Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is a socioeconomically important palm in Indonesia, owned mostly by smallholders. Indonesia has the largest coconut palm-growing areas in the world, followed by the Philippines and India. The average national coconut productivity is still lower than the production potency of superior varieties. Indonesia and the Philippines contributed about 67% of crude coconut oil (CNO) export to global market. At present, the global market demand of coconut oil is fluctuating lead to the low price of CNO, while demand for certain coconut products such as coconut water, milk and flour is growing rapidly. This review provides an overview of the present status of coconut development in Indonesia, the recent advances in technologies for coconut improvement and outlook of coconut development toward 2045. Technological, political and socio economic issues including senility, pests and diseases, inferior varieties, poor agronomic practices, land conversion affected the low coconut production, while unfavorable supply chain, narrow product line, low product quality, monoculture-planting system might be affected the economic welfare of farmers. About 6.6 million farmers rely their main source of income on coconut and coconut based-products, which are mostly copra and CNO. Technological and institutional innovations for smallholder in coconut development become important strategies. Producing high value coconut products, establishment of seed farms, replanting of senile palms, pest and disease management, synergy among industries, farmers, and governments as well as research on finding more innovative technologies and technology transfer to solve existing problems are required to ensure the sustainability of coconut sector.

The beetle Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a serious invasive pest of the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera I., in Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. Genetic analysis is essential to ecological and evolutionary study of such invasive species. We therefore conducted molecular analyses by using partial sequences (1044 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genes of B. longissima collected from several locations. We found two monophyletic groups: one distributed over a limited area (Australia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Sumba Island; referred to as the Pacific group) and the other collected from a wide area of Asia and the Pacific region (referred to as the Asian group). We compared the biological and morphological traits of the two groups. We found that insects in the Pacific group had a shorter developmental time from hatching to adult emergence, produced fewer eggs, and had a larger adult body size than insects in the Asian group. Elytral color patterns did not differ between the two groups. Our interpopulation crosses produced significantly fewer progeny than intrapopulation crosses, suggesting that B. longissima represents two cryptic species.

Benzoxazinoids are constitutively produced secondary metabolites in maize that protect the plant from the negative effects of insect herbivores. In this study, we determined the effects of benzoxazinoids on the maize specialist Diabrotica virgifera virgifera and a congeneric generalist Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi. We compared the survival, growth and development of larvae fed on maize line 428G, which is defective in benzoxazinoid biosynthesis, and H88, the wild‐type parental line of 428G with normal benzoxazinoid production. There were no negative effects of benzoxazinoids on survival, growth and development of either western corn rootworm or southern corn rootworm. Western corn rootworms gained more weight than southern corn rootworms when feeding on benzoxazinoid‐containing corn. Our results support the hypothesis that specialist and generalist insects respond distinctly to benzoxazinoids.

Coffee is an important agricultural product traded in global market. Coffee exports have contributed significantly to the economic growth of Indonesia, reducing the trade deficit and partly solved the problem of poverty reduction for people, especially in rural area. The demand of high-quality coffee is growing fast. The demand from consumers for certified coffee is also growing, and the price they are willing to pay has caught the attention of traders and producers. In global scope we have some sustainable coffee certifications including: Organic, Fair Trade Certified, Rainforest Alliance, Smithsonian Bird Friendly, UTZ Certified, and 4C Common Code. The objective of this review are: (1) perspective analysis of sustainable coffee certifications, (2) analysis of Indonesia coffee industry, and (3) strategy formulation in improving practices and accountability of Indonesia coffee development in global supply chains. There is evidence for a range of social, economic, and environmental benefits of certification. These certifications have the potential to create value for smallholders, as certain certified coffee carries a market premium. In order to meet market demand, coffee farmers have had to adapt a good farming practices to qualify for certification.

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