MPOC PRESS RELEASE: MPOC ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL VISIT
FOR EU AMBASSADORS TO UNITED PLANTATION BERHAD'S
JENDERATA ESTATE

Teluk Intan, June 15 June 2007 - Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) organised an educational visit for the EU Ambassadors to United Plantations Berhad’s Jendarata Estate. The main objective was to educate the Ambassadors on the sustainable practices adopted by the Malaysian oil palm plantations.

The attendees were HE Mr Herbert D. Jess, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, HE Mr. Thierry Rommel, The Delegation of the European Commission to Malaysia and Mr Adrie de Roo and Mrs Maria Conception, Agricultural Counsellor, Agriculture Department of the Royal Netherlands Embassy. United Plantations Senior management involved with the visit were Mr. Carl Bek-Nielsen, Vice Chairman and Executive Director (Corporate Affairs), Mr Martin Bek-Nielsen, Executive Director (Finance & Marketing), and Dr Gurmit Singh, Research and Development Director.

The two key messages highlighted during the visit were sustainability and facts on global oils and fats.

On sustainability it focused on how UP adopts proven and sustainable agricultural practices that are environmentally compatible. The visit also highlighted how UP practices zero burning allowing valuable biomass to be recycled to the land to maintain the crucial carbon cycle and improve soil fertility. Further to that, UP saw the inauguration of fully integrated plantation based Biomass Boiler and Biogas Plant that helps reduce green house gas emissions. UP fully supports the essentials for sustainable palm oil production through the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

Facts on global oils and fats highlighted on how biofuel sector poised to take up 40-45% of the expected growth in 17 oils and fats demand. Furthermore, during 2006, the world’s total palm oil production reached 36.8 million metric tones, of which Malaysia produced about 43% but occupied less than 13% of the total land bank.

It was also noted that Malaysia is providing excellent leadership by setting up the RSPO. The European Union (EU) is currently working with Malaysia to create a certification system for palm oil and it is expected to be ready by 2008.

The Ambassadors felt that the overall visit has provided an opportunity for them to exchange information and opinions on United Plantations, a model oil palm plantation company which emphasised highly on corporate social responsibility besides being environmentally conscious. They feel other countries with palm oil plantations should emulate Malaysia and they were convinced that palm oil has more flavour than other oils.

The overall visit furnished the ambassadors and the media with better understanding of Malaysia’s sustainable palm oil practices and left them with positive impressions as to how oil palm plantations are managed.

United Plantations Berhad’s (UP) principal activities are cultivation processing of oil palm and coconut. Other activities include manufacturing edible oils, fats, soap products, cocoa butter substitute and trading of crude palm oil. It also focuses on sustainability of the palm oil whilst promoting the conservation and development of biodiversity within their group of plantations.

The first Educational visit was to Golden Hope Plantations, Carey Island on April 19th 2007. This was the second visit in 2007 by MPOC for the European Ambassadors. It was due to the negative perceptions from the European media and NGO’s who link palm oil cultivation in Malaysia and Indonesia as the primary root cause towards deforestation, orang utan displacement, biodiversity loss and global warming.

About MPOC

The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (‘MPOC’) spearheads Malaysia’s quest to be a responsible and efficient supplier of palm oil in the global market. An industry-funded organisation, MPOC undertakes responsible marketing and educational activities for palm oil to ensure the continued confidence of consumers worldwide.

MPOC is internationally recognised as a centre for information on all matters concerning palm oil and related industries, and continues together with its sister organisation, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (‘MPOB’) to conduct extensive research and development into an industry, which was first introduced into Malaysia (then Malaya) in 1870 from West Africa.

Through well-funded and sound research, MPOC initiates sustainability initiatives, social programmes and product development in Malaysia and around the world.

For more information about the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, please visit:  www.mpoc.org.my
For more information about Malaysia Palm Oil, please visit: www.MalaysiaPalmOil.org

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