The improvement of palm yield is one of the main issues to be discussed in the 2023 Program Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting as the matter needs immediate attention, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
According to a statement on Wednesday (May 10), MPOB explained this because the local oil palm industry is facing stagnant yields that could affect its growth and sustainability.
PAC 2023 runs for three days starting on Tuesday.
The statement also informed that, while speaking to inaugurate PAC 2023 here today, MPOB Chairman Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said all parties need to prioritise the development of high-yield materials through advanced biotechnology, breeding and cloning.
“This aims to improve disease resistance, improve oil quality characteristics and ensure resistance to climate change, thus significantly increasing yields,” it said.
It said another critical area that requires innovative solutions is sustainable development as various issues and concerns have arisen as the oil palm industry continues to grow.
This includes land use change, deforestation, water, air and soil pollution, as well as threats to biodiversity and conservation efforts, he said.
According to MPOB, it has identified and prioritized five research focus areas which are the performance of results; sustainable development; mechanization and automation; food and nutrition security; as well as adding value in line with the five pillars of the National Agricommodity Policy (DAKN) 2021-2030.
“PAC members consisting of experts in the oil and fat industry will also discuss ideas on the development of innovative tools that can help increase productivity and reduce dependence on manual labor in oil palm plantations,” added the agency.
The statement added that MPOB Director General Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said the performance of the palm industry, especially the production of crude palm oil (CPO) has started to increase slightly as the labor situation improves towards the second half of 2023.
“The temporary suspension of hiring foreign workers has been lifted in early 2022, but due to several issues, the influx of foreign workers into Malaysia is slower than expected. In the first half of 2022, the ongoing labor issue has affected production,” he said during a presentation to PAC members in the meeting.
It said Malaysia’s palm oil consumption is expected to increase following Indonesia’s policy to impose a higher biodiesel blend mandate.
Effective Feb. 1, 2023, Indonesia mandates a higher biodiesel blend, B35 than B30 and thus increases domestic palm oil consumption.
Ahmad Parveez said Indonesia’s latest policy changes will further constrain global palm oil supply and therefore, demand for Malaysian palm oil is expected to increase which in turn will help in reducing higher domestic palm oil stocks.
MPOB explained that PAC members evaluate and make recommendations to ensure that their research and development (R&D) strategy meets the needs of the oil palm industry while also ensuring that new project proposals can be implemented efficiently and systematically in line with the designated focus areas.
PAC members, among others, advise the board on new and ongoing research programs and the direction of R&D of the oil palm industry.
