Tanzanian Oil Palm Genetic Resources Released, Boosting National Productivity

Efforts to boost national palm oil industry productivity continue to be driven by strengthening international collaboration, including in the development of genetic resources (GR). Cross-country cooperation is seen as a key to facing global challenges in the agricultural sector while expanding access to innovation and technology. The Ambassador of Tanzania to Indonesia, Macocha Moshe Tembele, emphasised the importance of international collaboration in developing the palm oil industry, one of which is through the release of oil palm genetic resources (GR). The two countries are considered to have common goals in advancing the agricultural sector despite being separated by the Indian Ocean. “Today, we are not only releasing genetic resources but also celebrating science and partnership. This is a story of collaboration between two friendly countries separated by the Indian Ocean but united by common goals,” Tembele said while attending the release of Tanzanian-origin oil palm GR at the Tanah Besih Garden, Tebing Syahbandar Subdistrict, Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatra, on Tuesday (5/5/2026), quoted from a written statement. He added that cross-country cooperation becomes a concrete solution in facing various global challenges, especially in the agricultural sector. According to him, innovation will develop through the exchange of ideas, resources, and expertise between countries. On that occasion, Tembele also appreciated the collaboration of various parties in the release of oil palm GR. Those parties include the Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs Association (GAPKI), the Ministry of Agriculture, research institutions, business actors, and the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). He assessed that the experience gained by Tanzanian researchers while in Indonesia can become important capital for the development of the palm oil industry in their country. He hopes that the release of oil palm GR, which was also attended by GAPKI officials, the Plantation Fund Management Agency, the Indonesian Quarantine Agency, the North Sumatra Main Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Centre, and 14 partner companies of the Indonesian oil palm seed plasma consortium, can provide real benefits in increasing productivity. In addition, this activity is expected to become concrete evidence of the strength of global collaboration in driving the development of the plantation sector.