Advantages and disadvantages of oil palm-ruminant integration system and potential knowledge gaps for improvement

This review critically examines the integration of ruminant livestock with oil palm cultivation, using the PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal) framework to analyse the factors influencing its adoption and implementation. Crop-livestock integration, a climate-smart agriculture strategy, offers the potential to reduce dependency on chemical herbicides, improve sustainability, and address global vegetable oil production challenges. The review spans literature from 1995 to 2024, identifying critical barriers and opportunities. Political factors include the absence of coherent policies and lack of incentives to promote adoption. Economic analyses reveal significant cost reductions and income diversification potential, though initial investments pose challenges. Social considerations highlight benefits like enhanced rural livelihoods and food security but resistance to change and limited technical expertise remain issues. Technological advancements, including GPS-based fencing, manure management innovations, and analytical models such as stocking density optimisation and metabolic energy budgeting (MEB) techniques, play a crucial role in enhancing system efficiency and sustainability. These tools contribute to better decision making by aligning stocking density with palm growth stages, thereby optimising forage availability and nutrient recycling. However, accessibility to such innovations remains a challenge for many stakeholders. Environmental benefits include improved soil health, reduced herbicide use, and nutrient recycling; however, challenges like worm eggs in manure and cattle grazing aversion near manure patches need to be addressed. Legal factors indicate the need for more transparent regulations and sustainability standards to facilitate integration. This review provides actionable insights into overcoming adoption barriers and bridging knowledge gaps through interdisciplinary research, supportive policies, and stakeholder collaboration. By addressing these PESTEL dimensions, integrating oil palm cultivation with ruminant livestock farming offers a promising pathway to align agricultural practices with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

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