Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani
KUCHING: The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) today signed a memorandum of agreement with the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) and Mygro Trading Sdn Bhd to undertake the commercialisation of palm-based animal feed formulations and green technology products to prevent the threat of plant diseases.
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the collaboration with Salcra on food technology commercialisation can reduce the use of imported raw materials such as corn and soybean meal.
"Research and commercialisation of alternative raw materials for animal feed formulation is given priority as one of the measures to deal with the increase in animal feed supply prices.
"For this purpose, MPOB and Salcra have teamed up to commercialise the palm-based cattle feed pellet formulation technology developed by MPOB,” he said during the MPOB’s Palm Oil Transfer of Technology Programme (TOT Sarawak 2024) event today.
His speech text was read out by Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin.
Also present at the event were Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
TOT Sarawak 2024 initiative promotes technology commercialisation in the oil palm industry by industry players and micro, small and medium enterprises in Sarawak.
Additionally, Johari said imported raw materials could be replaced with palm-based products such as empty fruit bunches and palm kernel cake, which would act as nutritionally complete food pellets for livestock such as cattle, goats, and chickens.
He said that to deal with the threat of stem rot disease (RPB) in oil palm crops, which affects farmers’ income, MPOB has collaborated with Sibu-based Mygro Trading to commercially produce the board’s green technology products.
"RPB caused by the ganoderma fungus, which damages mature oil palm trees, incurs losses to oil palm farmers if not dealt with as early as possible.
"MPOB has produced a biofungicide product formulation based on endophytic microorganisms isolated from oil palm roots, providing significant control of ganoderma boninense, the main causative agent of RPB disease," he said.
Meanwhile, Johari said that using palm-based environmentally friendly insulating oil in the electricity substation chain could also be considered for implementation in Sarawak.
He stated that the initiative by MPOB researchers could reduce the fire risk at the electricity substation.
"In addition to meeting the specifications set by the International Electrotechnical Commission, palm-based insulating oil has a better flash point and fire point than petroleum-based insulating oil,” he added. - Bernama
