26/09/05 PETALING JAYA, (Bernama) -- Research and development (R&D) willbe the key driving force in today's global oils and fats economy and tomove forward palm oil producers will have to focus more on providingvalue-added products.

We need to constantly develop the R&D capabilities and harness technologybreakthroughs to effect a shift towards this objective throughout the fullpalm oil value chain, Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB), chairman, Tan SriBasir Ismail said Monday.

The speech was read by director general MPOB Tan Sri Datuk Dr YusofBasiron

Such developments will lead to a globally competitive and sustainable palmoil industry, he said in his opening remark at the MPOB International PalmOil Congress 2005 or better known as PIPOC.

The four-day conference started today. About 1,500 participants from 42countries are participating in PIPOC 2005.

MPOB through its intensive research programmes to spur the industry'sgrowth, has developed technological breakthroughs in the productdevelopment and is spearheading the downstream technology in oleochemical,biomass and biofuels technology, he said.

For the past 26 years, MPOB has actively developed a broad spectrum oftechnology in oil palm ranging from upstream production to downstreamprocessing as well as food and nutrition, he said.

Our effort in transforming the palm oil into higher value-added industrywill provide us with a solid foundation to confront the challenges of thepresent and future, as well as to reap the benefits in fast-developingoils and fats business," said Basir.

PIPOC 2005 has adopted a very pertinent aspect of R&D as its theme,Technological Breakhthroughs and Commercialisation -- The Way Forward.

He said theme reflected the industry's strong commitment in pursuingtechnology advancement and commercialisation in the effort to chart theway forward for the oil palm industry.

It will give participants an opportunity for in-depth discussions onrecent technological breakthroughs and current development in the oils andfats industry, he added.

PIPOC has long been the global platform that nurtures a strong bond amongthe oils and fats fraternity and will continue to strive for theenhancement of the oil palm industry as well as to provide greaterengagement among its players of different expertise and views.

PIPOC 2005 is expected to create and foster greater cooperation in itsquest to harness technological breakthroughs and innovations, takingcognizance of the need to extend research and laboratory to the market.

It will feature technical presentations by speakers locally andinternationally.

The Congress is structured into five concurrent conferences namely,Agriculture, Biotechnology and Sustainability, Chemistry and technology,Oleo and Specialty Chemicals, Nutraceuticals, Nutrition and FunctionalFood and Economic and Market Forecast.

-- BERNAMA