Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia is resolute in optimally capitalizing on its palm oil potential through downstreaming efforts, processing the commodity into innovative products with higher value using technology and research, National Development Planning Minister Rachmat Pambudy said.“Downstreaming palm oil means going beyond exporting raw commodities, shifting to the development of innovative products grounded in technology and research,” he remarked during a meeting with a Bogor Agriculture Institute (IPB) delegation.As quoted in a statement here on Saturday, Pambudy underscored the importance of the downstreaming policy, noting that each oil palm bunch can yield a wide range of valuable products, including lipsticks, beta-carotene capsules, composite materials, and other industrial goods.He further stressed that unlocking the full value and potential of the commodity requires adequate mastery of science and technology. Therefore, he pushed for continued empowerment of the IPB center for palm oil.“Collaboration between higher education institutions, the government, and industries is key to ensuring palm oil development directly delivers benefits to the public,” he stated.The minister also said President Prabowo Subianto had issued special orders to several institutions, including his ministry, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, and state-run company PT Agro Industry Nasional, to oversee palm oil downstreaming efforts.“In this context, IPB can contribute and play a strategic role,” he remarked.Leading the IPB delegation, Professor Sudrajat highlighted that his institution is preparing several schemes for cooperation in palm oil plantation management and development of an education ecosystem based on a sustainable palm oil industry.“The options we prepare include professionally managing plantations involving experienced industrial practitioners while integrating that initiative with education, research, and community service programs,” he concluded.