Yield and Extraction Improvements

Musim Mas is actively engaged in initiatives aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and addressing climate change. We focus on improving yields through comprehensive strategies, such as integrating smallholders into our supply chain and implementing targeted training programs.

By addressing challenges related to yields, plantation management, and sustainable agricultural practices, we contribute to the economic well-being of small-scale food producers and foster climate resilience.

Our commitment extends to investing in research and development, emphasizing premium oil palm seedlings, increased yields, reduced chemical dependency, and improved soil management. These efforts are integral to building resilient agricultural systems, mitigating climate impact, and progressively enhancing overall land and soil quality.

Musim Mas is committed to steering the future growth of oil palm production by advancing higher-yielding seeds, prioritizing this approach over land expansion. Our proactive investment in research and development (R&D) is geared towards optimizing land-use efficiency, maximizing yields, and bolstering productivity. This strategic focus aims to meet the surging demand for palm oil for the next 30 years and beyond while mitigating our environmental impact.

The specialized units at our Genetic and Agriculture Research Center in Riau drive innovation in agronomic matters like managing and optimizing crop protection and peat management at our plantations. In addition, the center researches and breeds superior oil palms that can adapt to harsh environmental conditions, with desirable genetic traits like enhanced disease resistance, faster growth, and higher oil extraction rates. Our industry-leading crude palm oil (CPO) yield was 5.86 tonnes per hectare in 2022 – 1.8 times higher than the global average.

Musim Mas is actively addressing the complex challenges smallholders face to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce the need for land expansion. Through our inclusive supply chain practices and extensive training and engagement programs, we empower smallholders to overcome barriers related to yields, plantation management, land ownership, financial access, income, market access, replanting, economies of scale, and overall quality of life.

By increasing the yields of smallholders, we contribute not only to their economic well-being but also to broader food productivity goals. Improved productivity from smallholder agriculture lessens the pressure to expand agricultural land, promoting sustainable practices and safeguarding natural ecosystems. Our inclusive programs, now extending to coconut smallholders, exemplify our commitment to fostering resilient agricultural systems, mitigating environmental impact, and supporting global food security.

Drawing on over a decade of rigorous non-GMO genetic research, Musim Mas proudly introduced four new oil palm varieties with potential yields of over 10 tons of total oil/hectare, which are nearly three times higher than the industry average of 3.25 tons of CPO/hectare. The new seed varieties can potentially yield fruiting palms within 25 months in contrast to the industry average of 30 months.

Dubbed the Musim Mas GS Series, the new seeds are of the dura x pisifera (DxP) variety, and four separate varieties were released by The Group: GS1, GS2, GS3, and GS4. These varieties have been approved by the Indonesian government’s assessment body for plantation varieties (TPV). The varieties were also developed four years faster than a typical breeding program, demonstrating the strength of Musim Mas’ R&D efforts.

The GS Series is an important contributor to Musim Mas’ role as a leading seed-to-shelf agribusiness and will also potentially yield oil palms with longer stalks, which makes harvesting easier, yields bigger fruitlets, and provides excellent CPO extraction rates of 30%.2