14 Plantation & Commodities @ AGROBiz | November-December . 2024
Feeding the future
14 Plantation & Commodities @ AGROBiz | November-December . 2024
Tapping into potential
Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani ( Centre ) during the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum 2024 .
EU law : a balancing act
Malaysia has long embraced sustainable practices , says Johari
MA LAYSIA ’ S Plantation and Commodities Minister , Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani , welcomed the need for the European Union ( EU ) to set clear criteria in its anti-deforestation law to avoid labelling palm oil-producing countries , like Malaysia , as “ high-risk ”.
Johari praised the EU ’ s decision to postpone the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation ( EUDR ), citing the delay as a vital step for “ trade fairness ” and the chance for producer countries to meet the new requirements gradually .
Johari addressed the importance of transparency in defining high-risk categories , specifically to avoid labelling nations like Malaysia unfairly .
“ At the same time , critical issues such as creating transparent benchmarking criteria would need to be closely looked over so as to not unfairly label producer countries as ‘ high-risk ’,” he said
Feeding the future
THE Malaysian government is exploring incentives to encourage poultry farmers to use palm oil production waste as a supplement in animal feed , with the aim of reducing dependency on imported feed .
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani announced that farmers could receive production-based incentives for incorporating 5 per cent to 10 per cent palm oil waste
during the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum in Kuala Lumpur recently . He urged the EU Parliament to be “ more accommodative ” for global benefit .
As Malaysia strives to meet international sustainability standards , Johari reaffirmed the country ’ s pledge to reduce carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 and conserve at least 50 per cent of its forests .
A FAIR FUTURE
Malaysia , he noted , has “ long embraced sustainable practices ”, and the EUDR offers an opportunity to demonstrate the palm oil industry ’ s readiness to meet high standards while thriving globally .
into their feed .
“ We want to encourage the use of these waste materials as a supplement to imported feed like corn and soybeans . If widely adopted , this approach could significantly cut the reliance on imported feed ,” Johari said during a session in the Dewan Rakyat .
The initiative comes as Malaysia continues to be one of Southeast Asia ’ s most importreliant countries for animal feed .
Johari also emphasised the need for cooperative engagement between the EU and producer countries instead of a one-sided enforcement approach . This collaboration , he stated , could drive fair trade and foster partnerships to tackle climate change .
The minister further highlighted Malaysia ’ s positive growth in the palm oil sector , with production up by 10.2 per cent from January to August 2024 .
“ If this upward trend continues , we are on track to exceed 19 million metric tonnes in production this year ,” he shared , attributing the rise to effective policies and solutions to labour issues .
Johari also stressed his commitment to correcting global misconceptions about Malaysian palm oil , adding : “ My objective is clear : to provide a balanced and comprehensive perspective on palm oil and advocate against unfounded criticisms that do not reflect the realities of our industry .”
In 2022 , the country imported over five million tonnes of corn and soybean products , primarily from nations like Brazil and Argentina , to meet the needs of its poultry and livestock sectors .
MALAYSIA must once again position itself as a leading producer of sustainable natural rubber .
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani noted the country ’ s past dominance , producing up to 1 million tonnes , and explained that production has since dwindled to just 380,000 tonnes , forcing Malaysia to import rubber worth RM6 billion to meet domestic demand .
Johari pointed out that other nations , such as Thailand , Indonesia , and Vietnam , have surpassed Malaysia in rubber production over the years . Despite this , he remains optimistic that Malaysia can reclaim its top spot .
“ We can emerge as a leading rubber producer again if we optimise the 1.1 million hectares of rubber plantations across the nation ,” he said .
Johari also revealed his efforts to revitalise idle plantations by encouraging smallholders and plantation owners to resume tapping operations , especially on estates that have been abandoned .
Johari noted : “ When we ask them ( to resume operations ), they cite reasons such as being too old to tap , high maintenance costs , and low rubber prices .”
To address these challenges , the Malaysian Rubber Board ( MRB ) will work with the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority ( RISDA ) to find solutions , including hiring workers to tap the trees , with profits shared with landowners .
Johari also announced that enforcement of the Malaysian Sustainable Natural Rubber ( MSNR ) guidelines will begin on January 1 , 2025 . These guidelines focus on five sustainability principles , including no deforestation for rubber planting and supply chain traceability . – @ AGROBiz