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Academic degrees:
PhD from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie de Montpellier (1984)
Agronomy diploma from ENSA Montpellier (1980) (Masterlevel degree)
Master from the Faculty of Sciences, Montpellier in physiology and plant nutrition (1980)
Student Listener for Master on “Genetic Resources and Plant Breeding” at INA PG (1993)
Brief career highlights:
Most recent positions:
Since Jan 2015: CEO of PalmElit, a company dedicated to Oil Palm Breeding
March 2009-Dec 2014: Scientific Director of PalmElit (Oil Palm Breeding)
January 2004-February 2009: Head of the CIRAD “Oil Palm Breeding” Research Unit 40 years experiences in oil palm mainly for:
Breeding
Breeding for resistance to disease
Tissue culture
Many:
Audits for scientific policy & research management
Scientific and technical support visits (in Africa, Latin America and Asia)
Also, Member of different Advisory Committees
Numerous papers & communication
1. What inspired the founding of PalmElit, and how has the company evolved over the years?
PalmElit is a simplified joint stock company jointly owned by CIRAD and Sofiprotéol, with its headquarters located near Montpellier, France. Building on the legacy of IRHO (established in 1941) and CIRAD (founded in 1984), PalmElit has been leading CIRAD® oil palm seed genetic improvement and marketing programs since its inception in 2009.
Its breeding programs are powered by a team of 64 PalmElit and CIRAD researchers, engineers, Ph.D. students, and technicians. In addition, PalmElit is supported by a network of 8 partners, including a public institute and 7 private companies, dedicated to the selection, production, and marketing of CIRAD® oil palm seeds. This collaboration spans across Africa, America, and Asia, with over 1,600 hectares of field trials and 8 seed gardens.
PalmElit offers seeds designed to ensure consistent income for both family farms and agro-industries. The seeds are genetically enhanced to meet the expectations of key stakeholders across the supply chain. For growers, the seeds deliver high yields, even in less-thanideal climatic conditions, while offering improved resistance to major diseases and moderate vertical growth, which extends plantation lifespan and simplifies harvesting. For processors and the agri-food industry, the seeds offer a higher oil extraction rate, produce oil with market-specific characteristics, and lower acidity. All seed traits, which vary based on genetic origin, undergo rigorous selection to ensure quality and performance.
2. Can you share any details about PalmElit’s R&D efforts and how they contribute to the company’s growth, and also benefits the Thailand’s palm oil industry?
Thailand’s palm oil industry mirrors the global palm oil sector in many ways but stands out due to its heavy reliance on smallholder farmers. Despite this distinction, the industry faces the same core challenges—higher yield and increased income are sought, alongside the critical need for security against devastating diseases. Farmers, whether in Latin America, Africa, or Asia, share this common concern. A single disease can obliterate an entire plantation.
In Latin America, the most destructive disease, namely bud rot, fortunately hasn't spread to Africa nor Asia. However, Africa faces its own threat in the form of fusarium wilt. Although this disease is harmful, it has been managed through breeding for quite some time. In Asia, we’ve recently developed several strains (or cultivar) that show partial resistance to Ganoderma, a major challenge in the region.
While methods like using Trichoderma or other agricultural practices can delay the impact of Ganoderma for six months to a year, the disease inevitably resurfaces. The most effective longterm solution is developing disease-resistant plant material. Unfortunately, no one has yet achieved complete resistance to Ganoderma. The best we have so far is moderate or partial resistance, which helps but doesn’t offer full protection, which have to go hand in hand with some agricultural practices such as debulbing.
3. How does PalmElit differentiate itself in the market from its competitors?
We are active across three continents, collaborating with partners in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. I believe we are one of the few companies in this unique position. While some of our competitors operate globally, only three or four are present everywhere. This broad presence is one of our key strengths, allowing us to address the specific needs of each region.
For instance, as companies from Asia are now entering Africa and, to a lesser extent, Latin America, our extensive experience in Asia will be invaluable in these regions. However, one of the biggest challenges we face is combining Ganoderma resistance with resistance to fusarium or Bud Rot which is not an easy task. Each region has its own unique climate and humidity levels, so the approach to managing Ganoderma varies depending on the specific conditions of the area.
4. What are some of the biggest challenges PalmElit has faced, and how were they overcome?
One of our biggest challenges is developing disease-resistant palm oil varieties. This is a monumental task that requires a long term approach since we don’t have quick solutions or molecular markers to address these issues. Another significant challenge is combining resistance to diseases that cannot be controlled by chemicals, leaving us to rely solely on genetics.
The process is complex due to the limited types of palm oil seeds. Essentially, we combine different genetic traits from various seeds—mixing traits from A and B to create C. Palm oil evolves from one generation to the next, but this cycle takes a minimum of 10 to 15 years. Success in this field not only demands scientific expertise but also a bit of luck, as it’s still difficult to predict which new oil palm variety will show resistance to Ganoderma.
5. How does the company approach sustainability and corporate social responsibility in its operations?
Sustainability is a key priority for us, and we view it as a valuable opportunity to deepen our understanding of our customers, particularly in Africa. We are actively working with our customers to guide them toward a better grasp of sustainable practices. However, we also face certain challenges, especially in regions of Africa that have endured decades of civil unrest, where agricultural development has stalled.
This presents a complex dilemma that we strive to address in the most effective way possible. Our efforts involve close collaboration with governments, companies, and customers, creating a unique opportunity for growth. While the palm oil industry in many regions outside of ASEAN is already well-advanced in sustainability with regulations like RSPO, ISPO, and MSPO, we are still working to comply with various government regulations across different countries to fully achieve sustainability goals.
6. Referring to the current palm oil market situation, do you have any advice you would like to share with industry players?
We recently completed a long-term outlook on the palm oil market for the next 15 years, which highlighted a critical concern: the world will face significant challenges if there is a shortage of vegetable oil. The rising demand for biofuel is projected to outpace the supply of vegetable oil in the future. This presents a major challenge for governments developing biodiesel policies, as they will likely encounter difficulties meeting these demands.
Looking ahead, Africa and Latin America hold substantial potential for development, and they will need to be key areas of focus if we are to increase vegetable oil production. However, to truly meet future demand, we must also consider other annual oil crops such as rapeseed (canola), sunflower, and soy. Improving their production will be challenging, and any gains may be limited.
While it’s impossible to predict the future with certainty, current trends suggest that vegetable oil prices, including palm oil, will remain high, which is promising for the industry. Our message to Thailand is to keep planting and increasing production, as the global demand for vegetable oil is expected to remain strong for at least the next 10 to 15 years.
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