TS

The Oil Palm Agronomy Centre (OPAC) aims to help oil palm growers in obtaining the optimum economic fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yields through practicing the good agricultural practices (GAP) and applying appropriate balanced fertilisers. Hence, OPAC will systematically provide services on agronomic practices and proper fertilisation recommendations based on the foliar, soil and fertiliser analyses. … Read more

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDFs), collectively known as dioxins are major persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are found widely all over the world. Centres for Disease Control has classified this chemical compound as toxic, stable, do not break down easily and ubiquitously presence in the environmental and food matrices. Figure 1 shows the chemical structures of dioxin and furan. Dioxins are … Read more

In Malaysia, crude palm oil (CPO) and crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) are the main feedstock for the production of a wide variety of palm-based derivatives for both food and non-food applications including oleochemicals. These derivatives are widely used in the production of candles, cosmetics, soap, lubricants, grease, agrochemicals, etc. There are a number of fatty acids produced from palm kernel oil. One of … Read more

In Malaysia, glyphosate is a commonly used herbicide in oil palm plantation to control broad-leaved weeds and grasses. However, herbicides usage may have adverse effects on human if presence in food products. Therefore, a reliable method has to be developed to detect and quantify glyphosate residue in crude palm oil, to safeguard public health. Glyphosate (Figure 1) is the common name for [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] C3 H8 NO5 P. Roundup, … Read more

Insecticides are used in the oil palm plantation to control insect pests. Insecticides such as cypermethrin are commonly used to treat bagworms, nettle caterpillars and rhinoceros beetles. The use of pesticides in oil palm plantations has resulted in a growing concern for the presence and danger of the residues in the environment. A method has been developed to monitor leaching and the persistence … Read more