SANDAKAN: A roundatable discussion on sustainable palm oil will be held here next week amid growing concern over the need for the sector to do its bit for the environment. The Sustainable Palm Oil – From Tree to Table workshop on Jan 14 will see speakers presenting six papers touching on the sustainability issue of the industry. The event, organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) Sabah branch and WWF Malaysia’s Kinabatangan Corridor of Life (KCoL) project, is expected to draw 100 participants. MPOA chief executive Datuk Mamat Salleh will address the workshop and is expected to present a paper on the road ahead for the industry. KCoL team leader Julia Majail said the workshop was expected to create awareness on sustainability issues and expectations of consumers, both globally and in Malaysia. “Consumers are becoming more concerned about where products come from, and in the case of palm oil, they want to be sure that minimal harm is done to the environment,” she said in a statement. Statistics show that there are more than 290 licensed oil palm plantations and over 1,000 smallholders in the Kinabatangan basin on the Sabah east coast. The basin, known for iconic wildlife such as the orang utan and Borneo pygmy elephants, is also home to 29 palm oil mills. — Bernama Source : The Star