculture for AALI's outstanding performance. This career executive at AALI recognizes that oil palm cultivation is inherently linked to pest issues. However, chemical pesticides are no longer viewed as the sole solution, especially considering their detrimental environmental impacts.

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Tag: AALI Astra Agro Lestari Sustainability Development Goals