11 Weeks Pre Nursery

11 Weeks Pre Nursery

Palm oil labelling bill: Malaysia expresses ‘grave concern

Posted on June 25, 2011, Saturday

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has expressed “grave concern” on the passing of the Food Standard Amendment (Truth in Labelling – Palm Oil) Bill 2010 by the Australian Senate yesterday.

The Bill seeks to mandate the labelling of palm oil for the stated purpose of ensuring “that consumers are provided with clear, accurate information about the inclusion of palm oil in foods”.

It also seeks to encourage “the use of certified sustainable palm oil in order to promote the protection of wildlife habitat”.

“In this context, Malaysia is of the view that labelling palm oil purely from the perspective of sustainable production is discriminatory.

“In addition, competing vegetable oils are not required to be labeled,” said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok in a statement yesterday.

He said that in April, representatives from the Malaysian government and the industry had presented testimony before the Senate Community Affairs Legislative Committee to correct the mischaracterisations made by environmental non-governmental organisations in support of the legislation.

“It is clearly evident that facts and figures provided to the Senate Community Affairs Legislative Committee have been clearly ignored,” Dompok said.

“It is with great regret and disappointment that the Australian Senate has not accorded the due attention contributed by the oil palm industry in Malaysia and the sustainable practices adopted,” he said.

The oil palm industry which employs more than 570,000 people in the upstream sector and a further 290,000 in downstream industries, is an important pillar in Malaysia’s economy and has contributed substantively towards addressing rural poverty and generating employment.

In addition, the industry has contributed immensely towards meeting global demand for food products and a source of renewable energy which is environmentally friendly.

Dompok also said: “The legislation undermines the spirit of cooperation as neighbours.

“The Australian government should demonstrate its commitment to bilateral relations, including ensuring that legislations are supported by facts and figures.” — Bernama

10 Week Pre Nursery

10 Week Pre Nursery

9 Weeks Pre-Nursery

9 weeks old pre-nursery. Now with two to three  leaf  oil palm.

8 Weeks Old Nursery

8 Weeks Old Nursery

Getting ready for transplanting

8 Weeks Old Oil Palm-beginning to produce 3 leafs.

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Seven Week Old Nursery

Another 3 weeks to go until 4 leaf stage for tranplanting.

MGRC, Felda create breakthrough on oil palm fungal disease latest!

Th Borneo Post

Posted on June 14, 2011, Tuesday

POTENTIAL LOSS: According to MGRC, with total oil palm area of 4.85 million hectares, a potential 30 per cent to 70 per cent loss of oil palm due to BSR has substantial implications to planting resources and revenue in Malaysia.

KUCHING: Scientists and research groups can now obtain vital information on the Ganoderma Basal Stem-Rot (BSR) fungal disease following the success of Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Bhd (MGRC) in completing the sequencing and assembly of the Ganoderma boninense fungus genome. The latest breakthrough by MGRC was made possible through a joint-effort with Felda Agricultural Services Sdn Bhd (FAS).

Ganoderma BSR is a major concern in Malaysia as palm oil is a major bulk export. In 2010, the export earnings from oil palm products reached RM59.77 billion. With total oil palm area of 4.85 million hectares, a potential 30 to 70 per cent loss of oil palm due to BSR has substantial implications to planting resources and revenue.

The sequence data from the Ganoderma genome will be made available to the public at MGRC’s website, www.mgrc.com.my — making it the first company in the world, together with Felda, to offer this information for free to the global scientific community. The cost of sequencing and assembly for the Ganoderma genome was borne by MGRC as part of its corporate responsibility activities.

Ganoderma fungal invasion is one of the most serious biological threats to the oil palm industry and its sustainability in Malaysia and Indonesia. Causing basal stem rot in oil palm trees, the Ganoderma fungus has a massive impact on the life-span of affected trees and dramatically affects both fruit quality and yield.

MGRC chief scientific officer Dr Stephen Rudd said, “By sharing the Ganoderma genome with the wider scientific community, we hope to accelerate R&D towards a solution for the oil palm industry. While MGRC will continue to analyse the genome of this deadly fungus to obtain in-depth genetic information, we hope that a community effort will produce faster results than one group of scientists going at it alone.

“With access to data from the Ganoderma genome, research groups will be empowered with the much-needed information, boosting efforts in finding a remedy for the spread of the disease,” he added.

The CEO of FAS, S Palaniappan added, “It is essential that we have a total understanding of Ganoderma – from how it survives and spreads to its genetic information. Felda is proud to collaborate with MGRC in the hope of accelerating effective solutions for the industry to benefit from.”