The Science Council of Japan is organizing a public symposium with the theme "Problems and Challenges of Sustainable Development of Oil Palm Plantations in Southeast Asia" to be held online on September 29 (Thu), 2022. Dr. KONDO Toshiaki, Senior Researcher of the Biological Resources and Post-harvest Division will give a presentation in the symposium.
Palm oil, produced from oil palm fruit bunches, is the most widely produced and consumed vegetable oil in the world, and is an important and essential vegetable oil that supports the society and economy of many countries and regions. On the other hand, the expansion of oil palm plantations is having a significant impact on the global environment through loss of biodiversity and increase in greenhouse gas emissions. This is a problem that must be solved not only by the producing countries but also by the international community, including the consuming countries.
The SATREPS project “Sustainable Replantation of Oil Palm by Adding Value to Oil Palm Trunk through Scientific and Technological Innovation” (Project Leader: Dr. KOSUGI Akihiko, JIRCAS) in which Dr. Kondo is participating, focuses on oil palm trunks that are cut down when oil palm trees are replanted and left on the plantations. This project aims to evaluate the environmental problems caused by the huge amount of crop residues generated by the production of palm oil and to develop technologies to utilize oil palm residues to solve these problems.
In this symposium, Dr. Kondo will introduce the impact of abandoning oil palm trunks in plantations on climate change and other issues, and four other researchers will present the latest research results and findings on the background of the development of oil palm plantation, and the problems and challenges in sustainable development and management. The objective is to provide information to society and an opportunity to consider Japan's contribution.
Anyone can participate in this symposium by registering on the application form in the link below. We are looking forward to your participation.
https://www.scj.go.jp/ja/event/2022/link/327-s-0929_link_1.html
