MPOB unveils new technologies to produce better palms, use palm oil as substitute for milk fat

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has launched two new technologies from the biotechnology and food clusters for commercialisation at the Transfer of Technology (TOT) MPOB 2023 here today.

The new technologies are True-to Type Version 2 – High Resolution Genotyping Platform for Parental Identification and palm-based Mozzarella cheese analogue.

MPOB chairman Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said it has so far offered 712 technologies and 194 related services in the oil palm industry.

A total of 233 technologies or 32.7 per cent have been commercialised by the oil palm industry players and entrepreneurs.

“I am confident that the cooperation of industry players and local companies in the commercialisation of oil palm technologies invested by the MPOB researchers will drive the progress of the oil palm industry and the prosperity of the country’s economy,” he told at the Transfer of Technology (TOT) MPOB 2023 here today.

True-to-Type Version 2 is a high-precision DNA fingerprinting platform to ensure palms with the desired genetic lineage are planted in breeding trials and commercial plantations.

The platform also facilitates the establishment of DNA database as well as improves the management and quality control of the propagated materials in breeding and commercial nurseries as well as in tissue culture laboratories.

Palm-based Mozzarella cheese analogue is formulated using palm oil as a substitute for milk fat, and does not contain cholesterol and 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 MPOB technologies that are ready for commercialisation include the production of quality planting materials, palm clonal breeds, palm fertiliser formulations, disease and pest control techniques, farm mechanisation, manufacturing and processing technologies, green technology, food product and animal feed formulations and palm based oleochemical products.

Mohamad Helmy said the use of farm machineries and motorised cutter developed by the MPOB is able to reduce dependence on labour.

Meanwhile, the use of MPOB formulated fertilisers that contain complete nutrients and minerals increases the efficiency of nutrient absorption by oil palm trees, he said.

“Compliance with the good agricultural practices as a whole in the oil palm industry will contribute to increasing the productivity and quality of palm oil,” he added.

TOT MPOB 2023 also saw the exchange of technology transfer agreement documents between MPOB and five local companies.

They are Sawit Kinabalu Farm Products Sdn Bhd. Pj Hytech Industries, FNB Solutions Sdn. Bhd, My Haiz Sdn. Bhd, and Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority.

MPOB also signed a memorandum of understanding with SME Corporation Malaysia for cooperation in the commercialisation of palm-based technology to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

TOT MPOB 2023 is MPOB’s annual event aimed at introducing new technologies and innovations as a result of its research in the oil palm sector.

It provides opportunities for interested parties to commercialise technologies in the oil palm industry.

Tags: biotechnology, food clusters, Transfer of Technology, TOT, True-to Type Version 2, Mozzarella cheese, MPOB, oil palm industry, palm oil, milk fat, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, trans fatty acids, platform, technologies