Researchers Say PT. Alko Sumatra Kopi Is Ready to Become a Model for Kerinci's Sustainable Coffee Industry

SINERGI RESEARCH TEAM ASSESSES PT. ALKO SUMATRA KOPI AS A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE COFFEE INDUSTRY IN INDONESIA

Kerinci, Jambi - The SINERGI Research Downstreaming Team has assessed PT. Alko Sumatra Kopi as a coffee company strongly prepared to become a model for the sustainable coffee industry in Indonesia. The assessment was made after the team conducted a scientific visit to the company's production facilities and plantations in Kerinci Regency as part of the research project "Development of Low-Acrylamide, High-Antioxidant Specialty Arabica Coffee as a Superior Product for Sumatra Island."

The visit was conducted by a team consisting of lecturers and researchers from Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Payakumbuh (PPNP), Universitas Andalas (Unand), and Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP), in collaboration with researchers from the Coffee Education & Research Institute (CERI) and PT Pesona Global Multikarya (PGM) as an industrial partner. This activity is part of a research program funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for the 2025 Fiscal Year.

During field observations, the research team noted that PT. Alko has established a healthy farmer partnership pattern through environmentally friendly cultivation assistance, the use of organic fertilizers based on coffee husk waste, a reduction in chemical fertilizers, and regular training on selective harvesting and initial processing. This approach is considered to strengthen upstream sustainability while maintaining the quality of the coffee produced by the assisted farmers.

The team also highlighted the blockchain-based digital traceability system implemented by PT. Alko. This technology records the entire production process, from plantation to fermentation, drying, and roasting, making it easier for researchers to transparently track data. In the context of low-acrylamide coffee research, this traceability is crucial because it provides the technical data necessary for scientific analysis of the roast profile and chemical characteristics of coffee beans.

At the processing facility, researchers found that the fermentation process was hygienic, the drying stage was consistent, and the roasting process used stable temperature control. All processes were neatly recorded, facilitating data verification for research purposes. Furthermore, the team noted the implementation of a circular economy by utilizing coffee waste as organic fertilizer, which reduced production waste and improved soil fertility in farmers' gardens.

PT. Alko Sumatra Kopi CEO, Suryono, welcomed the collaboration with academics. He believes a scientific approach is crucial for the Kerinci coffee industry to meet global market demands. "We believe research is the future of the coffee industry. Therefore, we are committed to strengthening responsible, transparent, and data-driven production practices," he said.

Based on the visit, the research team concluded that PT. Alko possesses several advantages, including:

• Inclusive farmer partnerships;
• A robust digital record-keeping system;
• A standardized production process;
• A commitment to environmental sustainability.

The team believes that the company is not only ready to support research into healthy coffee with a low acrylamide content and high antioxidant content, but also has the potential to become a role model for the development of a sustainable coffee industry in other regions.

Through collaboration between researchers and industry, the team hopes this research will strengthen the competitiveness of Kerinci coffee at the national and international levels and open up opportunities for further innovation in the areas of healthy coffee and supply chain sustainability.