PLANTATION & COMMODITY
May-June. 2026 | @ AGROBiz
PLANTATION & COMMODITY
19
Animated advocacy for palm oil
• Two Upin & Ipin palm oil-themed episodes won awards at the APB + Awards 2026 in Singapore.
• The content focused on the palm oil value chain, sustainability and industry awareness.
• Malaysia is strengthening its pepper industry through technology adoption and productivity improvements.
MA LAYSIA ' S renowned Upin & Ipin franchise is extending its influence beyond entertainment, with palm oil-themed episodes gaining international recognition for promoting sustainability and industry awareness.
Produced by Les ' Copaque Production with the Malaysian Palm Oil Council( MPOC), the award-winning episodes amassed 171 million YouTube views, highlighting edutainment ' s growing reach in agriculture and sustainability.
Presented in Singapore on May 21, the APB + Awards recognised the Minyak Sawit episode from Upin & Ipin Season 18 under the Animation Storytelling category, while Wira Minyak Sawit from Season 19 received the Audience-Centric
Pepper reign continues
TECHNOLOGY adoption and downstream development are set to play a greater role in the future of Malaysia ' s pepper industry as it works to stay competitive amid global market pressures and changing climate.
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said strengthening innovation across the pepper value chain is essential for industry resilience, especially for smallholders who are the backbone of domestic production.
During a working visit to the Malaysian Pepper Board( MPB), she said efforts to improve branding, productivity, and product diversification must continue to boost long-term growth.
" The industry must continue to adopt innovation and strengthen its value chain, including downstream product development and strategic branding, to enhance resilience and competitiveness."
GROWING THE PEPPER INDUSTRY
The ministry said the pepper industry contributed RM2.27 billion to Malaysia ' s
Multi-Platform Solutions award.
Both episodes used family-friendly narratives to increase public understanding of the palm oil sector through accessible, culturally grounded storytelling.
The Minyak Sawit episode explored the palm oil supply chain, including plantation activities, downstream products, and the sector ' s economic contributions, while integrating sustainability themes such as biomass use, replanting, and biodiversity.
A STORY WELL-TOLD
It generated 119 million YouTube views after its release across TV and digital platforms in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, Wira Minyak Sawit adopted a more community-focused approach, introducing sustainability practices and industry functions
gross domestic product( GDP) in 2025, up from RM2.24 billion the previous year.
By end-2025, Malaysia had about 8,200 hectares under pepper cultivation and around 39,000 smallholders, with Sarawak as the main production hub.
The crop is still an important income source for many rural Sarawak communities.
Malaysia also exported 4,344 metric tonnes of pepper worth RM179.78 million last year, showing continued international demand.
The sector still faces challenges, including climate risks, fluctuating prices, and stricter global standards.
Noraini said technological advancement is crucial for the industry to adapt and remain sustainable.
ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY
ANIMATION WITH PURPOSE: The award-winning Upin & Ipin palm oil episodes combined educational storytelling with sustainability themes and industry awareness.
through festival-themed storytelling featuring popular animated characters. The episode accumulated 52 million views on YouTube.
The earlier Minyak Sawit production also received recognition at the Asian
STRENGTHENING THE SPICE TRADE: Noraini Ahmad during a working visit to MPB, where she was briefed on industry development initiatives and future strategies.( Photo by: MPB)
" In this context, technology is no longer an option but a necessity to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the pepper industry," she said.
She added the government will continue supporting efforts to position pepper as a high-value agri-commodity through productivity, technology adoption, and better market access.
During the visit, the minister was briefed on MPB ' s industry performance, programmes, and future plans.
She also toured the board ' s laboratories and processing facilities for research, quality assurance, and food safety compliance.
Facilities inspected included a new processing plant for dry and wet processing, and a colour sorting plant to improve pepper cleaning, grading, and export preparation.- @ AGROBiz
Academy Creative Awards 2024, being selected as Malaysia ' s national winner in the Best Animation category.
MPOC chief executive officer Belvinder Sron said storytelling platforms such as Upin & Ipin have become increasingly relevant in communicating the realities of the palm oil sector beyond technical and trade-focused discussions.
CREATIVE CONTENT
“ Animation series like Upin & Ipin shape international perceptions of Malaysian palm oil. Through authentic storytelling, cultural values, and relatable characters, these platforms help us engage global audiences positively,” she said.
Belvinder added that creative content showcases communities and livelihoods connected to the industry while strengthening understanding of sustainability and responsible development.
Les ' Copaque founder and managing director Datuk Haji Burhanuddin Md Radzi said the collaboration demonstrated that educational themes could still resonate strongly with audiences when presented through compelling storytelling.
“ The APB + Awards prove education and entertainment aren ' t competing priorities when content is made well,” he said.
Both organisations plan to expand the collaboration with more Upin & Ipin content and educational materials to raise global awareness of sustainable Malaysian palm oil.