The Palm Oil Manufacturing Technology Exhibition and Conference (POMtec) 2023 organized by the Sarawak Palm Oil Plantation Owners Association (SOPPOA) was held on 8 - 9 August 2023 at the Imperial Hotel, Miri, Sarawak. POMtec 2023 themed "Toward Sustainable & Value-Added Business Operation" was organized to highlight the effectiveness of the latest technologies that promote sustainability such as environmentally friendly processes, waste reduction and energy efficiency in palm oil manufacturing operations. The Borneo EcoScience Institute (IEB), Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus (UPMKB) was invited and provided with an exhibition space to jointly showcase the results of research innovation and publications throughout the POMtec programme.

The opening ceremony of POMtec 2023 was officiated by Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah Bin Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and Minister of Plantations and Commodities. He also visited the IEB exhibition space, UPMKB to see the research and publication innovation products produced by UPM related to oil palm and its biomass. During the visit, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah Bin Yusof was also accompanied by Yang Berhormat Dato Sri Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Development of Wiayah Sarawak (M-FICORD), En Eric Kiu Kwong Seng, Chairman of the Sarawak Palm Oil Plantation Owners Association (SOPPOA) and other honorary difs. The briefing during the visit was delivered by Dr. Syeed SaifulAzry Osman Al Edrus (IEB Director, UPMKB). He was interested in the research and publications shown and also suggested that IEB, UPMKB to discuss further with M-FICORD to see the potential collaboration that can be held to develop downstream products based on oil palm biomass in Sarawak..

Through the programme, the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia also urged the parties to continue experimenting with innovative procedures and strategies to add value to the country's palm oil production chain.

Also visiting the IEB exhibition space, UPMKB was YB Dr. Hazland Abang Hipni, Deputy Minister of Energy and Nature Sustainability, Sarawak. In the closing ceremony, the IEB, UPMKB had the opportunity to exchange views together with YB Tuan Maclaine @ Martin Ben, Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Wiayah Development Sarawak (M-FICORD).

Two researchers from UPMKB, Prof. Dr. Patricia King Jie Hung (Deputy Director of IEB, UPMKB) and Dr. Sivasangar A/L Seenivasagam (Senior Lecturer, Department of Science and Technology, UPMKB) were invited to present their research findings in POMtec 2023. Also participating in the programme was Dr. Latifah Binti Omar (Head of Borneo Biodiversity Laboratory, IEB, UPMKB) with Dr. Mugunthan A/L Perumal (Research Officer, IEB, UPMKB).

In conjunction with the exhibition, IEB, UPMKB also promoted the study programmes offered at UPMKB such as Diploma Preparation Programme, Diploma, Bachelor, Master and Doctor of Philosophy which were shared with the students and POMtec participants present.

Also present were colleagues from Private Institutes of Higher Learning (IPTS) and industry players to jointly enliven the programme.

Date of Input: 17/08/2023 | Updated: 18/08/2023 | lanz