Golden Hope Sign Collaboration with NIZO Food Research

18/05/06 Malaysian plantation giant, Golden Hope Plantations Berhad (GHPB) will sign a unique four-year collaboration agreement with NIZO food research, Food Valley, Ede, Netherlands. This agreement will allow the customers of Unimills, a European subsidiary of the Golden Hope group and a leading edge supplier of tailor-made vegetable oils, to tap from the unique food innovation expertise and facilities of the Food Valley organisations.

With NIZO food research as research partner Unimills can now offer effective innovative power as co- developer of new food products, which fit in a healthy lifestyle. The agreement will boost innovation projects in the areas of margarines, spreads, bakery, spray-dried products and ice-cream resulting in shorter lead times and higher success rates than before. The formal signing ceremony will take place on June 29th 2006 at the premises of NIZO food research (Ede, Netherlands).

Along with the signing ceremony, a Unimills “Health and Progress” seminar will be held for its customers on “Co-development of new food concepts based on healthy oils and fats”. The seminar will be followed by a unique opportunity to
visit the largest food grade pilot plant in Europe where the application possibilities of NIZO food research will be demonstrated.

Dr Alexander van der Klauw, General Manager of Unimills B.V.: “This is an important investment of a major Malaysian company into the Food Valley and supports the strategy of Unimills based on innovation, responsibility and partnership with our customers. Unimills aims to excel as a co-developer of food products and wants to be the preferred supplier of tailor-made vegetable oil based ingredients.

This agreement provides the food customers of Unimills unique innovative power. It combines the rich science based expertise of our R&D people on fat physics, chemistry and processing with the famous food innovation expertise and state-of-the art food application facilities of the Food Valley organisations led by NIZO food research.”

Dr. Ad Juriaanse, CEO of NIZO food research: “We are proud to be recognized as a key player in food innovation by respected global food ingredient companies such as Golden Hope. It confirms our strategy to establish long term cooperations with our partners to drive and realise market innovations for them by providing speed, both fundamental and food application knowledge, strict confidentiality and one of the worlds largest food grade pilot facilities.”