Public Private Partnerships

New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL)

Our Perspective…

Thomas BetitisDami Oil Palm Research Station

NBPOL Group• NBPOL-Dynamic and expanding

agribusiness• Encompasses NBPOL, RAIL, GPPOL• Research Stations at Dami and Ramu• 8* mills, 2* refineries, 1 sugar mill• Total area approx-50,000 ha• Oil palm (OP) most economical crop

in PNG since 2004• Committed to sustainable palm oil

production

Our Core Business..

• Growing of oil palm• Transport and Milling fruit• Export Crude Palm oil • Export Refine Palm oil • Breeding and Seed Sales

Significant aspects of Oil Palm in future

• Production areas to double• Strong commitment to

sustainability• New oil palm developments to start• Investors keeness to develop OP• Commodity prices to remain high

and stable

(based on PNGOPRA multi stakeholder consultations, 2008)

Main Issues in OP industry • Production issues• Lack of skill HR• Social stability • Government policy• Rural livelihoods• Environmental issues• Land issues• Infrastructures in place• Commodity prices

Issues affecting OP development in PNG

• Shortage of skilled labour and experience management staff

• Over population in Oil Palm development areas

• Sustainability (NBPOL)

Starting point- R & D

• Research must spear head Development for profitability

• Management expertise required• Sustainable Best management

practice required• Focus on Continuous improvement

R & D - Dami OPRS

• Private Research Station owned by NBPOL

• Established in 1968• Provide superior planting material

for NBPOL and for seed production• Since 2000 expanded to encompass

-Biotechnology-Agronomy-Precision Agriculture-Environment sustainability

Role of R & D - NBPOL

• Provide high yielding genetic material for specific growing conditions

• Site specific management based on sound agronomic advise

• Long term trials to improve efficiency

• Continuous improvement through focused research

• Contribute to Company Profitability

30:30 Charter Bench Mark

• Higher yield and reduce production costs

• 30 tons FFB and palm products/ton & oil extraction of 30% (CPO/PKO)

• Efforts from R&D, Mills/transport/plantation required to achieve 30:30

Dami ResearchTowards the 30:30

Project• Department • Trial descriptionSeed Production / Plantations

Seed Production

Provide pollen to Plantations for assisted pollination

Pollination and production of elite material.

Breeding

Re-establish 742.207 as pisifera source with the use of CD free seed palmBreeding

Elite progenies screening for cloning & establish for new seed garden

Breeding / Plantations Bunch analysis to assist plantations assess best harvesting standard

Breeding Assisted pollination trial

Breeding / Agronomy / Seed Nursery Screening

Breeding / Agronomy / Plantations / Smallholders

Bunch analysis to assist Agronomy assess best harvesting standard

Agronomy Elite progenies + BMP

Agronomy P experiment on paired MUs

Agronomy Immature Fertiliser Regime

Agronomy / Plantations OMP (best and worse fields) provide research and plantation with this data

Bio Tech Production of Tenera Clones

Biotech / Breeding Nursery Screening-clones

Yield t/ha/yr

Yield (t/ha)

18.0

20.0

22.0

24.0

26.0

28.0

30.0

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Yield (t/ha)

Current Research Staffing- Dami

Category National Expatriate

Senior Scientists 2 3

Scientists 5 0

Research Assistants (Graduates) 10 0

Total 17 3

Department Scientists    

Breeding 2 1*

Biotechnology 0 1

Agronomy 2 1**

Precision Agriculture 1 0

Seed Production 2 1*

Total 7 3

Trial areas Area (ha) ratio

Plant Breeding 1500 1:750 ha

Agronomy 1650 1: 800 ha

Graduate Standards

• Standard of agriculture graduates dropped in terms of Education, Attitude, and Application

• Agriculture sustainability important• Agriculture sector must be prepared

Key professions (NBPOL)

• Agriculture sciences• General sciences• Engineering • Environment sustainability• Molecular biology

Supporting professions

• Health• Legal• Constructions• Administrative• Financial• Transport/workshop• Social scientists

What kind of graduates?• Committed• Reliable• Career minded• Hardworking• Adequate Analytical skills• Academically sound &

practical

What kind of graduates..• Innovative • Internet shy (no dependence)• Change in attitude from student• Adapt to changing conditions

What we offer

• Attractive salary package• Merit based promotions• Attractive bonus based on

performances and company profitability

• Free housing• Generous Leave packages• Full medical cover and

education assistance• Training and Career

development

Training assistance

• Places for Industrial training to agriculture students

• Scholarships to best performing students

• Employment to graduates based on requirements

Placement and sponsorship over 3 years

Placements• 2007 = 21• 2008 = 22• 2009= 30

Sponsored• 2007 = 11• 2008 = 16• 2009 = 13

Formal training funded by NBPOL (in house)

Post graduates• 2008 = 7 • 2009 = 2

Certificates• 2008 = 3*• 2009 = 17

Summary-Building capacity

• Capacity building in Universities is essential

• Increase skill human resources for future

• Agriculture sustainability important• Competent trained

scientist/researchers to meet future challenges

• Need support from all stakeholders

Partnership

• NBPOL and Vudal• NBPOL and Unitech• Council representation

Thank you on behalf of Thank you on behalf of NBPOLNBPOL

Areas needing strengthening

• Experiment designs• Report writing• Statistical analyses• Data interpretation

Current yield trends