Taru Wangi is exploring ways to improve patchouli cultivation through soil rehabilitation and adaptive plant varieties. This work is presented in our poster submission for the competition at KNMA 2026 (Konferensi Nasional Minyak Atsiri), a national conference for Indonesia’s essential oil industry.
The project brings together Taru Wangi, the Indonesian Initiative for Sustainable Mining (IISM), and Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD). It focuses on two areas: improving soil conditions through biorehabilitation and observing an adaptive patchouli variety known as N9, or Nilam Kaca.
Improving Soil Conditions Through Biorehabilitation
Patchouli productivity can decline when the same land is cultivated repeatedly. Changes in soil conditions and dry-season challenges can also affect plant growth. Finding ways to address these issues is important for maintaining productive patchouli-growing areas.
Together with IISM, Taru Wangi is applying a soil rehabilitation approach adapted from post-mining land restoration. The process uses organic carbon and beneficial microorganisms to help improve soil conditions.
The programme began with field demonstrations in 2025 and has since expanded to approximately 10 hectares, involving 28 partner farmers in Sulawesi.
Initial observations have shown healthier plant growth in treated plots during the dry season compared with plots without the treatment. Further monitoring is needed to assess the results over a longer period.
Observing the N9 Patchouli Variety
The second part of the project is being carried out with UNPAD and focuses on N9, locally known as Nilam Kaca.
Initial field observations have noted larger leaves compared with the commonly planted variety, along with promising growth under dry conditions. Further observation will help us understand how N9 performs across different growing conditions.
Both approaches are still being studied. More field data will be needed to understand their potential contribution to sustainable patchouli cultivation in Indonesia.
Sharing Ideas for the Future of the Essential Oil Industry
KNMA 2026 also provides an opportunity for Taru Wangi to share this work with others in the essential oil industry. Each of us may approach sustainability differently, whether through cultivation, research, production, or working directly with farmers. But we share a common goal: keeping the industry sustainable for the future. We hope that sharing our work will contribute to a wider exchange of ideas and experiences. By learning from one another, we can continue exploring ways to support the long-term sustainability of Indonesia’s essential oil industry.