SERDANG – The Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), UPM, has recently held the INTROP Innovation Open Day 2021 in conjunction with the INTROP site visit event by the Chairman of the University Board of Directors, YAM Tengku Syarif Laksamana Perlis Dato' Seri DiRaja Syed Razlan Syed Putra Jamalullail, and the university’s top management.
It aimed to share and disseminate the latest information on research, products and innovations produced by INTROP researchers. It is the third Innovation Open Day by INTROP since its inception in 2006.
The Open Day was viewed live by 60 UPM staff and graduate students through the Zoom platform. They were able to watch the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence’s (HICoE) impact presentation and INTROP research videos, research posters, as well as visiting the exhibition tables and demonstration workshops virtually to see the products and innovations by INTROP researchers.
Among the programme agenda were HICoE’s impact presentation on crops plantation, video screenings on marine grade plywood, laminated bamboo boards, Kenaf pulp, and climate monitoring stations for Eucalyptus research plots.
Meanwhile, there were exhibition booth visits such as Enau starch and PPE biocomposites, SafeBiopack sets and food utensils, high impact and puncture-resistant clothing and nanocellulose, and visits to demonstration workshops on products and innovations, and the planting of INTROP iconic tree.
The HICoE’s impact presentation on crops plantation was presented by the Director of INTROP, Prof. Ts. Dr. Khalina Abdan. It was about the effect of recognition of INTROP as HICoE towards crops plantation in Malaysia.
Among the crops studied by INTROP researchers were Eucalyptus, bamboo, oil palm, Kenaf, and Enau. This allows potential commodities such as biodegradable materials that can be applied in aviation cabins, automotive, medicine, agriculture, buildings, packaging and pulp.
A collaboration between INTROP and private entities in and outside the country was established to develop wood-based products and tropical fibres. Among the iconic products produced by INTROP researchers were biocomposite plywood, PUTRA Frame and biomass nanocellulose.
Other products were developed, including SafeBiopack and food utensils, Enau starch, and laminated bamboo. The forest fire early warning system was also developed by INTROP researchers in collaboration with the ASEAN Peat Swamp Forest Community. It is one of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies.
Towards the end of the programme, the planting ceremony of the INTROP iconic tree was held. It was officiated by Dato' Seri DiRaja Syed Razlan and the Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) Executive Vice President, Dato' Sri Ir. Dr. Judin Abdul Karim.
This initiative was inspired by the 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. The planted INTROP iconic tree is the Eucalyptus pellita tree, which has great potential as a source of fibre for pulp production and wood and veneer production. - UPM
