|CMS Agrotech & UNIMAS to collaborate on compost research|
Wednesday, 23 June 2010, Kuching – CMS Agrotech and UNIMAS will soon collaborate to undertake research on the improvement of composting technology for the production of value-added compost or bio-fertilisers for the palm oil industry and other agricultural uses.
The collaboration, detailed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was signed here today between the two parties towards developing a mutually beneficial programme of technical and scientific cooperation. This will include collaboration in research and development (R&D), technical development and advice, training, staff exchange and development, organization of joint activities, consultancy and application for joint funding for related R&D projects.
CMS Agrotech and UNIMAS have so far identified two joint R&D projects for the collaboration. The first will be a study on the characterization and properties of compost produced by CMS Agrotech. The second R&D project will be on improving the technology of composting.
The latter is a subject of relevance for Malaysia’s palm oil industry as one of the world’s largest producers. A significant challenge in palm fruit processing is the efficient management of the large amount of waste generated during the process. If recycled properly, the waste or biomass can significantly reduce carbon emissions to the atmosphere and contribute towards mitigation initiatives of global climate change.
According to UNIMAS, the development of technologies to utilize the waste product of the palm oil industry as a source for energy and chemicals will contribute significantly to the quality of the environment and economic development of Malaysia.
The collaboration between CMS Agrotech and UNIMAS is a first in R&D for CMS with an educational institution. As a leading private sector group in the State, the collaboration is also seen as an avenue for the private sector to support the growth of the local education sector.
Commenting on the MoU, CMS Group Managing Director, Dato’ Richard Curtis said, “This collaboration is a win-win; UNIMAS is able to use CMS Agrotech as a platform to further its research on an important subject which has wide-reaching impacts for the oil palm sector whilst CMS Agrotech stands to improve the quality of its compost products for the benefit of customers, both local and foreign.”
CMS Agrotech is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CMS Infra Trading which in turn is 51% owned by CMS and 49% owned by SEDC Sarawak. The company’s organic compost manufacturing plant is located at Bintawa, Kuching.