PALMOILMAGAZINE, BOGOR – Rizal Affandi Lukman, Secretary General of CPOPC, emphasized the importance of fostering stronger engagement and dialogue between academics and students from higher education institutions in Indonesia and Malaysia. This was conveyed during a seminar titled “Engagement With Academicians and Student Leaders from Higher Institutions of Learning, Indonesia and Malaysia 2024,” held at the IPB International Convention Center in Bogor, as reported by Palmoilmagazine.com.
Rizal explained that the seminar is part of CPOPC’s annual activities, following last year’s successful event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He expressed hope that the seminar would not only strengthen ties between the CPOPC Secretariat and academics and students but also provide insights and relevant data on food contaminants, particularly in relation to palm oil.
“Our goal is to present scientific evidence about contaminants in palm oil to the general public,” Rizal said, referring to issues such as monochloropropanediol esters (3-MCPD Ester) and glycidol esters (GE), which pose emerging challenges for the palm oil industry, especially in the European Union market.
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During the seminar, Azmil Haizan Ahmad Tarmizi, an expert from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), highlighted the importance of mitigation efforts to reduce contamination in palm oil. He noted that while not all contaminants pose health risks, minimizing exposure is essential to ensure palm oil remains safe for consumption.
Meanwhile, Tatang Hernas Soerawidjaja from Bandung Institute of Technology explained that Indonesia possesses advanced technology to produce B40 and B50 biodiesel. He added that the decision to implement B40 and B50 is more financial than technological, as biodiesel is still considered more expensive than fossil diesel.
Tatang projected that palm oil consumption for B50 would reach 18 million metric tons, up from 11 million metric tons used for B35 this year. He noted that Indonesia’s palm oil consumption has grown at an average rate of 7.6% per year since 2019, while production has increased by less than 1% annually.
To combat the negative stigma surrounding palm oil, CPOPC has also launched the Young Elaeis Ambassadors (YEAs) program, which engages the younger generation. The program targets individuals aged 17-30, aiming to leverage social media as a platform to promote sustainable palm oil management campaigns.
“We are deeply grateful for the enthusiasm and dedication of these young ambassadors. We plan to expand this program because if left unchecked, negative perceptions of palm oil will persist,” Rizal concluded. (P2)
