December 14, 2004 MALAYSIAN Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has stressed three mainresearch strategies through technology and new innovations to enhance thepalm oil industry performance at all levels.

Director-general Tan Sri Dr Yusof Basiron said the strategies were highincome, zero wastage and added value.

He said the strategies would lead to an increase in productivity andplantation sector income, usage of biomass, and production of value-addedproducts based on the palm high market value.

"The strategic research can generate higher income, increase productivityand strengthen industrial competitiveness," he said.

He was speaking at the presentation of the Plantation Enterprises andCommodities Ministry Quality Award by its minister Datuk Peter Chin inPutrajaya yesterday.

Basiron said the increase in palm oil industry productivity would befocused via the usage of new technology and modern plantation methods.

"These include the usage of high quality plantation materials, efficientagronomy practise and running of the plantation," he said.

He also said that to-date, MPOB had launched 253 technologies, of which30% had been successfully commercialised. " Bernama