KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 — The first-ever National Palm Oil Conference 2023 (NPOC2023) organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) will outline the plantation sector’s priorities for the upcoming Budget 2024, as well as the industry’s future.
The two-day conference, which kicks off on October 2, will not only set the tone for the industry’s aspirations but also serve as a guiding beacon for policymaking and fostering sustainable industry growth.
“At the forefront of the industry’s pending appeal is the pressing need for a comprehensive review of the windfall profit levy’s threshold and levy rate, as the existing levy disproportionately burdens the oil palm industry, particularly in the light of escalated production costs right now.
“Another vital agenda is the urgent appeal to accelerate efforts to replant ageing and unproductive oil palm trees in Malaysia,” the association said in a statement today.
Themed Palm Progress: Future-Proofing Competitiveness and Sustainability, the conference will be held against the backdrop of evolving challenges within the palm oil industry, fostering knowledge-sharing and networking among its members and other key stakeholders.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof is also set to launch the MPOA Responsible Recruitment Guideline during the conference.
Industry in dire need to replant oil palm trees
According to statistics, there are currently over 664,000 hectares of oil palm trees in the country that are above the 25-year mark and are in dire need of replanting, said MPOA.
“By 2027, the industry faces the daunting prospect of having 2.0 million hectares or 35 per cent of the country’s total oil palm planted hectarage classified as ‘old and old mature’.
“This underscores the critical need to implement strategic measures to rejuvenate the ageing palm trees, thus safeguarding the productivity and competitiveness of the sector,” it said.
EUDR, sustainability certification among pressing issues
Addressing pressing concerns and setting forth a clear roadmap for the Malaysian palm oil industry’s future is not only a necessity but also an opportunity to drive positive change and foster continued growth in this vital economic sector.
As such, the outcome of the NPOC2023 will reverberate far beyond its immediate scope, laying the groundwork for a more equitable and sustainable plantation sector, said MPOA.
The conference will cover a diverse range of topics, including taxation policies, recruitment of workers and levies, mechanisation imperatives, ageing oil palm profile and replanting imperatives and sustainability certifications.
It will also address pressing issues such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), social-environmental issues, the Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil and Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certifications, talent management, applied research and development, costs of production, and price outlook.
— Bernama
