Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is collaborating with private companies to develop malapari (Pongamia pinnata) in Lembata District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), as an alternative fuel source to strengthen national energy security. The initiative positions malapari as a promising green energy crop with both environmental and socio-economic benefits.
Speaking in Jakarta on Monday, Budi Leksono, a researcher at BRIN’s Applied Botany Research Center, said malapari is increasingly being recognised as a strategic renewable energy source for the future. He noted that the plant produces non-edible oil that can be processed into biodiesel and bioavtur, making it especially valuable as it does not compete with food supplies and aligns with international aviation requirements for sustainable fuels.
Naturally, malapari seeds yield oil in the range of 20–28 per cent, but through genetic selection and improved extraction methods, this can be increased to around 44 per cent. BRIN’s breeding programme is therefore focused on developing superior, fast-fruiting varieties with high productivity and optimal oil content.
Beyond energy potential, malapari offers significant ecological advantages. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it improves soil fertility without the need for chemical fertilisers and can thrive on marginal and arid land, such as that found in eastern Indonesia. In Lembata, cultivation is being integrated into community-based agroforestry systems, enabling farmers to grow crops like coffee and cocoa beneath the trees.
Leksono said large-scale malapari development could support Indonesia’s carbon emission reduction targets and open opportunities for carbon trading, providing additional income for local communities. This year, BRIN will focus on establishing certified seed sources and developing high-quality local varieties, with cross-sector collaboration expected to accelerate malapari’s emergence as a sustainable national strategic commodity.
