Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) production in Indonesia: carbon footprint and diversification options

Abstract
Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a uniquely valuable palm as source of low-cost vegetable oil.
However, the success and method of its expansion (monoculture plantation) especially in
biodiversity-rich Indonesia and Malaysia have made it one of the most controversial crops
of the world. One of the policy consequences of the boycotts and debate is the Renewable
Energy Directive (RED) of European countries that sets binding targets for the emission
savings to be achieved when oils are used as feedstock of biofuel. Exporting countries
such as Indonesia need to have reliable data on the carbon footprint of their product
across production systems and the products’ lifecycle. Diversification of oil palm
plantations starts to gain attention as a strategy to increase farmer resilience. The
objectives of this thesis were (1) to estimate the carbon footprint of palm oil production
in Indonesia when it is used as biofuel and express it as CO2 equivalent and emissions
saving, and (2) to explore mixed oil palm systems as diversification strategy to increase
farmer benefit and to reduce the carbon footprint. Through a survey and sample
collection in more than 20 plantations distributed over Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi
we analysed the palm oil life cycle. Using the Biofuel Emission Reduction Estimator
Scheme (BERES) emissions savings were differentiated by carbon debt (land use change)
and current practices. Process-based modelling using WaNuLCAS (Water, Nutrient and
Light Capture in Agroforestry System) helped explore intercropping systems beyond
current practice. Results show that it is possible to achieve the high emission savings
target with palm oil to comply with the RED requirement. Of companies with ‘good
agricultural practice’ 40% and 25% of production can meet the 35% (2015) and 60% (2018)
emissions savings standards, respectively. The larger the areas that were converted from
high-C stock forest, the larger the fraction of peat, the larger the emissions from fertilizers,
transportation and processing (incl. methane) and the lower the yield of Fresh Fruit
Bunches (FFB), in a mix of production situations that is accounted for jointly (as is the case
for ‘company’ level assessments), the harder it is to achieve emission savings. While
fertilizer application increases FFB yield, it also increases N2O emissions. Selected mixed
oil palm systems can provide considerable economic and environmental system
improvements. The Land Equivalent Ratio of mixed oil palm – cacao systems can be 1.4,
showing a superior way to achieve land sparing as a goal of efficient use of land, relative
to monocultures for each commodity separately. Diversification should be a valid
counterpart of current intensification research and policies to help make palm oil more
sustainable from both social and environmental perspectives.