KUALA LUMPUR – A centralised funding provider should be established to address the issue of funding difficulties faced by the plantation industry, said Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) research and development (R&D) deputy director-general Zainab Idris.
Noting that she has been part of previous panel discussions on the matter, Zainab, who specialises in the innovation of R&D products as well as services developed by MPOB, said that such a mechanism would serve to benefit the need for technological advancements.
“(For the plantation industry) to adapt to emerging technology, we must adopt it – but a pressing question then becomes ‘who will bear the costs?’”
“Instead of industry players submitting their funding proposals to the wrong directors, we should have a centralised funding provider,” she said during a forum at the sixth Tan Sri Dr B.C. Sekhar Memorial Public Lecture 2022.
She also stressed that sustainability is an important feature of agriculture and how it can be utilised to achieve national food security.
Besides that, she said in order to appreciate productivity outcomes, adaptation technology should be considered while looking at mitigation steps to reduce climate change impact, thus ensuring sustainable growth of the palm oil industry.
Zainab was part of a panel discussion titled Leveraging Frontier Technologies for Climate-Smart Agriculture, moderated by UCSI University’s Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Ibrahim, and featured other notable figures such as Malaysian Rubber Board production development director Mohd Nasaruddin Mohd Aris.
Nasaruddin explained that the rubber field has been making use of augmented reality technology to deepen its work in plantation areas.
Fertilisers that have a low carbon footprint are also chosen to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, he said.
Meanwhile, keynote speaker Spruce Capital Partners co-founder and managing partner Dr Ganesh M. Kishore delivered several points on meeting the demands of an increasing population.
Highlighting how food wastage is a “terrible tragedy” that will lead to dire consequences in the future, he urged the audience to pay attention to the unnecessary disposal of food, many of which involved an extensive effort to be made edible from farm to plate.
Kishore, who is also a world-renowned biotechnologist and an inventor of more than 300 issued patents, added that technology has advanced to where it can be put together to allow for a more cost-effective distribution of food systems.
Held at the Royal Lake Club here on Friday (October 21), the annual event organised by the Malaysian Scientific Association (MSA) saw prominent figures in various fields gathering to explore ways of expanding research and development initiatives.
The event, which commemorated the lifetime achievements of the late academician B.C. Sekhar, saw respected plantation industry players and science and technology experts combining forces to analyse how the nation can employ a sustainable framework in its crop production.
First initiated by the MSA council in 2007, this year’s memorial lecture was sponsored by the Vinod Sekhar Foundation, headed by Petra Group chairman and chief executive Datuk (Dr) Vinod Sekhar.
Vinod is the son of the late B.C. Sekhar, an academician who devoted his life to achieving scientific and academic excellence.
The annual event is also supported by Sime Darby Plantation, Lee Foundation, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council, and United Plantations Bhd among others. – The Vibes, October 24, 2022
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