Inaugural IPNI Oil Palm Courses on 4R Nutrient Stewardship and Sustainable Intensification

July 28, 2016. Penang, Malaysia – The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), a leader in global plant nutrition, is dedicated to responsible nutrient management, with initiatives addressing the growing need for food, fuel, fiber and feed. Central to this endeavor, is 4R Nutrient Stewardship, an innovative approach for fertilizer best management practices, essential to sustainability of agricultural systems. The concept is simple - apply the right source of nutrient, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place - the implementation, however, is knowledge-intensive and site-specific.

In Southeast Asia, IPNI has been involved in the oil palm industry since the 1970s, supporting knowledge- and capacity-building with informational books and software. IPNI Southeast Asia Program (SEAP) strengthens this support now with training - two inaugural courses were offered at its’ new premises in Penang this May.

The first course on 4R Nutrient Stewardship outlined the principles defining the four “rights” in the context of a successful oil palm operation. Real examples from IPNI SEAP field projects were used to demonstrate this comprehensive nutrient management approach.

The second course introduced the concepts, processes and protocols developed and field-tested by IPNI SEAP for sustainable yield intensification in oil palm. This enables oil palm growers to achieve progressively higher yields and be profitable, yet be environmentally viable. Participants learnt about Plantation Intelligence®, Estate-scale experimentation, and Best Management Practices to maximize crop potential.

Both courses were conducted over 5 days, with a combined total of 18 participants from the oil palm industry and supporting sectors. The first course attracted a full capacity of 15 participants, with many people having to be turned away. While the majority were Malaysian, others came from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Russia and Germany. Despite the varied experience of participants with regards to oil palm, feedback on both courses was positive.

"Thanks for this professional training!" -- Marco Klinkhammer, Plantacote N. V.

"All topics were valuable + useful", "Use of video + pictures was excellent", "I liked Chris' overall knowledge of industry" -- Grant Roberts, Yara Asia Pte. Ltd.

IPNI SEAP will conduct more training courses in future – some will be intensive classroom courses like the above, while others will include actual field visits. We also explore the possibility of conducting training courses in Indonesia.

Enrollment for the next courses on 4R Nutrient Stewardship and Sustainable Intensification in November 2016 will open soon. For inquiries please contact Monique Neoh at mneoh@ipni.net.



About IPNI
The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) is a not-for-profit, science-based organization dedicated to the responsible management of plant nutrition for the benefit of people. Through cooperation and partnerships with respected institutions around the world, IPNI adds its strength to agronomic research, education, demonstrations, training, and other endeavors. Best management practices for nutrient stewardship encourage the concept of 4Rs - applying the right nutrient source, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place. To learn more about IPNI, please visit: www.ipni.net

Contact
Dr. Thomas Oberthür, IPNI Director of Southeast Asia Program
Email: toberthur@ipni.net