USM PENANG, 6 March 2025 – Researchers from the Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have achieved remarkable success in reducing rat infestations in oil palm plantations through natural biological pest control methods.

Their pioneering study has demonstrated a reduction in crop damage from 20% to just 5% across 200 hectares of farmland.

This success was accomplished as part of the Barn Owl Initiative for Smallholder Oil Palm Farmers (BOSI), a project aimed at promoting eco-friendly pest management.

Conducted in collaboration with the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), the project emphasizes sustainable pest control for smallholder oil palm farmers, reducing reliance on harmful chemical rodenticides.

BORG Coordinator and Co-founder, Assoc. Professor Dr. Hasber Salim from the School of Biological Sciences expressed his gratitude on behalf of USM to MPOGCF for their unwavering support towards this project. The project received full funding of RM35,900 from MPOGCF.

Spanning nearly two years and concluded in December 2024, the study saw BORG researchers install 20 artificial nesting boxes in smallholder oil palm plantations in Bandar Baharu and Serdang, Kedah.

These nesting boxes were designed to encourage the presence, breeding, and settlement of barn owls (Tyto javanica) in the area.

The study's findings were impressive, with a 95% occupancy rate of the nesting boxes recorded in December 2023 and 2024.

Pellet analysis revealed that the barn owls primarily preyed on plantation rats (Rattus tiomanicus) and rice-field rats (Rattus argentiventer), two major rodent species causing crop damage.

Additionally, the barn owl population increased significantly, with a hatchling success rate of 88.23%, ensuring a stable and growing population within the plantations.

USM BORG's innovative approach to biological pest control has proven to be a more sustainable and environmentally friendly method, benefiting both the ecosystem and smallholder farmers.

According to MPOGCF General Manager, Hairulazim Mahmud, the success of this initiative highlights the potential of natural pest control methods in enhancing biodiversity within Malaysia’s agricultural landscape.

Following this success, MPOGCF plans to expand the initiative nationwide, targeting more smallholder farmers to ensure the palm oil industry continues to embrace sustainable and responsible agricultural practices.

About BORG

Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG) was formed in 2014 by researchers from different research backgrounds such as pest management, animal science, veterinary, genetics and pesticides resistance from School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Two key researchers who have earned the deep gratitude of BORG for their invaluable contributions are:

• BORG Advisor and Founder: Professor Emeritus Dr. Abu Hassan Ahmad
• BORG Coordinator and Co-founder: Assoc. Professor Dr. Hasber Salim

The main goal of the group is to conserve barn owl population in Malaysia and promote barn owls as biological control agent of rat populations both in agriculture areas and urban settings.

To achieve these goals, BORG actively conducts research related to barn owls and rats.

BORG also conducts education programmes to the public to create awareness about the importance of barn owls to our ecosystem. Education programmes such exhibitions are conducted at school and community level.

To date, the group has run a series of awareness exhibitions via USM and USAINS Holding, and also through the Young Scientist Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia road shows.

BORG is also in active collaboration with key players from the oil palm industry, government authorities such as the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), NGOs, private sectors and multinational companies to promote and conduct research on barn owls as an important component in developing sustainable pest management.

Current research projects involve barn owl urbanization, introducing barn owl in island and tourist spots, and translocation of barn owl to Sabah and Sarawak.

BORG is also conducting various studies to tackle rat pest problems; from testing chemical rodenticides to searching for more sustainable and environment-friendly rat control solutions.

Source: Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) Facebook Posting, 26 February 2025 and https://borg.usm.my/Text: Tan Ewe Hoe