The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) is reviewing the sustainability standards within the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification to align it with stricter international schemes and to improve traceability, the Malaysian Reserve reported.
MPOB announced the review as part of its strategy in line with the country’s National Agricommodity Policy 2021-2030 (DAKN 2030).
“MPOB’s strategies in line with DAKN 2030’s five core thrusts — sustainability, productivity, value generation, market development and inclusivity — will accelerate growth of the palm oil sector,” MPOB director general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir was quoted as saying in the 29 March report.
MPOB said it was also working towards the nationwide implementation of MSPO certification for all palm oil growers, including smallholders, to ensure the implementation of good practices across the whole supply chain.
As of 28 February, about 95% of all the country’s oil palm planted area had been MSPO-certified, Ahmad said.
Smallholders would be assisted to carry out replanting, while plantations would be encouraged to optimise replanting programmes with high-yielding planting materials to maximise long-term profits, he added.
MPOB said its downstream activities would focus on high-value functional and performance foods and non-foods, such as tocotrienols, feed, oleo and fuel products including biodiesel.
“We are producing novel high-quality products which suit the local climatic conditions and culinary preferences of importing countries, while providing cost and nutritional advantages,” Ahmad said.
“Potential food products include liquid cooking oils and solid fats, as well as high-value food ingredients such as cocoa butter replacers, substitutes and extenders for chocolates, bakery and confectionery fats, butter oil and milk fat substitutes, while non-food includes oleo and fuel products.”
