Previously known as Agro Product unit, the name of the unit was rebranded as Biomass Technology to reflect the unit’s revised vision that intends to give considerable priorities for the sustainable production of palm oil. In addition, the new vision also includes intensified  R&D and development of strategies for commercialization of value-added products derived from the by-products of the oil palm industry. The structure of the revised unit has also has undergone stream-lining as it now comprises four dedicated and well-defined units covering  Supply Chain and commercialisation,  Bio-composites, Bioprocessing and Biochemical group.

 

  The Unit’s main focus of the R&D will be directed towards the most economical and profitable utilization of all oil palm biomass comprising oil palm trunk (OPT), oil palm fronds (OPF) from the plantation and empty fruit bunch (EFB), mesocarp, fibre, palm kernel shell and decanter cake. The second focus of the unit also equally important are environmental issues. The sustainable strategies and research activities will focus on zero burning,  continuous improvement for mitigating environmental issues, value-addition to biomass-derived products, high income for the industry, and development of technologies that would assist in improving the working conditions of the workers.

 

  The oil palm biomass  are complex materials which are subject to many hurdles related  to its commercialization such as its consistent  availability,  safe storage with adequate space and ventilation, development of the  right technology for commercial mass production, quality control to meet international standards, project financing , sustainability issues,  successful  transfer of technology (TOT)  and finally economic viability. As the raw materials are endowed with widely differing characteristics, the product development also may take multiple pathways to ensure product quality that is consistent and in demand.

 

 

 

The unit is comprises of four research groups, namely a) Supply Chain & Commercialization, b) Bio-processing, c) Bio-composites and d) Bio-based Chemicals. The two earlier groups are located at Stesen Penyelidikan MPOB/UKM, Bio-processing Group activities are mainly in POMTEC, meanwhile, the R&D under Bio-based Chemical Group is in MPOB HQ.