UTAR Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours) students Kelvin Chuah Jing Le and Wan Jia Wei were placed Top 11 among the Top 20 winning teams at the IChemE’s Palm Oil Processing Special Interest Group (POPSIG) Infographic Competition 2023, held virtually on 30 October 2023.

Supervised by LKC FES academic Assoc Prof Dr Steven Lim, Chuah and Wan walked away with a cash prize worth RM100, a certificate of participation and a certificate of achievement each.

Themed ‘Future of Palm Oil Industry’, the competition was organised by IChemE’s Palm Oil Processing Special Interest Group (POPSIG) along with the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC). It aimed to recognise the current challenges in the Malaysian palm oil industry; stimulate creative thinking and express innovative ideas in advancing the Malaysian palm oil industry; explore novel ideas to create a futuristic Malaysian palm oil industry, and provide a platform for students to showcase their design thinking, knowledge, and skills.

The duo said, “Our infographic titled ‘Malaysian Palm Oil: Nurturing the Golden Future’ delves into the Malaysian palm oil industry, addressing key challenges and sustainability efforts. The industry faced labour shortages due to COVID-19, promoting mechanization and automation for solutions. Market fluctuations, partly due to EU policies and decreased demand from India and China, were met with diversification strategies like converting palm oil to bio-lubricants. Environmental issues, including biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions, were tackled through sustainable land use and responsible practices. The industry emphasises sustainability and traceability, employing certification and supply chain transparency to reinforce its commitment to responsible production.”

They also said, “We participated in this competition to create an impactful infographic that highlights the problems plaguing the palm oil industry and to propose potential solutions. It was an opportunity to raise awareness about the industry’s challenges and engage in creative problem-solving. In addition, winning this competition is a significant achievement as it validates the effectiveness of our approach in addressing the problems within the palm oil industry and offering potential solutions. It serves as a motivating reminder to continue advocating for sustainability and responsible practices in this sector.”