SERDANG, 3 July 2024 – An official visit and interaction session by a delegation from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to Institute of Plantations Studies (IKP) was held on 3 July 2024. This visit was accompanied by Dr. Chery Ong (Research Manager and Advisor), Puan Farah Damia Mohd Zainal (Talent Acquisition Executive) as well as several other RSPO representatives and were welcomed by the IKP Director, YBhg. Prof. Ts. Dr. Siti Khairunniza Bejo, YBhg. Prof. Dr. Wong Mui Yun, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Rafein Zakaria and IKP research officers.

Through this visit and interaction session, the IKP Director has presented and explained the achievements, planning and directions of IKP in helping the development of the plantation industry in Malaysia, especially in relation to palm oil. The session continued with Dr. Cheryl Ong explained the role of RSPO which is a voluntary non-profit organization focused specifically on bringing together stakeholders across the palm oil supply chain to develop and implement international standards for sustainable palm oil production. The RSPO now has thousands of members worldwide from every link of the palm oil supply chain to ensure that all stakeholders have a voice and share responsibility for protecting the Standards that have been set.

At the end of the explanation, Dr. Cheryl Ong invited collaboration between UPM in general and IKP in particular in the industrial training program for students, especially final year pre-graduate students, joint organization of research programs (symposiums or courses) and community programs related to palm oil. IKP welcomes this invitation and will plan related programs for cooperation with RSPO in the near future.

Date of Input: 31/07/2024 | Updated: 31/07/2024 | ainzubaidah