Indonesia uses African beetles to increase the yield of oil palm.

This is reported by AgroReview. A large-scale project has been launched in Indonesia to improve the yield of oil palm through the release of African longhorn beetles on plantations. In North Sumatra, the first batch, consisting of about 7,000 beetles, was released on the fields of the state-owned company PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV. In the future, it is planned to distribute up to one million beetles throughout the country. Project goals and expected results The initiative aims to improve the pollination of palm trees, which should increase fruit yield. African longhorn beetles are natural pollinators of oil palms, so their use is considered an effective biological means. According to forecasts, the first positive changes in yield will become noticeable within 10–12 months after the release of the beetles. Challenges for the industry and experience of previous years Recently, the growth rate of palm oil production in Indonesia has slowed down, mainly due to the aging of ...