Johari urges private sector to work with palm oil board to commercialise technology
14/2/2024 (New Straits Times), Kuala Lumpur - Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani has called on the private sector to get involved in the commercialisation of technology developed by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
He said the involvement of the private sector would allow the technology, including the formulation of palm-based food and non-food products, to be used by the oil palm industry.
"We can request the private sector, such as FGV (FGV Holdings Bhd) and Sime Darby, to collaborate with the MPOB to do trials."
He said this in a statement by MPOB, in conjunction with his visit to the board's research and development (R&D) facilities at its headquarters in Bangi, Selangor, yesterday.
Present were his deputy, Datuk Chan Foong Hin, senior ministry officials and board chairman Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha.
The board has developed 714 technologies covering all sectors in the industry, including the formulation of palm-based food and non-food products.
A total of 233 technologies, or 32.7 per cent of these technologies, have been commercialised and adopted by local industries and entrepreneurs.
Johari added that the board's technology in producing food formulations, such as palm-based mozzarella cheese analogue, was a promising product that could be used to make pizzas.
The palm-based mozzarella cheese analogue is formulated using palm oil as a substitute for milk fat, and does not contain cholesterol and trans fatty acids
This analogue has the same quality and functionality as commercial milk-based mozzarella and is suitable for pizza making.
Johari said he also hoped that the board's technology in producing the feed pellet formulation for cattle could reduce Malaysia's import of animal feed by at least 10 per cent and enable the country to export the product.
The technology, which uses oil palm products, offers an alternative to raw materials and can reduce the high production cost of animal feed.
The commercial trials of the product found that it does not compromise the nutritional value of the feed pellet.
This feed pellet contains more than 80 per cent of palm-based ingredients, including palm kernel cake, empty fruit bunch and crude palm oil, a complete nutritional component for the growth of cattle in accordance with the nutrient specification.
During his visit, Johari and his delegation were briefed on the board's research and technology commercialisation by Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir.
They toured the board's R&D facilities, which include the Margarine Pilot Plant, the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre and the Oil Palm Gallery.
The board said Johari's visit showed the government's commitment to advancing research and development in the oil palm industry.
"Witnessing the initiatives and work carried out at the MPOB's facilities in Bangi, the minister reaffirmed the importance of collaboration and continued investment in sustainable practices to boost the industry."