Bernama 9 Nov 09;
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The palm oil industry needs to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the issue of sustainability, according to former Primary Industries Minister Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik.
He said the strategy involved engagement with relevant stakeholders, research and development (R&D) and process improvements within the industry.
On the issue of engagement, both the Malaysian government and palm oil industry players have taken several measures in order to clarify that the local industry is not a threat to the global environment, Dr Lim said.
"Engagement must not only be at the ministerial level to influence policies, but also at the technical level to ensure that technical requirements in overseas legislations are correct and accurate," he said in his keynote address on "Palm Oil And Energy: Managing Crisis" at the International Palm Oil Congress (PIPOC) 2009 here Monday.
On R&D, Dr Lim suggested it must designed to address the sustainability issue on two fronts.
Firstly, it must generate credible scientific data to support sustainability claims of the palm oil industry, he said.
"These data and information will be used to substantiate amendments to European Union (EU) and US legislations that may discriminate against palm oil based on defective and misguided information," he added.
Secondly, the R&D must come up with new technologies and innovative methods of production across the whole production chain that enhanced the environmental performance of palm oil, Dr Lim said.
"I am glad that the R&D element of this strategy is being vigorously pursued by Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). Data from MPOB's lifecycle assessment of palm biodiesel have been submitted to Joint Research Centre of the European Commission for consideration to be incorporated in the EU directive," he said.
On process improvement, Dr Lim said the industry must pursue to recognise that there could be further improvements in environmental performance of the industry.
"This can be done through formulation and adoption of codes of practices for the industry and the provision of incentives to encourage sustainable practices," he said.
Dr Lim also suggested that a person be hired by the government to participate in every green forum organised by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) so to counter adverse information in the marketplace in relation to issues on sustainability, biodiversity, deforestration and conservation associated with oil palm cultivation.
He said the person, based abroad, should have the capabilities to discuss and debate the issues very well with all the facts.
-- BERNAMA
