There is high demand for monounsaturated and polyunsaturated dietary oils and fats; hence, an increase in their unsaturation is desirable. Higher unsaturation in palm oil enables better penetration into the liquid oil market. The current palm oil is semi-solid at room temperature (28ºC), limiting its use as liquid oil in temperate countries. MPOB has developed new breeding materials with high oleic acid (C18:1) through conventional breeding. The level of unsaturation can be further improved through fractionation.

Main Research: Mohd. Isa Zainal Abidin