Total Beneficial Plants Cover:
690.9
ha
8.1%
of total planted area
In order to minimize the use of synthetic
pesticides in our estates, we have
employed three of the industry’s most
regarded eco-warriors:
Cassia Cobanensis
Provides nectar as food for parasitoids
(insects whose larvae live as parasites
which eventually kill their host) associated
with the nettle caterpillar and bagworm,
the most common leaf-eating pest in oil
palm plantations. A parasitoid spends the
majority of its life obtaining nourishment
from the host organism after which
it eventually kills them and prevents
reproduction.
Cassia Cobanensis
grows
well in the open and therefore it is mainly
planted along the roadsides.
Turnera Subulata & Antigonon Leptopus
Flowering shrubs host a range of predators
of leaf-eating pests and hence are also very
effective in pest control.
These flowers fend off leaf-eating pests in
our oil palm plantations. Insect species that
feed on the leaves of oil palm trees can
pose major problems. Some are ravenous
eaters that can cause serious damage
to oil palm leaves. The leaves on palm
trees contain chlorophyll which the tree
uses during photosynthesis to generate
energy. Fewer leaves mean less energy for
the trees, which in turn leads to reduced
growth and suppressed oil yields.
SPOTLIGHT STORY
That Shield Our Palms, Organic Style!
Benefitting From Plants
ENVIRONMENT
33