March-April. 2026 | @ AGROBiz

• Malaysia has developed its first fire-resistant door made from oil palm trunk biomass, which has been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records.

• The government has introduced an RM3.5 million incentive to help FFB traders obtain MSPO certification.

• The innovation converts agricultural waste into building materials, supporting circular-economy and green-construction efforts.

Weng Meng Industries Sdn Bhd was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records( MBR) for converting oil palm biomass into a functional, fire-resistant building material. This breakthrough advances green construction and circular economy practices in the nation ' s industrial sector.

According to MBR, Malaysia remains one of the world ' s leading palm oil producers, with about 5.6 million hectares of plantations covering roughly 17 per cent of national land use.

The industry ' s replanting activities generate substantial volumes of oil palm trunk biomass each year, much of which has traditionally been underutilised due to processing limitations and commercial viability constraints.

The innovation by Weng Meng Industries seeks to address this challenge by transforming plantation residues into usable building materials, reducing waste and creating additional value from biomass.

" Weng Meng Industries ' breakthrough addresses this longstanding challenge by converting plantation waste into functional building components, reducing environmental impact while unlocking new industrial value streams," said the statement.

MBR chief operating officer Jwan Heah said the achievement reflects the broader potential of sustainable material innovation and its alignment with national environmental goals.

" It is a meaningful step toward reducing carbon emissions and protecting our planet.

" As a record that aligns with the nation ' s sustainability agenda, we hope this milestone inspires more innovations that contribute to Malaysia ' s environmental and industrial progress," he said.

Weng Meng Industries managing director George Yap said the project demonstrates the company ' s commitment to sustainable product development through the utilisation of agricultural by-products.

" By engineering a fire-resistant door core using oil palm trunk biomass, we are proving that plantation residues can be repurposed into durable, safe, and commercially viable products," he said.

THE government has rolled out a RM3.5 million incentive to assist oil palm fresh fruit bunches( FFB) traders in obtaining Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil( MSPO) certification, as part of efforts to strengthen industry compliance and sustainability.

Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said the initiative is designed to support traders in meeting certification requirements while reinforcing the resilience of the country ' s palm oil supply chain.

The programme is expected to benefit more than 3,000 eligible FFB traders nationwide, subject to specified conditions.

She said applications for the incentive will open on Apr 15, 2026, and can be submitted through the e-MSPO system under the MSPO Council.

Noraini explained: " The implementation of this initiative is in line with efforts to strengthen the comprehensive implementation of MSPO 2.0, while supporting the national agenda to ensure the Malaysian palm oil industry continues to develop sustainably, responsibly and resiliently."

The incentive aims to expand MSPO certification, especially for small and medium palm oil players, and raise compliance, a key to market access and global acceptance.

Noraini said the move reflects the government ' s continued focus on strengthening stakeholder welfare while ensuring the sector remains competitive and sustainable in the long term.

By encouraging broader participation in certification programmes, the ministry hopes to enhance further confidence in Malaysia ' s palm oil industry, both locally and abroad.

- @ AGROBiz

INCENTIVE BOOST: More than 3,000 eligible oil palm traders nationwide are expected to benefit from the incentive programme.