Heaptalk, Jakarta — The Ministry of Industry is committed to advancing the downstream palm oil industry, particularly for beta-carotene (provitamin A) and tocopherol (vitamin E) products to enhance the added value of Indonesia’s palm oil commodities and strengthen public nutrition resilience. This includes kickstarting a collaborative research partnership with the Indonesian Palm Oil Society (Maksi) and PT Kimia Farma, launched at a meeting in Jakarta on Friday (05/09).
Putu Juli Ardika, Director General of Agro-Industry at the Ministry of Industry, emphasized that this collaboration aims to develop palm oil-based health supplements to support the free nutritious meals (MBG) program. “This collaborative research is a strategic step to ensure public nutrition through health products derived from our national flagship commodity, palm oil—including efforts to combat stunting and wasting,” said Putu at the palm oil downstream meeting.
The initiative aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to optimize palm oil’s role in national nutrition security, complementing its current uses in: energy resilience (biofuels) and food security (cooking oil, solid fat products).
While widely consumed, many are unaware that palm oil contains essential nutrients like beta-carotene (provitamin A), tocopherol (vitamin E), medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), squalene, and antioxidants. Modern chemical refining processes, however, strip palm oil of these natural nutrients, forcing reliance on synthetic supplements or alternative sources. Putu explained, “Plant-based vitamin supplementation—including from naturally processed palm oil—is a smart solution to ensure nutritional adequacy, especially for vulnerable groups like schoolchildren and pregnant/nursing mothers.”
The Ministry also drafts Indonesian National Standards (SNI) for palm oil-based health supplements to support the free nutritious meal program. These standards will enable broader participation from state-owned enterprises, private companies, and other stakeholders in national nutrition initiatives. “The kickoff meeting also aims to pioneer a collaborative model to transform research innovations into commercial-scale products, facilitated by the Ministry,” Putu concluded.
