By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 14: Sago palm has significant economic and environmental value for nutrition as a sustainable food system that improves food security, provides biofuel from its biomass, aids in ecosystem rehabilitation by restoring degraded landscapes, particularly peatlands, and has the potential for carbon sequestration.
Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (Tropi) director Datu Dr Lulie Melling emphasised that the way forward to reduce the carbon footprint will be presented and discussed at the 15th International Sago Symposium 2024, slated from Sept 23 to 26 at Tropi.
With the theme ‘Unlocking the Potential of Sago Palm: Towards Sustainable Food Systems and Environmental Restoration’, it is dedicated to advancing knowledge, supporting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), strengthening international cooperation in research and innovation, as well as shape future policies and investments for sago palm cultivation and utilisation.
According to the symposium brochure, the goals include launching a global campaign to elevate the global recognition of sago palm as a sustainable and economically viable food source for food security, biofuel, and raw material while playing a central role in tropical peatland restoration and rehabilitation.
Other objectives are to highlight sago palm cultivation’s alignment with UN SDGs and foster broader international joint research and innovation for sago palm.
Secondary objectives include promoting the wider use of the sago palm for nutritional purposes through processing, manufacturing and product innovation, including breeding programmes to improve its resilience and yield, and the use of its biomass as a biofuel with potential overall environmental benefits through the development of sustainable farming practices that contribute to ecological restoration.
Lulie, who is the symposium organising chairperson, highlighted that the event is not only an opportunity to broaden understanding but also a platform to contribute to a global movement towards sustainability and restoration using sago palm as a key component.
“We are excited to bring together a diverse group of experts, practitioners, and enthusiasts from around the world for a stimulating and productive symposium that promises to make a significant impact on the global stage on food security and sustainability of the tropical peatland ecosystem,” she said.
The four-day event is co-organised with the Malaysian Peat Society (MPS), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), and the Society of Sago Palm Studies (SSPS).
For more information, please visit TROPI’s official website http://sarawaktropi.my/. — DayakDaily
