INDOFOOD AGRI RESOURCES LTD
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
35.
authenticate and tag its seed products using ultraviolet
(UV) printing technology.
To reduce pesticide use, beneficial plants were planted
along the estate roads, to encourage a favourable
ecosystem for natural insect predators and parasitoids.
We also sprayed entomopathogenic agents including fungi
and viruses as biopesticide, and deployed UV light traps to
control major leaf-eating caterpillars across our estates.
We monitored the spatio-temporal patterns and status
of all leaf eating caterpillars’ attacks using the monthly-
census data in our SAP system to control pest damage
below economic threshold.
The use of satellite images, along with data feeds from
GIS, ground GPS and unmanned aerial vehicles, such as
fixed-wing systems and drone quad-copters, supported
our precision agronomy objectives. The timely and
reliable data harnessed through these tools enhanced
our responsiveness to varying soil and crop conditions,
including nutrient status and pest and disease attack
prevalence. This has enabled us to proactively prevent
potential agronomic issues and optimise manpower and
resource deployment.
R&D was also at the core of product innovation that
caters to the growing demands and discerning tastes
of Indonesian consumers. This included customised
formulations of cooking oils and specialty fats required by
F&B manufacturers and patisseries. In 2015, we launched
the first butter-flavoured and garlic-flavoured margarines
in Indonesia. The new product launches followed extensive
customer forums and feedback, and enabled us to expand
our product offerings and create new markets. We
continued to provide R&D support for the design of cost-
efficient and environmentally friendly packaging materials.
2016 OUTLOOK
In anticipation of demand growth driven by rising consumer
affluence, growing population size, as well as new planting
activities planned for 2016, we will continue to pursue the
cultivation of premium, high-yielding seeds materials.
The use of bio-control methods against major pests will
be intensified to preserve the biodiversity of our estates.
Through highly detailed topographic maps, we expect to
fine-tune our agronomic practices with more effective
soil and water management programmes in our South
Sumatra and Central Kalimantan estates. To strengthen
productivity, we will further our mechanisation efforts
while streamlining existing work processes.
With the visibility of field data captured in our integrated
SAP enterprise resource planning system, we plan to
increase the use of data analytics and GIS alongside
statistical and census methods to improve yield forecasts.
Site-specific fertiliser recommendations to produce
maximum economic crop response will be made possible
with detailed soil fertility mapping based on the physico-
chemical soil properties across different terrain and
climate environments.
Other R&D improvements will include pest and disease
management and precision agronomy via improved crop
management strategies, planting densities, fertiliser and
herbicide usage. Such initiatives will deliver higher and
more profitable yields per hectare, reduce production
costs and maintain a balanced nutrient programme for
sustainable growth.
Packaging our oil palm seeds at the R&D centre in North Sumatra
