KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 14): The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) said it had successfully developed 714 technologies covering all sectors of the oil palm industry, including formulations of palm-based food and non-food products.

A total of 233 technologies, or 32.7% of these technologies, had been commercialised and adopted by local industries and entrepreneurs, said the MPOB in a statement following Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani’s visit to the board’s research and development facilities in Bangi on Tuesday.

During the visit, Johari said the private sector should be involved in the commercialisation of these technologies to refine them, so that the industry can use the technologies.

"We can request the private sector, such as FGV Holdings Bhd and Sime Darby Bhd, to collaborate with the MPOB to do the trial,” he said.

He said the MPOB’s technology in producing food formulations, namely the palm-based mozzarella cheese analogue, is a promising product that can be used in pizza-making in Malaysia.

"The palm-based mozzarella cheese analogue is formulated using palm oil as a substitute for milk fat, and does not contain cholesterol or trans-fatty acids. 

"This analogue has the same quality and functionality as commercial milk-based mozzarella cheese, and is suitable for pizza-making," he said. 

Additionally, Johari hopes that the MPOB’s successful technology in producing the feed pellet formulation for beef cattle can reduce Malaysia’s import of animal feed by at least 10%, and enable the country to export the product.

According to the statement, the technology, which uses oil palm products, offers an alternative to raw materials, and can reduce the high production cost of animal feed. 

"The commercial trial of the product found that it does not compromise the nutritional value of the feed pellet.

"This feed pellet formulation contains more than 80% of palm-based ingredients, which include palm kernel cake, empty fruit bunch, and crude palm oil, a complete nutritional component for the growth of beef cattle by the nutrient specifications," it said.

The minister and his delegation also toured the MPOB’s margarine pilot plant, the advanced biotechnology and breeding centre (ABBC), and the oil palm gallery, it said.

The board said the ABBC is the world’s largest oil palm germplasm collection centre for conservation and research based on oil palm breeding and biotechnology, and a source for the production of superior oil palm materials.

Oil palm germplasm collection has become a source in the MPOB's research to produce elite planting materials through either breeding or tissue culture, it said. 

"The MPOB’s margarine pilot plant and laboratory facilities offer research and development expertise in manufacturing fat-based food products for the oil and fats industry. 

"Consumer products that can be formulated using the pilot plant facilities include palm-oil based fluid, soft, brick, cake, and pastry margarine, fluid and solid shortenings, as well as vegetable ghees," it added.

The MPOB said the minister's visit underscores the government's commitment to advancing research and development efforts within the oil palm industry.

“With a shared vision for progress, the MPOB and the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities remain dedicated to fostering growth, sustainability, and prosperity within Malaysia’s palm oil sector,” it added.