Feature Article

Implementing IR 4.0 Technology in Oil

Palm Plantation
Ahmad Syazwan Ramli*; Mohd Azwan Mohd Bakri* and Mohd Rizal Ahmad*
Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
E-mail: ahmad.syazwan@mpob.gov.my

ABSTRACT use of automation, connectivity, and data-driven decision

making in industrial processes (The Economist Intelligence
This article discusses the potential of Industry Revolution Unit, 2015).
4.0 (IR 4.0) technologies in revolutionising the oil palm
industry by increasing efficiency, productivity, and precision IR 4.0 has the potential to revolutionise the way
in the plantation while reducing costs and environmental industrial processes are organised and managed, leading
impact. Examples of IR 4.0 in the oil palm plantations to increased efficiency, flexibility, and responsiveness to
include the use of sensor-based precision farming, changing market conditions. It also enables the creation
automation in planting and harvesting processes, and of smart factories, where machines and systems are
the use of drones for crop monitoring and management. interconnected, allowing for real-time monitoring, control,
However, the implementation of these technologies in the and optimisation of the production process (South, 2017).
oil palm plantations faces several challenges including One example of IR 4.0 in agriculture is the use of sensor-
lack of awareness and understanding of the benefits and based precision farming, which uses real-time data to
potential of IR 4.0, lack of infrastructure and investment optimise crop growth and yields (TMR Research, 2020).
in the necessary technology and equipment, and lack of Another example is the use of drones for crop monitoring
skilled personnel and data management capabilities. To and management (Bryceson et al., 2018). The potential
overcome these challenges, it is important to invest in in applying IR 4.0 technologies in oil palm plantations is
educating and training the stakeholders on the benefits enormous.
and potential of IR 4.0, as well as providing financial
and technical support for the implementation of IR
4.0 technologies and to foster collaboration between
government, industry, and academic institutions to drive
the development and adoption of IR 4.0 in the oil palm
plantation industry. All the above is emphasised and
discussed in this article.

INTRODUCTION

The Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry Revolution 4.0

(IR 4.0), is the term used to describe the present trend of
automation and data sharing in manufacturing technology,
including advancement in artificial intelligence, the Internet
of Things, and cloud computing (Figure 1) (ABS Global
2022). The goal of IR 4.0 in agriculture is to increase Source: ABS Global, (2022).

efficiency, productivity, and precision while reducing cost Figure 1. IR 4.0 Internet of Things (IoT) technology setup in oil palm
and environmental impact. It is characterised by increasing plantation.

[ 8 ] Palm Oil Engineering Bulletin No. 142

 Implementing IR 4.0 Technology in Oil Palm Plantation

Source: Balqis, (2018).

Figure 2. Drone application in oil palm industry.

Using cutting-edge automation technologies to (a)

N
boost production and efficiency of oil palm plantation
is one possible advantage of IR 4.0. For instance, the Plot boundry
use of drones to map and monitor crops (Figure 2) Center

can significantly reduce the time and labour needed to Segmented oil palm

complete these chores while simultaneously delivering Referenced oil palm

more accurate and up to dated data (Shah, 2019;

Balqis, 2018). Additionally, real-time monitoring and
practise optimisation of irrigation, fertilisation, and pest
management can be accomplished through the use of (b)
N
Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and other monitoring Plot boundry
technologies (Hussin et al., 2018). Segmented oil palm
Canopy cover (%)
Enhancing the sustainability and environmental 0-25

effect of the business is another possible advantage 25-50

of IR 4.0 in an oil palm plantations. For instance, using 50-75

precision agriculture methods (Figure 3) such as variable 75-100

rate irrigation and fertilisation can increase crop yields

(c)
while consuming less waste and resources (Bryceson N
et al., 2018; Khokthong et al., 2019). AI and machine Trees
learning can also be used to improve crop management Buffer

techniques and spot possible problems early on, Canopy cover (%)

enabling more proactive and preventative approaches 0-25

25-50
to pest management and other difficulties (Zhang et al.,
50-75
2020).
75-100

Source: Khokthong et al., (2019).

Figure 3. An example of plantation mapping using drone and artificial

intelligence (AI) technology.

Palm Oil Engineering Bulletin No. 142 [ 9 ]

Feature Article

CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES However, there are several challenges that need to be
addressed in order to encourage the adoption of IR 4.0 in
The stigma surrounding new technology and the associated the oil palm plantations. One major challenge is the lack of
implementation expenses are two major obstacles in the awareness and understanding of the benefits and potential
adoption of IR 4.0 in oil palm plantations. Organisations of IR 4.0 among oil palm plantation stakeholders. Another
must inform stakeholders about the advantages of IR 4.0 challenge is the lack of infrastructure and investment in the
and allay any fears or misconceptions they may have necessary technology and equipment. Additionally, there
in order to overcome these obstacles. It may also be are concerns about the lack of skilled personnel and data
important to offer employees with training and support in management capabilities to fully leverage the potential of
order to ensure that they have the skills necessary to use IR 4.0.
the new technologies (Hussin et al., 2018). Organisations
can also employ other methods to promote the adoption of To overcome these challenges, it is important to
new technology (Zafar 2019): invest in educating and training the stakeholders on the
benefits and potential of IR 4.0, as well as providing
• Communicate the benefits: Clearly communicate financial and technical support for the implementation of
the benefits of the new technology to the employees, IR 4.0 technologies. Additionally, collaboration between
including how it will improve their work processes and government, industry, and academic institutions can help
make their jobs easier. The adoption process can also drive the development and adoption of IR 4.0 in the oil
be simplified so that it can be more user-friendly. palm plantations.
• Involve employees in decision-making process:
Involving employees in decision making to adopt new REFERENCES
technology can help build buy-in and ensures that the
technology meets their needs. ABS Global website (2022). Retrieved from ABS Innovation
• Offer incentives: Consider offering incentives, such page. https://abs.global/abs-innovations/)
as bonuses or other rewards to encourage employees
to adopt the new technology. Bryceson, I; Sitko, J and Wegener, M (2018).
• Demonstrate the technology in action: Showing Precision agriculture: A review of technology adoption,
how the technology works and the positive impact it barriers and opportunities in developing countries.
can have can help build excitement and interest in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 87,
adopting it. 662-675.
• Gradually introduce the technology: Instead of
implementing the technology all at once, consider Hussin, K; Lim, Y Y and Salim, M R (2018). Industry
rolling it out gradually to give employees time to adjust 4.0 adoption in agriculture: A review. Renewable and
and get comfortable with it. In some cases, it may be Sustainable Energy Reviews, 81; 2268-2279.
necessary to make the new technology a requirement
or mandatory. However, it is important to consider the Khokthong, W; Zemp, D C; Irawan, B; Sundawati,
potential consequences of this approach, as it may be L; Kreft, H and H lscher, D (2019). Drone-based
met with resistance. assessment of canopy cover for analyzing tree mortality
in an oil palm agroforest. Frontiers in Forests and Global
CONCLUSION Change, 2:12.

In conclusion, IR 4.0 technologies have the potential Balqis, L (2018). Innovation: Drones home in on plantations.
to revolutionise the oil palm plantations by increasing New Straits Times. Retrieve from: https://www.nst.com.
efficiency, productivity, and precision while reducing cost my/lifestyle/bots/2018/03/349373/innovation-drones-
and environmental impact. Examples of IR 4.0 in the oil home-plantations.
palm plantation industry include the use of sensor-based
precision farming, automation in planting and harvesting South, N P T (2017). Precision Farming: A Review
processes, and the use of drones for crop monitoring and of Current Technologies and Future Directions. J.
management. Agricultural Engineering, 48:1.

[ 10 ] Palm Oil Engineering Bulletin No. 142

 Implementing IR 4.0 Technology in Oil Palm Plantation

The Economist Intelligence Unit (2015). The Internet Zhang, L; Duan, Z; Li, X and Wu, X (2020). Artificial
of Things: Making the most of the second digital intelligence in precision agriculture: A review.
revolution. Biosystems Engineering, 193: 1-12.

TMR Research (2020). Agriculture drones market- Zafar, M (2019). Factors affecting adoption of new
Global industry analysis, size, share, growth, trends technology in the workplace. Inter. J. Adv. Res. Mgmt.
and forecast, 2020-2030. Soc. Sci., 8(6): 1-14.

Palm Oil Engineering Bulletin No. 142 [ 11 ]