Monash-Industry Palm Oil Education and Research
The palm oil industry is a significant contributor to the socio-economic growth in this region of the world. However, the large scale production of palm oil has become a global issue because it has been linked to deforestation, loss of habitat, and other social issues.
Being geographically located in the region where about 90% of the world’s palm oil is produced, Monash University Malaysia has set up a Multidisciplinary Research Platform (MIPO) to address some of the challenges facing the industry.
With a team of outstanding researchers and the state-of-the-art research and education facilities, MIPO aims to promote cross-disciplinary collaborations and university-industry linkages in developing sustainable solutions for the production of palm oil through research, education and training.
Monash-Industry Palm Oil Education and Research (MIPO) is a platform for university-industry-government cooperation aimed to improve the sustainability of the palm oil industry in the country and beyond.
Research Areas
The platform supports and promote university-industry linkages and cross-disciplinary collaboration to develop innovative solutions for the palm oil industry through research, education and training.
We have expertise in the following four clusters:
Palm oil is the world’s most consumed food oil and it is essential for ensuring food security in many poor and developing countries. This cluster focuses on the development of safe, healthy and innovative palm-based products.
Social and Environmental Sustainability
Much of the controversies surrounding the palm oil industry are related to environmental degradation, loss of wildlife, exploitation of labour and native community. This research cluster investigates these issues to enhance sustainability practices of oil palm plantation, and address the labour and community issues.
Waste to Wealth
The palm oil milling process produces a large amount of solid and liquid wastes, including empty fruit brunches, oil palm fronds, mesocarp fibre, palm kernel cake, and palm oil mill effluent. This cluster aims to convert these wastes into valuable chemicals or products using sustainable technologies.
Palm Oil Processing and Derivatives
Most of the conventional palm oil processing methods are energy-intensive and generate a large amount of waste. This research cluster aims to develop efficient and green processes that can improve yield, minimise energy use and reduce waste generation.
Specialist services
- Collaborative research
- Fee for service
- Training
- Analytical services
- Consultancy
For more information, please visit the Monash-Industry Palm Oil Platform website.