Improving Edible Oilseed (Oil Palm) Health and Productivity: Integration of Sustainable Pest Management, Precision Farming and Stakeholder Collaboration

Among major edible oilseeds, oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) stands out as a versatile tropical crop, globally recognized for its high productivity, versatility, and broad range of applications. However, E. guineensis plantations, particularly in tropical regions, face numerous pressures from a wide range of pests, including insects, pathogens, and vertebrate pests. Conventional pest control methods relying mainly on chemicals have raised serious concerns regarding environmental pollution, human health risks, and the development of pesticide resistance in target pests and pathogens. To address these issues, sustainable pest management, comprising integrated pest management strategies, can be augmented with precise agriculture technologies, including remote sensing and GPS-guided equipment for targeted pesticide application, and effective stakeholder engagement. This chapter aims to (1) outline major pest management challenges in E. guineensis plantations; (2) introduce the concepts and principles of precision farming and its application in pest management; (3) discuss the major applications of sensor technology, GPS, and remote sensing for pest monitoring; (4) emphasize the significance of stakeholder collaboration in integrated pest management; and (5) identify aspects that have been least explored in the current context.