Shared Ground: Inside the Envu Research Partnership with Universiti Sains Malaysia

In this episode of Shared Ground, Envu CEO Gilles Galliou speaks with Associate Professor Dr. Hasber Salim of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and its Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG). Under Dr. Salim’s leadership, BORG has partnered with Envu to advance more sustainable, science-based rodent management in Malaysia's oil palm plantations.

Oil palm is one of Malaysia's most important agricultural crops, accounting for more than 70% of the country's planted agricultural area. The crop produces palm oil used in food production and a wide range of everyday products. But oil palm plantations also face significant pressure from rodents, specifically rats, which can cause millions of dollars of damage to crops each year.

Controlling those rodents effectively is essential, but the choice and use of rodenticide matter. Barn owls are natural predators of rats and can consume thousands of them each year, making them an important part of the natural food chain in oil palm plantations. Some highly toxic rodenticide approaches can also have secondary impacts on barn owls when they consume rats that have already been exposed to the product.

The goal is not to eliminate chemical control, but to find the right balance: using effective rodenticides that can work alongside natural predators while minimizing unintended effects on the ecosystem. That is the challenge USM and Envu are exploring together, combining academic research and industry expertise to translate scientific knowledge into practical, sustainable solutions for growers.

See how USM and Envu are working together to find a better balance in rodent management.

Watch the full conversation below.