S Kalimantan partners BRIN, Korea to strengthen organic fertilizer development

Banjarmasin (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Plantation and Livestock Agency (Disbunnak) is collaborating with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to develop organic fertilizer and palm oil waste-based energy.

Head of the Disbunnak Suparmi in Banjarbaru on Tuesday said the agency also cooperating with the National Institute of Green Technology (NIGT) of Korea and the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH).

“This collaboration focuses on research, studies, and implementation of organic fertilizer and energy factories from palm oil waste. The initial stages prepared this year include preparation of regulation and integrated feasibility for feed, fertilizer, and energy factories,” she said.

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Communication with South Korean partners has been ongoing and expected not only in research, but also on technology dissemination and financial support for the development of energy and fertilizer facilities.

She added that Disbunnak has also coordinated with Bank Indonesia regarding proposed development of waste-based animal feed and fertilizer factories.

In general, various concrete steps have been taken, both at the smallholder and industrial level.

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“For fertilizer plant, implementation is underway although it still at smallholder industry level. Meanwhile, feed mill made from palm oil waste is already available at industrial level,” she explained.

To strengthen these efforts, Disbunnak held coordination meeting with BRIN, NIGT Korea, and KITECH to support integrated research in plantation and livestock oriented towards sustainable industrial and manufacture system.

The meeting, she added, also to prepare field survey to collect data and information related to application of technology and sustainable industrial system in South Kalimantan.

"We are ready to facilitate coordination and survey assistance according to research scope," she said.

Through this, Suparmi hopes to build strong synergy between the regional government, national research institutions, international partners, and business actors in encouraging the development of a sustainable plantation and livestock sector based on innovation and technology in line with South Kalimantan's potential and characteristics.