Carbon Footprint Assessment of Smallholder Oil Palm Plantations without ISPO Certification: A Case Study in Musi Rawas, Indonesia
Published:
2026-08-23Downloads
Abstract
Oil palm is an important commodity for the Indonesian economy; however, its production activities have the potential to generate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study aimed to identify the main emission sources, quantify the total carbon footprint, and analyze the contribution of emissions across different production stages in non-ISPO-certified smallholder oil palm plantations. The study was conducted in the Rantau Jaya Farmer Group, Mandi Aur Village, Musi Rawas Regency, South Sumatra, using a cradle-to-gate life cycle approach. Data were collected through field surveys and interviews with farmers, and GHG emissions were estimated using the IPCC Tier 1 methodology with default emission factors and other literatures. The results showed that the main sources of emissions were biomass burning, chemical fertilizer application, and fossil fuel consumption. The total carbon footprint generated by the production system was 158.69 tons CO₂eq, equivalent to approximately 5 tons CO₂eq/ha, with Scope 1 emissions accounting for 99.98% of total emissions. Based on the life cycle assessment, the planting stage was the largest contributor to emissions (93.77%), primarily due to biomass burning and the use of al machinery, followed by the PM1 (4.10%), which was dominated by nitrogen-based fertilizer application. These findings highlight the need for more environmentally friendly cultivation practices to reduce GHG emissions and support the sustainable management of smallholder oil palm plantations.
Keywords:
Carbon Footprint GHG Emissions IPCC ISPO Smallholder Oil PalmReferences
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