Message from the CEO

Dear Readers,

As we unveil this latest edition of PalmSphere, we do so at a critical juncture for the Malaysian palm oil industry. The spotlight is now firmly on the European Union’s country benchmarking under the EUDR – a classification that will define how our industry is perceived and treated in an important export market. This edition emphasises that the EUDR benchmarking result is undermining the country’s efforts to contain deforestation. Malaysia has been categorised as ‘standard risk’ by the European Union, alongside 49 other countries, despite the records of significant reductions in primary forest loss, a shrinking oil palm footprint, and the implementation of the MSPO 2.0 certification scheme.

Taking a deeper dive into the recently announced simplifications to the EUDR framework, the measures offer welcomed administrative relief to EU importers. Yet, they fall short in recognising the value of national certification systems like MSPO and in easing the compliance burden for producers. Next, we conclude the red palm oil series with a compelling piece on innovation, from emulsions to encapsulations, exploring the intersection of food science and technology. The Wild Asia and MSPO-certified farmers further experiment for a nature-positive palm oil. We also feature a clarification of the EUDR’s critical elements, particularly the benchmarking methodology and the implications of different risk classifications for navigating regulatory changes and planning.

As always, I thank you for your continued engagement, support, and belief in the Malaysian palm oil industry. Together, let us remain focused on strengthening our sustainability credentials and securing our rightful place in global markets, based on science, transparency, and integrity.

Belvinder Sron

CEO of MPOC