The development of the palm oil industry has contributed significantly to the increasing export of the commodity and the well-being of the smallholders.
Hence, we need to increase the productivity of palm oil to ensure the export competitiveness of the country and to enhance the economy of the oil palm growers, particularly the smallholders.
Therefore, they have to turn to new technologies in farming and harvesting to be more productive in order for them to generate higher income. This can only materialise with the commercialisation of new and innovative technologies for the palm oil industry.
Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has been the focal point in research and development (R&D) for the palm oil industry, consistently developing and innovating technologies to enhance production efficiency of the industry.
All MPOB's new technologies and innovations have great potential for commercialisation. Thus, they provide business opportunities, especially for the local entrepreneurs in the small and medium industry.
Today, hundreds of MPOB's technologies have been transferred to the industry and SMEs, covering the technologies in fertiliser, oil palm clone breeds, farm mechanisation, crop protection, manufacturing and processing, green energy, oleochemicals, agricultural products, automotive components, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, laboratory equipment and analytical services.
As of November last year, MPOB developed 704 technologies and innovations that are ready to be transferred to the oil palm industry, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for adoption and commercialisation. Of this, 30.7 per cent of the technologies and innovations were commercialised by SMEs and industries.
MPOB's annual transfer of technology seminar and exhibition (TOT) acts as a vital platform in disseminating its latest research findings and technologies to local entrepreneurs and parties interested in exploring technology-based business opportunities in the palm oil industry.
The TOT has been providing business opportunities to small and medium industry entrepreneurs through the commercialisation of MPOB's technologies.
On July 1 2021, MPOB will hold its 27th TOT to unveil and disseminate its latest inventions and innovations.
This year, MPOB's TOT annual seminar will be held online as Malaysia is still under the Movement Control Order to curb the spread of the COVID-19.
It will be officiated by Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Dr. Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali.
MPOB will introduce four new technologies and innovations developed by its researchers that include crop protection, biomass and farm machinery at the TOT Webinar 2021.
These new technologies encourage the use of innovation and new techniques which will increase plantation efficiency and the productivity of oil palm crops.
Mechanisation and automation are imperative for the advancement of the oil palm sector.
The introduction of a technology innovation at this year's TOT will see that labour dependency is minimised and productivity in the oil palm plantations will be maximised.
Another technology that will be introduced at the 2021 TOT Webinar will assist growers in protecting their oil palm crops against a disease. It will extend the life span of the affected crops and reduce the loss of revenue from the disease.
We will also unveil an innovation that introduces a system and method to treat the final disposal of palm oil mill effluent.
The TOT Webinar 2021 should not be missed by the entrepreneurs in the small and medium industry, professionals in the field of engineering, scientists, researchers, food technologists, chemists, manufacturers and producers as well as those involved in the palm oil industry as it provides business opportunities and knowledge for them.
See you at TOT 2021 Webinar!
* The writer is the director-general of Malaysian Palm Oil Board