can happen," said Tan.She added that the agreement

also ensured that any IntellectualProperty Rights (lPR) arising fromresearch by the chair's holderwould be protected and jointlyowned by UPM and UMB.

"If there is any commercialisa­tion of intellectual property (lP) byeither party, the right of first refusalwill be_granted to the other party toparticipate in the commercialisationofthe IP," said Tan.

Apart from promoting R&Dandinnovation in oil palm plantationmanagement, UMBalso aims tocreate greater awareness amongyoung Malaysians about the rapidlyexpanding career opportunities inthe sector, she added.

"We want young Malaysians toknow that working in palm oil isn'tlimited to field work in the planta­tions. It involves cutting edge tech­nology and science.

"We hope that with a little pub-

in the UMBProfessorial ChairAccount, which UMB'sexternalauditors will be entitled to audit,said Tan.

'The agreement also requires thetwo parties to set up a liaison com­mittee with three representativeseach to select a professor to headthe chair.

"Once the committee is set up, alist of nominees will be submittedto them for approval.

"Even though the committee willbe chaired by a UPM representativeand the varsity will have the finaldecision on who gets to head thechair, the decision must be withUMB's consent," she said.

She added that the terms of theMoA also state that the committeewill monitor the expenditure of theRM2mii endowment fund.

"Any payment of RM200,OOOand above requires the consent ofboth UPM and UMB representa­tives in the committee before it

Made in Malaysia: Scientistsare using genome technologyto create varieties of oilpalm with higher yield.A major strengthof Malaysia'soil palm sector is its world-classR&D by Malaysiansthemselves.

"The United Malacca ProfessorialChair in Oil Palm PlantationManagement will be set up inUPM's Faculty of Agriculture - anatural choice since UPM, formerlyknown as Universiti PertanianMalaysia, has a renowned faculty inthe field.

"By establishing the chair, UMBis effectively outsourcing its R&Dto UPM.Instead of setting up ourown R&Dfacilities, we're relyingon UPM's up-to-date facilities andhighly qualified staff to undertakethe work," said Tan.

UMBand UPM signed aMemorandum of Agreement (MoA)to establish the chair on July 13. Tanrepresented UMBwhilst the univer­sity was represented by UPM vice­chancellor Datuk Dr Radin UmarRadin Sohadi.

Under the agreement, UMBwillprovide an endowment fund ofRM2mil to finance the activities ofthe chair. The money will be placed

By AMINUDDIN MOHSINeducate@thestar.com.my

United Malacca W Id I RIDBerhad and Universiti or c assPutra Malaysiacollaborate in R&D to

boost palm oil output.

INDONESIAhas already overtakenMalaysia as the world's largestpalm oil producer, but United

Malacca Berhad (UMB) is not aboutto let that sit.

The oil palm plantation companyis establishing a professorial chair inoil palm plantation management atUniversiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) inan attempt to boost palm oil outputthrough research and development,said UMBchairperson Tan SiokChoo.

"Currently the biggest constraintsfaced by the Malaysian oil palmplantation sector is land and labour- commodities Indonesia has inabundance. .

"To turn the situation around andnot fall even further behind in termsof output, research and develo~ment(R&D)is essential. Even more so ifwe want to increase output withexisting plantation land areas andlabour quantities," she said.

Tan added that Malaysia is nota low-cost palm oil producer andimproving yields will help offset theincrease in wages, fertilisers andpesticides which are likely to keepgoing up.

'The average annual yield offresh fruit branches in plantationsis around 21 tonnes per hectarebut some plantation companieshave managed to push that up to31 tonnes per hectare using tissueculture.

"Growing shorter oil palm treesis another area of research that willbe helpful, because even thoughthe trees bear fruit for up to 60years, companies are forced to cutand replant them when they arebetween 25 and 30 years because oftheir height," she said.

Additionally, going "high tech"will help develop superior plantingmaterial, mechanise the plantingand harvesting process of oil palmsand identify new edible and indus­trial uses for palm oil, added Tan.

The areas of research the profes­sorial chair will focus on includeidentifying genes that will makeoil palm trees more resistant,stimulating oil palms to producemore female flowers and designingtools to ease the planting and har­vesting processes.

'Wewant youngMalaysiansto knowthat workingin palm oil isn't limitedtofield work inthe plantations. It involvescutting edge technologyand science:says UMBchairperson Tan SiokChoo.

Iicity on the United Malacca Chair,students will see that the sectoroffers high-level jobs and its scien­tists are on par with those workingin any other field," she said.

Tan elaborated that UMBalsooffers scholarships to students stud­ying in Malaysian universities.

"Many of them have since gradu­ated in fields such as engineeringand agriculture. Some are nowworking in our palm oil mills andestates in Sabah and Pahang.

'This is one way UMBhopes toattract the best and the brightestminds to work for the company andenhance its strategic capabilities,"she said.

Tan explained that manyMalaysians forget that a majorstrength of our rubber and palmoil sector is its world-class R&Dthat was conducted largely byMalaysians themselves.

'This minimises the outflow ofpayments overseas for IPRs.

"My belief in enhancing R&Dasa critical requirement for UMB'sprogress stems from my father, thelate Tun Tan Siew Sin. He was astaunch believer in R&D.

"Although the commercialisationof R&Dmay take years and possiblydecades to materia lise, it is stillnecessary to sustain the oil palmsector's long term profitability andcompetitiveness," she said.

Oil palm the main cropTHEinvolvement of industriesin research and development isvery crucial in contributing to theadvancement of knowledge andtechnology.

They can contribute in terms ofgrants, provide industrial trainingand at the same time, invest in uni­versities' innovative products andtechnology.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)vice-chancellor Datuk Dr RadinUmar Radin Sohadi said a profes­sorial chair in Oil Palm PlantationManagement will be set up under aMemorandum of Agreement (MoA)signed between United MalaccaBerhad (UMB)and the university.

"UMBis generously providingan endowment fund amounting toRM2mil to support the activities ofthis professorial chair.

'This (professorial chair) will alsopromote research and developmentin oil palm plantation management

for the enhancement of and valueadd to the oil palm and palm oilindustries in Malaysia and globallyand any other area of researchmutually agreed by both parties,"he said in his speech at the signingof the MoA.

The objectives of the agreement,apart from collaborating in thepromotion of research and develop­ment in oil palm plantation man­agement, will also include the co­operation and collaboration of bothsides. Dr Radin Umar said the UMBeffort is commendable and shouldbe emulated by other industry play­ers as this would intensify researchand development.

"Commodities have always beenthe main stay of the Malaysianeconomy.

"From the earliest days, it hasbeen rubber and tin, and now palmoil is the pre-eminent agriculturecommodity sector.

"The palm oil industry is a signifi­cant contributor to the Malaysianeconomy with over 4.9 million hec­tares of planted area," he said.

The industry, he added, hasexperienced steady growth over theyears with exciting developmentsfor potential growth in the down­stream sector.

"There are a number of pertinentissues facing the sector today. Theyinclude improving productivityincluding that of planting materials,plant health, tackling labour short­age and ensuring sustainability," hesaid.

Research should be conducted

UPMV-( DrRadinUmarhopes thecollaborationbetween UMBand theuniversitywouldbe the beginningof along and fruitfulrelationship.

in finding better solutions to over­come the various problems in theindustry, such as the bunches offruits rotting in the fields because

of a lack of workers to harvest themand the need for replanting.

Dr Radin Umar said UPM willcontinue to playa leading role inthe "agriculture agenda".

"Agriculture and the related sci­ence will continue to be UPM's .:'niche area.. '

"The importance of research is nolonger confined to just producingpapers but more importantly, itsimpact on bringing benefits to thepeople through new methods andtechnology and commercialisation,"he said.

Dr Radin Umar said UPM washappy to enter into strategic part­nerships with government agenciesand industries both locally andglobally.

"I take this opportunity to con­gratulate United Malacca Berhad onthis collaboration. Hopefully, thiswill be the beginning of a long andfruitful relationship," he added.