According to WWF (World Wildlife Fund) there are approximately 20 million hectares of abandoned land in Indonesia that could be used for palm oil plantations, however, many palm oil companies are tied in with logging firms. But to produce palm oil in large enough quantities to meet growing demand, farmers across Southeast Asia have been clearing huge swaths of … The palm oil in its natural state has a reddish color as a result of the high content of beta-carotene. In order to clear land to grow palm, swathes of rainforest are burned, destroying habitat and homes and the fragile rainforest ecosystem. Therefore they hire local people as pest busters, who serve the corporation with killing any wild animals, including orangutans, which spoil palm oil trees within the plantations. Palm oil is now the most widely used oil in the world. Indonesia produces the highest amount of palm oil, followed by Malaysia and Nigeria. Palm oil production in the country rose from 6.39 million tons in 2007 to 10.78 million tons in 2011. Malaysia and Indonesia are the largest producers of palm oil accounting for almost 90% of the world production. Indonesia’s forests have been bulldozed, replaced with hectares upon hectares of plantations. As forest home is destroyed they become vulnerable to poachers. Researchers investigated oil palm crops that had been planted on former pastures in the Los Llanos region of Colombia, the world's fourth-largest palm oil producer. Archeologists have unearthed evidence indicating that palm oil was used in the tomb of Abydos which dates to 3000 BCE, and it is thought they were brought to Egypt by the traders. It’s estimated that deforestation contributes up to 20 percent of global warming. Clearing rainforest to make way for plantations has taken a heavy toll on local communities, destroyed natural habitats for endangered species, and become a critical factor in climate change. Today palm oil production is the largest cause of deforestation in Indonesia and other equatorial countries with dwindling expanses of tropical rainforest. And peatlands — wetlands with carbon-rich soils — are being drained for cultivation. Palm kernel oil, which is approximately 1.8 percent of a palm fruit bundle, is the more valuable commodity and has a much paler colour than the pulp oil. Kernel oil … Sustainable Palm Oil Market The most widely used vegetable oil there is, palm oil is found in everything from snacks to household cleaners to cosmetics. Palm oil has also been used for several centuries in parts of Central and West Africa, and traders from Europe purchased it occasionally for use in cooking. Indonesia’s tropical rainforests are among the world’s most diverse. Tiger and Rhino numbers are so low due to habitat loss and poaching that their extinction is rapidly nearing and we cannot let this happen. But this has all come at an enormous cost. Its low world market price and properties that lend themselves to processed foods have led the food industry to use it in half of all supermarket products.Palm oil can be found in frozen pizzas, biscuits and margarine, as well as body creams, soaps, makeup, candles and detergents. Where Are Indonesia's Palm Oil Plantations Located? Palm oil is one of the most efficient and widely used vegetable oil that comes from the fruit of oil palm trees. At Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), we grow around 10 million tonnes of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) on more than 480,000 hectares of land every year. Tusks of the elephants are often removed to give the impression to authorities that the deaths were due to ivory trade rather than land encroachement. Palm oil destroys rainforests Indonesia’s tropical … Loss of critical habitat for endangered species First, it will consider working with personal care brands, where they use small amounts of palm oil in their products. A map showing where the majority of palm oil travels to . Palm oil production in the country rose from 6.39 million tons in 2007 to 10.78 million tons in 2011. Palm oil production is important to the economy of Indonesia as the country is the world's biggest producer and consumer of the commodity, providing about half of the world's supply. There, large areas of pastures - which themselves had been planted in the past on savannas - were replaced by oil palm plantations 56 years ago. Regions in the world that are recommended places for oil palm trees to grow in . Around 90% of the world's oil palm trees are grown on a few islands in Malaysia and Indonesia – islands containing some of the greatest biodiversity on Earth. The oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) is a native to West Africa and was imported into SE Asia in the mid 19th century. Fires in Indonesia produce some of the world’s worst pollution, sending suffocating smog to cities hundreds of miles away in Malaysia and Singapore. Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil that comes from the fruit grown on the African oil palm tree. The cheapest and fastest way to clear land for plantations is slash and burn. The pest busters will bring up a cut-off hand of an orangutan they have killed and hand it to the corporation as a proof. Most of the palm oil produced in Thailand is used locally, and a small portion is for export. Palm kernel oil is from the kernel of the same fruit and the difference being in the color where the kernel oil lacks the carotenoids and is therefore not reddish. Who’s growing sustainable palm oil? This chart will show you where pressure needs to be applied. Palm Oil Grown for Good: Protecting our ecosystems and wildlife, and how consumers can contribute News 07 October 2020 Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world, representing 35% of all global vegetable oils used and found in over 50% of products on supermarket shelves . Approximately 85 percent of palm oil is grown in the tropical countries of Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) on industrial plantations that have severe impacts on the environment, forest peoples and the climate. When they find an adult female orangutan with her baby, they will usually kill the ‘mother‘ and take away the baby for pet or sale". Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of palm oil. Here, there is a direct relationship between the growth of oil palm estates and deforestation. However, in some cases, oil palm plantations have developed lands without consultation or compensation of the indigenous people inhabiting the land, resulting in social conflict. Regions in the world that are recommended places for oil palm trees to grow in . Oil palm only grows within 20 degrees of the equator – an area which also happens to be where rainforests grow and is home to 80% of all species in the … Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil high in saturated fats and free of trans fats. The World’s Largest Oil Reserves By Country, Top Cotton Producing Countries In The World. At 66 million tons annually, palm oil is the most commonly produced vegetable oil. Other issues surrounding unregulated palm production are human rights issues, slash and burn practices to clear land, illegal land grabs, child labour and leakage of chemicals into water supply. Palm oil is cheap – and we’re using way too much of it. In Blogs, Supply Chain / By GAR / 39,439 views / Posted: May 14, 2017 . Human, elephant conflict is becoming more common as habitat is cleared for oil palm. Getting the first phase of planting and growing oil palms right is crucial to producing the best quality oil. Palm oil is a vegetable oil – like sunflower or … Elephants are often killed by poisoning. Why is palm oil so popular? Indonesia was producing 35% of the world’s palm oil in 2012, and India and China are the importers of Indonesia’s palm oil. Palm oil and coconut oil are some of the highly saturated fats from vegetables, and at room temperature, they are semi-solid. Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil high in saturated fats and free of trans fats. The reason why it is widely used in the food industry in different regions of the world is due to its low cost and its high oxidative ability when it is used in frying. Large areas of tropical forests and other ecosystems with high conservation values have been cleared to make room for oil palm plantations, essentially killing the biodiversity of the ecosystems that they replace. Palm oil … Palm derived ingredients used in personal care and cleaning products are responsible for 18% of world wide usage. Timber is extremely valuable, therefore clearing virgin forest they get money twice, once for the timber and again for the produce from the oil palm trees. World Top 10 Countries of Growing Oil Palms:- Palm oil is being used as cooking oil in the tropical belt of Southeast Asia, Some Parts of Brazil, Africa and Europe. Indonesia and Malaysia account for around 87% of global palm oil production and the demand for the cheap oil continues to grow. This page provides an overview of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) risks related to palm oil grown in Sumatra in Indonesia. A map showing where oil palm plantations are created . Palm oil destroys rainforests. Due to habitat loss and lack of food, elephants wander onto plantations and into villages and destroy crops. C16 Biosciences is on a mission to replace all deforestation-linked palm oil with its sustainable, lab-grown alternative. Unsustainable palm oil is grown on land that has been newly deforested, and it is this loss of tropical forest habitat that is having such a devastating effect on many species (such as our Bornean orang utans). It is estimated that over 50 Orangutan are killed every week due to deforestation. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com, Top Palm Oil Producing Countries In The World, Leading Countries Growing Dates (Fresh Date Palm Fruits). Approximately 85 percent of palm oil is grown in the tropical countries of Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) on industrial plantations [3] that have severe impacts on the environment, forest peoples and the climate. Petrochemicals and animal fats were used, so replacing these options with palm oil was the most ethical choice at the time. Tech billionaire Bill Gates’ investment fund Breakthrough Energy Ventures just led a $20 million Series A investment round in C16 Biosciences. Orangutans are left starved with no food source and often trapped in pockets of isolated areas with no way out and often wander onto plantations searching for food. Oil palms are grown in many tropical countries, although Indonesia is the largest producer in the world. Oil palm flourishes in the humid tropics and produces high yield when grown 10 degrees north and south of … Throughout the 1800s, British traders imported African palm oil, using it for a growing number of products, from soap to margarine to candles. Indonesia averaged 917,000 ha of natural forest loss per year between 2009 and 2013, more than half of which was outside concessions, Quote Taken from COP (Centre For Orangutan Protection). Native to West Africa, the oil palm tree is now most commonly grown in the tropics of Southeast Asia. The startup uses bioreactors to grow oil in a lab that’s nearly chemically-identical to palm oil. The main source of palm oil is the Elaeis guineensis tree, which is native to West and Southwest Africa. Palm oil yields are the highest per hectare for any biofuel, and Brazil has policies that encourage biofuels, perhaps even permitting palm oil plantations to count towards the 80% forest area required under the forest code. The palm oil industry has had both positive and negative impacts on workers, indigenous peoples and residents of palm oil-producing communities. Palm oil is processed from the fruit of the oil palm tree, and there are three common varieties of palm tree which are cultivated throughout the world, and they include the maripa palm tree, American oil palm tree, and the African oil palm tree. Infant orangutans have monetary value and are often kept as pets or illegally smuggled, the only way a mother will let go of her infant is if she has been killed. Its currently producing its product on a small scale, with the intention of getting to market as soon as possible. Over 85% of Palm Oil is grown in Indonesia and Malaysia; 73 million tonnes of Palm Oil are produced annually Truth is, every single brand of shampoo and conditioner sold in supermarkets DO USE PALM OIL however the palm content is hidden under various names. For example, in 2016, the country produced 36,000,000 metric tons out of which 25.1 million tons were exported. This is why there’s a need for alternatives, like lab-grown palm oil. Production of Palm oil in the country is categorized into three; private, smallholder, and joint venture. Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of palm oil. The use of illegal immigrantsin Malaysia has also … A palm oil plantation in Cigudeg, Bogor. Why don’t we just switch to an alternative vegetable oil? The food industry is responsible for 72% world wide usage of palm oil. Palm oil consumption in the commercial food industries is growing day by day due to less costs involved palm oil … In 2016, Indonesia produced 34.5 million tonnes of palm oil and exported 25.1 million tonnes. Palm oil also increases shelf life of pre- packaged food and finally, palm oil has a very high smoke point so it is perfect for rapid frying products such as 2 min noodles etc. A map showing where the majority of palm oil travels to . Palm oil production provides employment opportunities, and has been shown to improve infrastructure, social services and reduce poverty. The exponential growth of palm oil poses unprecedented threats to forests, wildlife and people in the areas where it is grown and harvested. Plantations and local villages often poison the elephants and snare traps are also set in the forests near the areas they are encroaching. By Benjamin Elisha Sawe on July 19 2018 in Economics. Around 90% of the world's oil palm trees are grown on a few islands in Malaysia and Indonesia – islands with the most biodiverse tropical forests found on Earth. Producers in the country could be categorized into three groups which include smallholder farmers, large companies, and cooperatives and self-help groups. Across southeast Asia, and increasingly in Africa and Latin America, tropical forests are being converted to oil palm plantations. Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil that comes from the pulp of oil palm tree fruit. Food, household cleaners, personal care and cosmetics all contain it. A map showing where existing oil palm plantations are, and the plantations that are planning to be produced. It is estimated that by 2020, the palm oil project in Indonesia will cover approximately 12 million hectares. Replacing natural forests with palm oil plantations vastly diminishes the ability of vegetation to capture and store carbon dioxide. Nearly half of all oil palm cultivation is in the hands of smallholders – ordinarwherey people trying to better themselves and look after their families. Farmers produced 77 million tonnes of palm oil for the global market in 2018, and that is expected to grow to 107.6 million tonnes by 2024. At Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), we grow around 10 million tonnes of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) on more than 480,000 hectares of land every year. Due to pressure from the large supermarket chains for products to sell at a low price, cooking oil is one of the areas where price cuts can be made to allow for profit margin. Palm Oil is an edible oil that comes from palm trees. During the industrial revolution, palm oil became the most sought-after commodity because it was used as an industrial lubricant for machinery. Across southeast Asia, and increasingly in Africa and Latin America, tropical forests are being converted to oil palm plantations. How oil palm is grown. Palm oil has been used widely to manufacture soap, and the earliest pioneers were the Lever brothers, now known as the Unilever. Indonesia is being deforested faster than any other country in the world, and it has everything to do with one product: palm oil. If we could grow palm oil in the desert, the reduced environmental impact could mean it could be sold at a premium (in the same way as organic products), and may be able to side-step boycotts (particularly in the EU), allowing it to easily compete with tropically-derived oil. Palm oil is also a very bland cooking oil so it does not affect the taste of products. Biofuel and feedstock is responsible for 10% of world wide palm oil usage. The main reason is that it is the cheapest of vegetable oils. Individual palm oil fruits It all starts with a seed. In 2016, Indonesia produced over 34.6 billion … Palm oil cultivation already reaches one million hectares in Colombia and Ecuador, and is growing in Peru. However, the economic activity poses a serious environmental threat in the country by polluting water sources, leading to the loss of biodiversity, and deforestation. A map showing the steps in order to produce palm oil. By 1870s, palm oil was the primary export product from West Africa for countries such as Nigeria and Ghana. Can oil palm production keep growing? Thailand is the third top producer of palm oil in the world, and the majority of the producers in the country are the small-scale farmers, who are responsible for 76% of the country’s output. This page provides an overview of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) risks related to palm oil grown in Sumatra in Indonesia. Palm oil, obtained from the fruits, is used in making soaps, cosmetics, candles, biofuels, and lubricating greases and in processing tinplate and coating iron plates. CSPO makes up 21 per cent of the world’s total palm oil supply, … In these places, there is a direct relationship between the growth of oil palm estates and deforestation. A map showing where oil palm plantations are created . A … There is a big difference between palm kernel oil and the typical palm oil. Getting the first phase of planting and growing oil palms right is crucial to producing the best quality oil. Currently, Malaysia is second in palm oil production after Indonesia with its overall production accounting for 39% of the global production, while its palm oil exports account for around 44%. In 2016, Indonesia produced 34.5 million tonnes of palm oil and exported 25.1 million tonnes. Producers in the country could be categorized into three groups which include smallholder farmers, large companies… Two types of oil can be produced from the tree; oil from squeezing the fruit and oil from crushing the stone in the middle of the fruit. The smallholder farmers also face the problem of marketing because they do not have the bargaining power over the prices. In 2015, it was estimated that an average world consumption per head of palm oil stood at 17 pounds. Malaysia is the leading exporter of the palm oil with its primary importing countries being the European Union, Pakistan, China, the US, and India. "Orangutans’ poaching is done deliberately as a policy made by palm oil corporations. The exponential growth of palm oil poses unprecedented threats to forests, wildlife and people in the areas where it is grown and harvested. The drainage of these carbon-rich organic soils for plantations is causing massive greenhouse gas emissions. Use of palm oil can be traced as far back as 5000 years ago. Indonesia is by far the largest producer of palm oil, and this is supported by the ever-rising large palm growing areas in the country and export figures. Sustainable palm oil is generally grown by reusing already deforested land, rather than clearing new areas. The orangutan are considered a pest by many of the oil palm companies as they often destroy young palm plants in the hope of finding food.. There are a few reasons the food industry uses palm oil. Palm oil remains the most widely produced of all edible oils. Now, huge swathes of oil palm trees dominate the tropical landscape of South-East Asia, especially Indonesia and Malaysia, which make up over 85% of the global supply of palm oil. Palm oil has a long carbon chain of fatty acids which makes it easy to manufacture derivatives for personal care and cleaning products. Forest homes are cleared by either heavy machinery or fire. The oil palm is grown extensively in its native West and Central Africa, as well as in Malaysia and Indonesia. Palm oil is widely-used as a cooking ingredient especially in Southeast Asia and some parts of Brazil and along the tropical belt of Africa. A map showing where existing oil palm plantations are, and the plantations that are planning to be produced. Scientists from EPFL and WSL have been studying soils in oil palm cultivation for years, in an effort to develop more sustainable methods for growing this crop. But the way it’s grown is unsustainable. Palm oil comes from oil palm trees like the ones seen in this picture Palm oil is made from the fruits of trees called African oil palms. Many plantations in Southeast Asia are on peat soils, which until recently were covered by peat swamp forests. Malaysia possesses large plantations, and as of 2016, the country’s total palm oil production amounted to 2.1 million metric tons. Thailand is the third top producer of palm oil in the world, and the majority of the producers in the country are the small-scale farmers, who are responsible for 76% of the country’s output. Its use in this region dates back more than 5,000 years. These oil crops were initially imported to South-East Asia over 100 years ago for ornamental reasons. The vast majority (85%) comes from Malaysia and Indonesia, where the cash crop is held responsible for causing widespread deforestation over the … The province of Surat Thani had the highest production of palm oil accounting for 26.59% of all the country’s production. Palm oil is an incredibly efficient crop, … The province of Surat Thani had the highest production of palm oil accounting for 26.59% of all the country’s production. 1. The oil palm has come to lead global vegetable oil production due to its superior oil yield profile in comparison to other oil crops. Some of the challenges facing the palm oil production in the country include lack of appropriate knowledge in managing palm oil, lack of finances, low quality of seedlings, and low rainfall.