Keynotes

Walking the Talk: Considerations to Accelerate the Sectoral Developments of the Palm Crop Non-Food Byproducts

Mr. Dilip Tambyrajah is the Founder and Secretary General of the International Natural Fiber Organization (INFO), representing over 85% of global production of jute, abaca, coir, kenaf, sisal, and allied fibers. He currently serves as Chairman of the UN-FAO Intergovernmental Group on Natural Fibers, supporting developing economies in policy, R&D, and sustainable value-chain development. Founder of Zylyon International B.V. (Netherlands), he has over 40 years of experience in international business, innovation policy, and natural fiber technologies. Mr. Tambyrajah studied Environmental Engineering and Business Administration in the UK and Marketing Management in the Netherlands.

Scalable, Market Driven, and Climate Positive Solutions for Date Palm Waste

Dr. Mohamad Midani is a leading voice in advancing the bioeconomy and sustainable materials innovation in the Arab world. With over 18 years of experience, his work bridges research, industry, and consulting, focusing on natural fibers, biobased materials, and circular bioeconomy solutions. He serves as Adjunct Associate Professor at both the Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, and the German University in Cairo, and is the CEO of VALORIZEN Innovation Center, and Secretary General of the International Association for Palm Byproducts. Dr. Midani developed PalmFil®, the world’s first fiber from date palm byproducts, earning the 2024 DNFI Innovation Award and the 2022 Distinguished Young Alumni Award from NC State University.

Palm Biomass for Multiple Use – Strong Player in Sustainable Economic, Social and Ecological Development

Prof. Dr. Katja Frühwald-König is a renowned specialist in wood construction and forest-based materials, holding a professorship at Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen‑Lippe (TH OWL) in Germany. She serves as Cluster Speaker for proHolz.NRW and is Chair of the Board at Smart Wood Center OWL. In her capacity as Co-Chair of the Bioökonomie‑Rat NRW, she spearheads regional strategies to advance the transition to a bio-based, circular economy. wirtschaft.nrw+2boer-nrw.de+2Her research focuses on emerging wood-based products including laminated timber from oil-palm wood and the mechanical behaviour of novel tree species as sustainable construction materials.

Transforming Oil Palm Replantation Waste into Biopolymer Feedstock: Insights from the SATREPS Initiative

Prof. K. Sudesh Kumar is a Professor of Applied Microbiology at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), specializing in microbial biotechnology, biopolymers, and the valorization of agricultural residues into sustainable materials. He leads the Malaysian team in the Japan–Malaysia SATREPS project “Sustainable Replantation of Oil Palm by Adding Value to Oil Palm Trunk (OPT) through Scientific and Technological Innovation”, which aims to convert oil palm trunks into value-added products such as biogas, biodegradable materials, and fuel pellets. His work contributes significantly to advancing circular bioeconomy practices and sustainable resource management in tropical agriculture.

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Prof. Alcides Lopes Leão is a Full Professor at the Department of Bioprocess and Bioengineering, School of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil, where he leads the area of Biomass, Bioenergy, and Biobased Materials and coordinates the RESIDUALL Laboratory for Solid Residues and Composites. His research focuses on the valorization of agro-industrial residues and the development of sustainable biocomposites and bioenergy solutions. Over his career, Prof. Leão has contributed extensively to advancing bio-based innovation from natural fibers and palm residues, promoting circular bioeconomy models within Latin America and beyond.