Malaysian Palm Oil Council
THE Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) was incorporated on January 25, 1990 when it was charged with spearheading the promotional and marketing activities of Malaysian palm oil in an effort to make it the leading oil in the global oils and fats market.
MPOC is a Malaysian government agency closely allied with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. MPOC reports to the Ministry of Plantation Industries & Commodities.
Tasks undertaken by the MPOC include ‘the promotion of the varied techno-economic advantages of palm oil and its by-products and the enhancement of the global image of the palm oil industry.
MPOC claims that it has become internationally recognised as a leading source for information on all matters concerning palm oil, disseminating information on good agricultural practice and communicating the results, as well as providing support to the industry to share what it chooses to call Nature’s gift to Malaysia with the World.
But MPOC only ever presents one half of the story. It never acknowledges the damage that has been done to the environment in terms of deforestation.
MPOC says that it continues to take the lead role in providing thought-leadership on issues relating to sustainable agricultural practices, conservation, environmental preservation, species and forest preservation, biofuels and bio-diversity.
‘Thought leadership’ is a euphemism for ’spin’, which in this case is the art of spreading only those facts that make palm oil look good and ignoring or masking the whole truth.
In collaboration with other bodies MPOC participates in symposia and organises regular briefings and dialogues for European oils and fats industry players and food manufacturers (such as Unilever, Cadbury and Nestle) to emphasise Malaysia’s commitment to self-enrichment through palm oil.
MPOC also arranges familiarisation trips for European Union committee members, during which it wines and dines them and tries to persuade them that palm oil is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Click to view the Malaysian Palm Oil Council website. (December 2008)
MPOC has offices in Los Angeles, Brussels, Durban, Cairo, Dubai, Lahore, Mumbai, Dhaka and Shanghai.