hands to form a coalition to fight anti-palm oil lobby that has been
intensifying recently.
Fierce rivalry from competing vegetable oils grown in Europe and North
America has prompted underhanded tactics by developed nations to curb
the growth of the palm oil trade.
At a meeting in Kuching,
Sarawak, yesterday, Malaysian and Indonesian oil palm planters did not
discuss an alternative scheme to certify that palm oil is produced from
sustainable methods.
However, they agree to engage with the
existing Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) for a more practical
scheme.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA), the
Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki), Association of Plantation
Investors of Malaysia in Indonesia (Apimi), Felda and Sarawak Oil Palm
Plantation Owners Association (Soppoa) have decided to form a coalition
called the Indonesia-Malaysia Palm Oil Group (Impog).
It was agreed that the first chairman of Impog will be from Apimi and
will serve as Impog’s secretariat for the year 2010. The chairmanship
will be rotated bi-annually.
Impog has formed a steering
committee to focus on emerging research and development, sustainability
related issues and communications to stakeholders.
Source : Business Times
