FGV has referred the cases of suspended group president Datuk Zakaria Arshad and group chief financial officer Ahmad Tifli Mohd Talha to a domestic inquiry panel.
KUALA LUMPUR: Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) and KeyGene of Netherland have signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) to establish a strategic partnership to start a joint research laboratory (Joint Lab).
The lab will empower FGV's research and development arm, FGV R&D Sdn Bhd, to become a centre of excellence by strengthening its research capabilities, enabling faster introduction of better and more sustainable oil palm varieties to the market.
The research and development collaboration with KeyGene, which is the go-to AgBiotech company for higher crop yield and quality has multiple objectives but would primarily focus on the development and improvement of planting material through marker-assisted breeding, said FGV in a statement today.
The MoC tenure is for eight months and upon mutual agreement by both parties to be supplemented by a 5-year definitive agreement.
"The agreement assures FGVs access to KeyGenes vast technology and expertise in crop genomics. In turn, this will significantly increase our competitiveness in the oil palm seed market through faster introduction of new and improved oil palm planting material.
"The collaboration also brings benefit to FGV by increasing its research capabilities in the molecular genetics research area leading to the development and production of superior oil palm planting material," FGV Group President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad said.
The collaboration will also help FGV fast-track the development and commercialisation of oil palm planting materials with high oil yields, disease tolerance and other special traits.
Currently, FGV is the largest seed producer in Malaysia with a market share of 42 per cent. It is also the only authorised foreign company that is able to penetrate the highly competitive Indonesias seed market.
Meanwhile, KeyGene Chief Operating Officer Arjen van Tunen said the company was excited to embark on this strategic journey with FGV R and D to setup a joint lab.
KeyGene would contribute its know-how and expertise, benefitting from a successful track record of 27 years in providing innovative technologies.
"Together with FGV, we will breed healthy and sustainable oil palm varieties that meet the future demand of our societies," he said.
Tunen said starting a joint lab would enable both parties to work together at each others location, enabling maximum interaction, knowledge sharing and expertise building.
"This will lead to a better understanding of the needs which will be fulfilled in terms of capacity building, technology implementation, and the development of breeding and resource management tools for oil palm." - Bernama
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