Sustainable oil palm practices

09/01/2010 (NST Online), Sandakan - Growing concern about the need for the oil palm sector to do its bit for the environment and to produce edible oil in a sustainable way is the focus of an upcoming workshop here.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Awareness Workshop on Sustainable Palm Oil -- From Tree to Table -- will see speakers with vast knowledge in their respective fields, presenting six papers at the Sabah Hotel on Jan 14.

Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) chief executive Datuk Mamat Salleh will deliver a keynote address, and is also expected to present a paper that centres on the road ahead for the palm oil industry.

Representatives from Genting Plantations Berhad and Wilmar Group Berhad will speak on the importance of sustainability and what are some of the challenges, opportunities and benefits of a sustainably run plantation and mill.

Consumer demand, commitment of banks in giving loans for projects that are committed to RSPO principles and green trends are some of the other topics that will be discussed at the workshop.

The workshop is jointly organised by the MPOA Sabah branch and WWF-Malaysia's Kinabatangan -- Corridor of Life (K-CoL) project.

It is expected to draw 100 participants, mainly decision makers within plantations and palm oil mills.

K-CoL team leader Julia Majail said the workshop is expected to create awareness among participants on sustainability issues and expectations of consumers, both globally and in Malaysia.

"Consumers are becoming more concerned about where products come from, and in the case of palm oil, they want to be sure that minimal harm has been done to the environment. RSPO provides guidelines on making sure this vegetable oil is produced in a sustainable way.

"We are confident this workshop will provide planters and millers the knowledge they need to take the next step, especially among those who are operating in the Kinabatangan Basin," Majail said.