KUALA KANGSAR: Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said Malaysia's palm planters should embrace AI technology to cut its dependence on foreign labour and improve output in a bid to bolster productivity.
"If this technology proves effective, it should be considered by all stakeholders in the palm oil sector," he told reporters after launching the first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based smart palm oil mill.
"This is the first palm oil mill in the world to adopt advanced technology that integrates AI, sensors, and predictive tools to streamline the processing of palm oil," he added.
The new technology has been implemented at Minsawi Industries, a palm oil mill that has been in operation for 41 years with the partnership with Airei Sdn Bhd. Airei provides plant monitoring solutions and development of agricultural robotics.
Malaysia is the world's second biggest producer of palm oil. The government has urged palm oil producers to adopt new technolgy and mechanise output to boost.
Johari said Malaysia currently has 446 palm oil mills, but Minsawi's factory was the first to embrace AI.
The new software is able to reduce labour dependence by up to 35 percent, hence huge savings by producers.
Almost 80 percent of Malaysia's plantation workers are migrants, mostly from neighbouring Indonesia.
Johari said with the integration of AI technology, the need for foreign workers in mills would reduce and encouraged other planters to visit Minsawi Industries to witness the system.
"This isn't a sales pitch. The results speak volumes," he said.
Palm oil is very versatile and is used in a range of products across the world including from margarine to chocolate, pizzas, bread, cooking oils, and food for farmed animals.