Indonesia encourages Gen Z into downstream palm oil via entrepreneurship

Indonesia's Palm Oil Fund Management Agency (BPDP) is actively promoting entrepreneurship among young people to drive growth in the downstream palm oil industry. The agency organized a "Gen-Z Preneur UMKM Sawit" workshop in Karawang, West Java, from June 4-5, 2026, focusing on cultivating startups in the plantation and oleofood sectors.

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This program is part of our effort to build superior palm oil human resources. Scholarship recipients not only get tuition fees but also pocket money during their studies.

Helmi Muhansyah, Head of Community Partnership and UMKM Division at BPDP, emphasized that the palm oil industry offers significant opportunities for young entrepreneurs to develop businesses based on value-added palm oil derivatives. BPDP supports this initiative through human resource development, research, innovation, and product downstreaming. The agency aims to build a superior palm oil workforce and has opened scholarship opportunities for approximately 5,000 prospective students, covering tuition and living expenses.

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We have many palm oil-based research results, from materials for bulletproof vests, helmets, to various consumer products. A number of these research results have been commercialized by SMEs. On the BPDP website, there are also around 100 SMEs based on palm oil derivative products that can be an inspiration for young people.

BPDP is also highlighting the commercial potential of palm oil research, which has yielded products ranging from bulletproof vest materials to consumer goods. Many of these innovations have been commercialized by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with BPDP featuring around 100 such businesses on its website as inspiration for young entrepreneurs. One notable success story is a student from West Sumatra who developed a palm oil waste-based business that has penetrated export markets in South Asia.

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We hope the workshop participants can be inspired and in the next few years new young entrepreneurs will emerge who can develop palm oil products to penetrate export markets.

Qayuum Amri, the workshop's organizing committee chair, noted that many young people, or Gen Z, are exposed to more negative information about palm oil on social media than to its economic opportunities. The workshop aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the industry, encouraging them to see palm oil as a viable space for innovation and business development, ultimately boosting exports and creating new ventures.

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So far, Gen Z has received more negative information about palm oil through social media compared to information about available economic opportunities.