FGV Annual Report 2020

Driving operational improvements with R&D FGV has an award winning R&D arm to drive operational improvements across the upstream, downstream and integrated farming activities. Through robust business-oriented and cutting edge R&D programmes, we have been able to strengthen the value creation capabilities of FGV’s agribusiness activities. At the same time we are stepping up the commercialisation of our R&D products in the external marketplace. R&D Focus Areas Sustainability Matters • Good agronomic practices to increase yield • Reduce inorganic fertilisers • Increase mechanisation to reduce dependence on manual labour • Develop niche fertiliser products and expand into external markets • Improve efficiency through mill modernisation • Produce new products for Downstream FMCG • New products for Specialty Chemicals • Support Integrated Farming ventures In 2020, the R&D strategic focus was on projects to operational improvements in boosting the productivity of the Upstream Division as well as Downstream research of food and non-food products. We made good progress in product development and process improvements, and will be entering a new product market, namely rat baits for paddy farms. 2020 ACHIEVEMENTS Upstream Downstream Integrated Farming Product Development • Fortified organic fertilisers for mature oil palm (480MT) • Bamboo tissue culture ( 50,000 seedlings) • Geospatial precision technology (SAFE) for high standard replanting model (200 ha) Process Improvements • Improving seed germination rate (>80%) • Establishing barn owl population in PUP New Market Segment • Rat bait registration for paddy fields Completed Projects During the year, R&D completed a variety of projects: • New pesticide (1) Weed Solut-ion • New strategic crop (1) Certified Pandan Coconut Seedlings • New products for consumer products (1) PREMEO Frying Oil (2) PREMEO Dairy Fat Replacer (3) PREMEO Animal Fat Replacer (4) Premium Blended Oil (Olein & Sunflower) (5) Soft Spread (6) Adela Industrial Margarine (7) Saji Plus (Olein & Soy) • New products for specialty fats (1) Crude Lactic Acid (2) Crude Ethyl Ester 106 FGV HOLDINGS BERHAD Annual Integrated Report 2020