African oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis )

An Introduction to the "Green Gold"

Elaeis guineensis or commonly known as African Oil Palm is native to west and southwest Africa. It is single-stemmed that grows up to 20 - 30 m in height and up to 75cm in trunk diameter. The leaves are pinnate and dark green. The small flowers form into dense clusters. Palm fruit is reddish and grows in large bunches. The plant has a wide range of traditional medicinal uses. Palm heart is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea, menorrhagia, and perinatal abdominal pain. It is important to note that palm oil should not be confused with palm kernel oil.While both originate from the same plant, palm kernel oil is extracted from the seed of the fruit. It provides different health benefits.Palm oil comes from palm trees native to Africa, where it has been consumed for thousands of years. It is semi-solid at room temperature and differs from palm kernel oil in nutritional composition.

The leaf sap is used for skin conditions while the roots are analgesic. African oil palm produces two types of oil - palm oil and kernel oil. It is the primary source of palm oil, which is obtained from the fruit. Palm oil has a wide range of uses - as cooking oil and for making margarine, vegetable ghee bakery fats, and ice cream. Kernel oil, on the other hand, is obtained from the seed. It is a non-drying oil and can be used as an alternative to coconut oil.

The African oil palm traditionally supplied the rural populations in West Africa with vegetable fat and oil, palm wine and some regionally important non-wood forest products. 

During the sixteenth century it found its way with the slave trade to Brazil, but was only introduced, as an ornamental plant, to Southeast Asia in the nineteenth century.

During the twentieth century oil palm became an important plantation crop, providing palmoil from its mesocarp, and palm kernel oil from its nuts. In 1999 total oil production reached nearly 19 million tons. 

Palm oil comes from the fleshy fruit of oil palms. Unrefined palm oil is sometimes referred to as red palm oil because of its reddish-orange color.

The main source of palm oil is the Elaeis guineensis tree, which is native to West and Southwest Africa. Its use in this region dates back more than 5,000 years. 

A similar oil palm known as Elaeis oleifera is found in South America, but it’s rarely grown commercially. However, a hybrid of the two plants is sometimes used in palm oil production.

The by-products of palm oil production in the plantation are palm fronds (through pruning) and palm stems after replanting, while at the palmoil mill there are nutshells, empty fruit bunches, pressed mesocarp fibres, and palm oil mill effluents (POME). Palm fronds are used for mulching and the mill by-products are burnt to generate energy for the mill.

Oil palms are grown on a 25-30 year rotation before being removed and replanted. At felling the average palm has reached a height of 12-15m with a stem diameter at breast height of 45 cm. An average 30-year old oil palm has a stem volume of about 1.6 m. 

After felling palm stems are mostly shredded on the spot, dried, and either left to decay or burnt. Disposal is a cost and decaying stems often leads to insect infestations, with added expenses.

In the 1980’s Malaysia, which is the world’s largest palm oil producer, started research on oil palm stem utilization. 

As with other palms, the physical and mechanical properties are distributed very unevenly over the stem. They are far inferior to those of the coconut palm stem. This may be partly due to their relatively young age when felled.

Furthermore oil palm stems have a high moisture content (up to 500 percent), and high percentage of parenchymatic tissue, rich in free sugars and starch.

Due to these characteristics, oil palm stems are even more prone to fast degradation than coconut palm stems.

African oil palm is a tree which reaches to the height of 20 meters or more at maturity. Trunk is distinguished by persistent and spirally arranged leaf bases and has a crown of 20 to 40 massive leaves. 

Root system has primaries and secondaries in top 140 cm of soil. Leaves are erect, numerous and reaches 3 to 5 meters in adult trees. Leaf stalks are short having broad base.

Leaf blades have 100 to 160 pairs of long leaflets having prominent midribs tapered to a point and form in groups or singly along midrib. Male or female inflorescences form on one plant. 

A single inflorescence has both male and female flowers. An inflorescence arises among leaf bases in large and very dense clusters having innumerable small flowers enclosed in bud stage in two large fibrous bracts that becomes deciduous.

Fruits form in bunches and the average weight of each bunch is 23 kg but may also weigh upto 82 kg. A bunch has ovoid drupes about 4 cm long and 2 cm broad having pointed apex.

Palm oil is obtained from fruits and used for making soaps, candles, cosmetics, biofuels and lubricating greases and in processing tinplate and coating iron plates. 

It is also used for manufacturing edible products such as ice cream, margarine, cookies, chocolate confections and breads as well as pharmaceuticals.

Plant description

African oil palm is a perennial and armed solitary palm about 8.5 to 30 meters tall, stout, erect and trunks are ringed. Flowers are monoecious; male and female flowers are found in separate clusters. Crown in dark green having skirt of dead leaves. Trunk is 30 cm in diameter.

 Petioles are saw toothed, fibrous, green, broadened at base, 1.3–2.3 m long and 12.5– 20 cm wide. Leaves have pinnate blade, 3.3-5 m long having 100 to 150 pairs of leaflets in four ranks.  

Fruit is ovoid to oblong about 3.5 cm long and 2 cm wide that ripen to orange red. Fruit weighs 6 to 20 kg and is made up of outer skin.

Elaeis guineensis is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a slow rate.It is hardy to zone (UK) 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils.

It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

A tall palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) native to tropical Africa, having nutlike fruits that yield a commercially valuable oil. Also called African oil palm. Elaeis guineensis is a handsome tree reaching a height of 20 m or more at maturity. The trunk is characterized by persistent, spirally arranged leaf bases and bears a crown of 20-40 massive leaves. The root system consists of primaries and secondaries in the top 140 cm of soil. Leaves numerous, erect, spreading to drooping, long, reaching 3-5 m in adult trees; leaf stalks short with a broad base. Spiny, fibrous projections exist along the leaf margins from the leaf sheath, wearing away on old leaves to jagged spines. Leaf blades have numerous (100-160 pairs), of long leaflets with prominent midribs, tapered to a point; arranged in groups or singly along the midrib, arising sometimes in different planes.

Palm trees grow best in humid, tropical climates, and the trees grown and cut down for palm oil primarily grow in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa. Developers often torch and bulldoze areas of biodiverse rainforests to create palm oil plantations. This results in deforestation, destroying habitats of wild animals native to rainforests.

Crude Palm Oil（CPO，毛棕櫚油）

Processed Palm Oil（PPO，精煉棕櫚油）

Palm Oil（PO，棕櫚油）

Crude Palm Kernel Oil（CPKO，毛棕櫚仁油）

Processed Palm Kernel Oil（PPKO，精煉棕櫚仁油）

Palm Kernel Oil（PKO，棕櫚仁油）

Palm Expeller/Cake（PE/PC，棕櫚粕）

Palm Kernel Expeller/Cake（PKE/PKC，棕櫚仁粕）

Palm oil is used in cooking, especially in West African cuisines and curries. It is also found in certain foods, products and fuels.

Palm oil is used for cooking and is also added to many ready-to-eat foods in your grocery store.

Its taste is considered savory and earthy.

Some people describe its flavor as being similar to carrot or pumpkin.

This oil is a staple in West African and tropical cuisines, and it’s especially well suited for curries and other spicy dishes.

It is often used for sautéing or frying because it has a high smoke point of 450°F (232°C) and remains stable under high heat (2Trusted Source).

Palm oil is sometimes added to peanut butter and other nut butters as a stabilizer to prevent the oil from separating and settling at the top of the jar.

In addition to nut butters, palm oil can be found in several other foods, including:

Cereals

Baked goods like bread, cookies and muffins

Protein bars and diet bars

Chocolate

Coffee creamers

Margarine

In the 1980s, palm oil was replaced with trans fats in many products due to concerns that consuming tropical oils might jeopardize heart health. However, after studies revealed the health risks of trans fats, food manufacturers resumed using palm oil.

This oil is also found in many non-food products, such as toothpaste, soap and cosmetics.

In addition, it can be used to produce biodiesel fuel, which serves as an alternative energy source .

Economic and social importance of oil palm fibres

The rapid increase in plantation area in Malaysia, e.g. between 1970 and 1999 from 300 000 ha to 3.3 million ha, indicates the economic importance of this plantation crop and the growing world demand for palm oil.

The site requirements of oil palm and rubber are similar but rubber production is more labour intensive than palm oil production. 

Many plantation companies in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia, have shifted from growing rubber to oil palms due to the demand for vegetable oils, sinking prices for natural rubber and increasing labour costs.

In the main oil palm growing countries, Malaysia and Indonesia, most of the plantation area is owned and managed by large companies. 

For example, in 1999 in Malaysia, nearly 60 percent of plantations were on private estates, about 30 percent in co-operatively managed schemes, and only 10 percent were owned by smallholders. 

However, even with the private estates entire villages depend on the plantations, since the companies have often employed families for a generation.

Outlook for oil palm fibre products

Oil palm by-products such as kernel shells, pressed fibres and empty fruit bunches have established uses in heat generation. In Malaysia an MDF plant based on oil palm fruit bunches is in operation with a daily production capacity of 55 m3. 

Palm fronds from the plantations are also burnt for heat generation, or used for mulching in the plantations. Palmoil mill effluents may have a future for biogas generation.

The palm stems available at replanting are the largest biomass by-product of palmoil production. In Southeast Asia alone, over 1.6 billion m3 are expected to become available in the years to come. 

However, their economic utilization is still undetermined. The properties of the oil palm stem make it an unlikely substitute for conventional timber products like sawn timber. In spite of its availability at no raw material costs, costs of transportation, seasoning (high moisture content) and segregation of the stem material, combined with its low recovery rate and low durability, do not favour its economic utilization (Killmann and Woon 1990).

Therefore, particularly in the largest producer country, Malaysia, considerable research has begun on more unconventional uses for oil palm stems. 

Studies range from cattle food to ammonia plastification, from converting stems into particleboard, cement and gypsum-bonded panels to MDF (Killmann 1993). The latter is the first of the technical processes developed at the laboratory level to be implemented in an industrial scale. 

An MDF plant based on oil palm stem material is presently being built in Malaysia.

In the long run oil palm stems will find their way into industrial utilization even if just because of the sheer volume of biomass available. However, this will be mainly in the form of fibre-based panels or reconstituted fibre. 

Considering their poor properties and the fact that 75 percent of the world’s oil palm plantations grow in the two major Asian timber producing countries, where timber from forests is still abundant, it is unlikely that oil palm stem material will become an important substitute for solid timber.

A yellowish fatty oil obtained especially from the crushed nuts of an African palm (Elaeis guineensis )  and used in the manufacture of soaps, chocolates, cosmetics, and candles. 

As its name Elaeis guineensis Jacqu. indicates, the oil palm’s original habitat is in West Africa’s tropical forests. Unlike E. guineensis, its closest relative, the American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera (Kunth.), has never gained economic importance.Elaeis guineensis (African Oil Palm) is a species of tree in the family palms. It has a self-supporting growth form. It is native to africa. African Oil Palm has compound, broad leaves. Flowers are visited by Honey bee. African Oil Palm is a photoautotroph. Individuals can grow to 30 m.The oil palms ( Elaeis ) coomprise two species of the Arecaceae, or palm family. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis is native to west Africa, occurring between Angola and Gambia, while the American Oil Palm Elaeis oleifera is native to tropical Central America and South America. 

African Oil Palm  (Elaeis guineensis) , African tree cultivated as a source of oil in West and Central Africa, where it originated, and in Malaysia and Indonesia, and as an ornamental tree in many subtropical areas; or, the American oil palm, Elaeis oleifera , originating in Central and South America and sometimes cultivated under the erroneous name Elaeis melanococca , the oil of which was probably used for making candles by the early American colonizers. 

The Oil palm is as old as creation. Every part of the tree is useful economically and for domestic purposes. The oil Palm (Elaeis guineesis jacq.) is believed and accepted to have originated from West Africa. In Nigeria, it is cultivated in the South East Zone and the Niger Delta areas. 

The mesocarp of its fruit yields Palm oil which is orange-red in colour, due to the presence of the carotenoids. The kernel contains the second oil called the Palm Kernel Oil (PKO).

The major and minor components of the palm oil play numerous health functions in humans. Some metabolites which play notable roles in the biosynthesis of triglycerides and products of lipolytic activities have been detected in the palm oil. 

Arising from the wide array of the components of palm oil, researches have been conducted which involved studies with the humans and animals. Results obtained from the researches have been of immense contribution to human health and products that could be developed from the palm oil. 

Additionally, the palm yields a nutritious sap when tapped. The components of the palm sap play significant roles in human physiology. 

This review paper is set to produce an update on some aspects of the oil palm, the products and their implications in human health.

The African tree is the more important commercially. It has many tiny flowers crowded on short branches that develop into a large cluster of oval fruits 1.5 inches (4 cm) long, black when ripe, and red at the base. 

The outer fleshy portion of the fruit is steamed to destroy the lipolytic enzymes and then pressed to recover the palm oil, which is highly coloured from the presence of carotenes. 

The kernels of the fruit are also pressed in mechanical screw presses to recover palm-kernel oil, which is chemically quite different from the oil from the flesh of the fruit. 

Palm oil is used in making soaps, candles, and lubricating greases and in processing tinplate and coating iron plates. Palm-kernel oil is used in manufacturing such edible products as margarine, chocolate confections, and pharmaceuticals. 

The cake residue after kernel oil is extracted is a cattle feed. 

Africa Palm Products integrates the entire value chain from oil palm refining, processing, branding and distribution of a complete range of palm and palm kernel based oils and fats to global markets. 

Africa Palm Products not only produces and markets a wide range of products that cater to the daily needs of households across the South Africa, but also manufactures derivatives and intermediates for baking food and non food uses as well.

The American oil palm resembles the African in flowers and fruit, although it has a quite different overall appearance. The trunk of the American oil palm creeps along the ground, and its leaves are flat, while the African tree has a straight trunk and leaflets attached at various angles.

Medicinal uses

Use the leaf sap for treating skin affections.

Oil extracted from pulp is emollient and used as excipient for herbal ointments.

Use it for treating suppurations, swellings of legs and whitlows.

Yellow leaves are used for treating fever and anemia.

It can be used to remove thorns and poison from the body.

Roots are used to treat piles.

Take the root decoction or burnt root powder orally for treating epilepsy.

Mix infructesence with burned ginger and apply as enema to young children to promote walking at early age.

In South Eastern Nigeria, it is used for treating skin infections and various diseases.

Culinary uses

In Africa, palm wine is obtained by tapping sap from unopened male inflorescences.

The palm cabbage consists of soft tissues of undeveloped leaves around apical bud which is consumed as vegetables.

Palm oil is used for making margarine, bakery fats, vegetable ghee, cooking oil and ice cream.

Unrefined red palm oil is added to soups and sauces in West Africa.

Use palm oil as frying oil for preparing snacks such as plantain and bean cakes.

Elaeis guineensis is a species of palm commonly called African oil palm or macaw-fat. It is the principal source of palm oil. It is native to west and southwest Africa, specifically the area between Angola and the Gambia; the species name guineensis refers to the name for the area, Guinea, and not the modern country which now bears that name. 

The Dutch introduced it to Southeast Asia. The Bogor Botanic Garden received some seedlings in 1848 from Amsterdam Botanical Gardens. The progeny from this introduction were planted initially between 1880 and 1900 as ornamentals on tobacco estates around Deli and Medan and laid the foundation for the oil palm industry in Southeast Asia.

The Singapore Botanic Garden received seeds from Java in 1870, and this helped to diffuse E. guineensis throughout Malaysia and into Sumatra. As markets for oil palm expanded in Europe, the exotic E. guineensis was cultivated on plantation scale starting in 1911. 

The 1st plantations were established in Malaysia in 1917. In India it was first introduced in 1834 in the botanic garden in Calcutta, and trial plantings were started in 1930 in Kerala.

The 1st commercial plantings were started in Kerala in the 1970s. Slave traders took E. guineensis to the New World, but until recently it has not been cultivated to any extent except in Bahia, Brazil.

Natural Habitat: It is difficult to determine the natural habitat of the oil palm because, while it does not grow in primeval forest, it flourishes in habitats where forests have been cleared. It requires a relatively open area to grow and reproduce itself and thrives best when soil moisture is maintained. 

Normally, E. guineensis occurs in disturbed forests and along rivers and streams, both in its native range in West Africa and in some introduced areas. 

It is a succession species favoured by slash and burn, and its gene pool has expanded as farmers clear land and create more open habitat for the germination of its seeds.

Geographic distribution; Native : Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Uganda. Exotic : China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Venezuela, Zanzibar

Biophysical limits; Altitude: Up to 900 m, Mean annual temperature: 27-35 deg. C, Mean annual rainfall: 2000-3000 mm Soil type: It has a fibrous root system and benefits from deep soils that are fertile, free from iron concretions and well drained. It also tolerates a fair range of soil pH (4-6), although neutral soils are favourable.

Reproductive Biology: Male and female flowers are borne on the same plant but open at different times, so that cross-pollination is necessary. A male inflorescence contains 700-1200 flowers and may yield 80 g of pollen over a 5-day period. 

The female flower is larger and receptive to pollen for 36-48 hours. Honeybees are attracted by the pollen scented like anise seed, which they collect as they gather nectar. It has not been established whether the bees contribute to pollination. 

However, The weevil Elaeidobius kamerunicus has been found to be a successful pollinator. Fruit development commences immediately after fertilization. Black vultures (Coragypt atratus) feed avidly on E. guineensis and are involved in its dispersal.

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is one of the most important oil bearing crops in the world. However, genetic improvement of oil palm through conventional breeding is extremely slow and costly, as the breeding cycle can take up to 10 years. 

This has brought about interest in vegetative propagation of oil palm. 

Since the introduction of oil palm tissue culture in the 1970s, clonal propagation has proven to be useful, not only in producing uniform planting materials, but also in the development of the genetic engineering programme.

Despite considerable progress in improving the tissue culture techniques, the callusing and embryogenesis rates from proliferating callus cultures remain very low. 

Thus, understanding the gene diversity and expression profiles in oil palm tissue culture is critical in increasing the efficiency of these processes.

The species is also now naturalised in Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Sumatra, Central America, the West Indies and several islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The closely related American oil palm Elaeis oleifera and a more distantly related palm, Attalea maripa, are also used to produce palm oil.

Human use of oil palms may date as far back as 5,000 years in West Africa; in the late 1800s, archaeologists discovered palm oil in a tomb at Abydos dating back to 3,000 BCE. It is thought that Arab traders brought the oil palm to Egypt.

Mature palms are single-stemmed and grow to 20 m tall. The leaves are pinnate and reach between 3-5 mlong. A young palm produces about 30 leaves a year. Established palms over 10 years produce about 20 leaves a year. The flowers are produced in dense clusters; each individual flower is small, with three sepals and three petals.

The palm fruit takes five to six months to mature from pollination to maturity. It is reddish, about the size of a large plum, and grows in large bunches. Each fruit is made up of an oily, fleshy outer layer (the pericarp), with a single seed (the palm kernel), also rich in oil. When ripe, each bunch of fruit weighs between 5–30 kg (11–66 lb) depending on the age of the palm tree.

For each hectare of oil palm, which is harvested year-round, the annual production averages 20 tonnes of fruit yielding 4,000 kg of palm oil and 750 kg of seed kernels yielding 500 kg of high quality palm kernel oil, as well as 600 kg of kernel meal. Kernel meal are processed for use as livestock feed.

All modern, commercial planting material consists of tenera palms or DxP hybrids, which are obtained by crossing thickshelled dura with shell-less pisifera. Although common commercial germinated seed is as thick-shelled as the dura mother palm, the resulting palm will produce thin-shelled tenera fruit. An alternative to germinated seed, once constraints to mass production are overcome, are tissue-cultured or "clonal" palms, which provide "true copies" of high-yielding DxP palms.

An oil palm nursery must have an uninterrupted supply of clean water and topsoil which is both well-structured and sufficiently deep to accommodate three rounds of on-site bag-filling. Approximately 35 ha can grow enough seedlings over a three-year period to plant a 5,000-ha plantation. Prenursery seedlings must be watered daily. Whenever rainfall is less than 10 mm per day, irrigation is required, and the system must be capable of uniformly applying 6.5 mm water per day.

Prenursery seedlings in the four-leaf stage of development (10 to 14 weeks after planting) are usually transplanted to the main nursery after their gradual adjustment to full sunlight and a rigid selection process. During culling, seedlings that have grassy, crinkled, twisted, or rolled leaves are discarded.

Weeds growing in the polybags must be carefully pulled out. Herbicides should not be used. Numerous insects (ants, armyworms, bagworms, aphids, thrips, mites, grasshoppers, and mealybugs) and vertebrates (rats, squirrels, porcupines, wild boar, and monkeys) are pests in oil palm nurseries and must be carefully identified before control measures are implemented.

After eight months in the nursery, normal healthy plants should be 0.8–1 m in height and display five to eight functional leaves.

The proper approach to oil palm development begins with the establishment of leguminous cover plants, immediately following land clearing. They help prevent soil erosion and surface run-off, improve soil structure and palm root development, increase the response to mineral fertilizer in later years, and reduce the danger of micronutrient deficiencies. Leguminous cover plants also help prevent outbreaks of Oryctes beetles, which nest in exposed decomposing vegetation. 

Both phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are needed to maximize the leguminous cover plants' symbiotic nitrogen-fixation potential of approximately 200 kg nitrogen/ha/yr, and are applied to most soils at 115 to 300 kg phosphorus oxide/ha and 35 to 60 kg potassium oxide/ha. Young palms are severely set back where grasses are allowed to dominate the inter-row vegetation, particularly on poor soils where the correction of nutrient deficiencies is difficult and costly.

Many tropical food plants are propagated by cuttings. Seeds are necessary for plant embryos to survive the winter and other harsh conditions such as drought. However, where the weather is normally conducive to growth year-round, it is often advantageous for plants to reproduce through means other than seeds. 

By bypassing the seed stage plants can greatly accelerate their reproductive cycle. Despite this, anyone who wishes so, may still grow tropical crops from seed. To do so, some special seed germination techniques to germinate it more quicker may be best used.

Palm oil is a form of edible vegetable oil obtained from the fruit of the Oil palm tree. The oil palm is a tropical palm tree.There are two species of oil palm, the better known one is the one originating from Guinea , Africa and was first illustrated by Nicholaas Jacquin in 1763, hence its name, Elaeis guineensis Jacq .

The fruit is reddish, about the size of a large plum and grows in large bunches. 

A bunch of fruits can weigh between 10 to 40 kilograms each. Each fruit contains a single seed (the palm kernel) surrounded by a soft oily pulp. Oil is extracted from both the pulp of the fruit (palm oil, an edible oil) and the kernel (palm kernel oil, used mainly for soap manufacture).

Oil is extracted from both the pulp of the fruit (palm oil, an edible oil) and the kernel (palm kernel oil, used in foods and for soap manufacture). For every 100 kg of fruit bunches, typically 22 kg of palm oil and 1.6 kg of palm kernel oil can be extracted.

The high oil yield of oil palms ( as high as 7,250 liters per hectare per year ) has made it a common cooking ingredient in Southeast Asia and the tropical belt of Africa. Its increasing use in the commercial food industry in other parts of the world is buoyed by its cheaper pricing, the high oxidative stability of the refined product, and high levels of natural antioxidants.

The oil palm originated in West Africa, but has since been planted successfully in tropical regions within 20 degrees of the equator. In the Republic of the Congo, or Congo Brazzaville, precisely in the Northern part, not far from Ouesso, local people produce this oil by hand. They harvest the fruit, boil it to let the water evaporate, then press what is left to collect the reddish-orange-colored oil.

In 1995, Malaysia was the world's largest producer, with a 51% of world share, but since 2007, Indonesia has been the world's largest producer, supplying approximately 50% of world palm oil volume.

Worldwide palm oil production for season 2011/2012 was 50.3 million metric tons, increasing to 52.3 million tons for 2012/13. In 2010/2011, total production of palm kernels was 12.6 million tonnes.

Elaeis guineensis originated in Guinea, Africa and was first illustrated by Nicholaas Jacquin in 1763.

Oil palms were introduced to Java by the Dutch in 1848, and to Malaysia (then the British colony of Malaya

) in 1910 by Scotsman William Sime and English banker Henry Darby. The species of palm tree Elaeis guineensis was taken to Malaysia from Eastern Nigeria in 1961. As noted it originally grew in West Africa. The southern coast of Nigeria was originally called the Palm oil coast by the first Europeans who arrived there and traded in the commodity. This area was later renamed the Bight of Biafra.

In traditional African medicine different parts of the plant are used as laxative and diuretic, as a poison antidote, as a cure for gonorrhea, menorrhagia, and bronchitis, to treat headaches and rheumatism, to promote healing of fresh wounds and treat skin infections.

In Malaysia, the first plantations were mostly established and operated by British plantation owners, such as Sime Darby and Boustead , and remained listed in London until the Malaysian government engineered their "Malaysianisation" throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) is the world's biggest oil palm planter, with planted area close to 900,000 hectares in Malaysia and Indonesia. Felda was formed on July 1, 1956 when the Land Development Act came into force with the main aim of eradicating poverty.

Settlers were each allocated 10 acres of land (about 4 hectares) planted either with oil palm or rubber, and given 20 years to pay off the debt for the land.

After Malaysia achieved independence in 1957, the government focused on value-added of rubber planting, boosting exports, and alleviating poverty through land schemes. In the 1960s and 1970s, the government encouraged planting of other crops, to cushion the economy when world prices of tin and rubber plunged. Rubber estates gave way to oil palm plantations. 

In 1961, Felda's first oil palm settlement opened, with 3.75 km² of land. As of 2000, 6855.2 km² (approximately 76%) of the land under Felda's programmes were devoted to oil palms. 

By 2008, Felda's resettlement broadened to 112,635 families, who work on 8533.13 km² of agriculture land throughout Malaysia. Oil palm planting took up 84% of Felda's plantation landbank.

FELDA's success led to the establishment of other development schemes to support the establishment of small-farmer oil palm cultivation. The Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (FELCRA) was established in 1966 and the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) was formed in 1976. 

The primary objective of these organizations is to assist in the development of rural communities and reduce poverty through the cultivation of high yielding crops such as palm oil .

As of November 2011, SALCRA had developed 18 estates totalling approximately 51,000 hectares. That year the organization shared dividends with 16,374 landowners participating in the program.

Since the days when the 'guineesis' was first introduced by the British, Indian laborers were brought in to work the estates. There, Hindu beliefs mixed with the local Malay culture and started the usage of palm seeds by traditional healers suffixed with tok 'bomoh' or pawang in the local language. Every bunch of palm fruit usually bears a single 'illustrious' seed which looks like a shiny black pearl called sbatmi in Tamil and shakti in Malay. 

These are used as accessories by the bomoh and pawang in the mixed ritual for peace with nature as these are believed to contain mystical healing properties, and those wearing them are blessed by nature.

Modern usage has seen more common people keeping these as charm or fashion items to feel at peace, owing to their use by celebrities. 

All palm seeds contain acid; these sbatmi are no different and should be handled with care. Sbatmi lost some popularity when it was used in a grisly ritual by Mona Fandey in 1993.

Palm oil is a type of edible vegetable oil. It is the most commonly produced vegetable oil at 66 million tons. It comes from the palm fruit originally grown in West Africa.

Today, 85% of palm oil is produced and exported from Malaysia and Indonesia. Over half of all imported palm oil into the EU is used as biofuel. It can also be found in roughly 50% of all household products. 

In Indonesia, many small producers are starting palm oil production, attracted by the financial gain it represents. According to Dianto Bachriadi, founder of the NGO KPA, five million families live in this industry and some have seen their standard of living rise as a result of this culture.

The palm oil industry has been linked to a multitude of issues such as:deforestation, climate change, animal cruelty, and habitat degradation. 

According to the World Wildlife Fund, an area the equivalent size of roughly 300 football fields of rainforest is cleared each hour to make way for palm oil production. 

This in turn causes many animals in these rainforests to become extinct as they lose their habitats. Two main animals about to become extinct are orangutans and Sumatran tigers. 

Over 90% of the orangutan habitat has been destroyed in the last 20 years.  

Deforestation contributes significantly to the climate change. This is due to the burning of excess timber and undergrowth. This has been also one of the main reasons causing Indonesia to become the third highest emitter of greenhouse gas.

Current government policies in Malaysia and Indonesia are aimed more toward developing their palm oil industries as a method to enhance their economic development.

Indonesia aims to almost double palm oil production by 2020 in response to the global demand. 

However, they are also trying to find methods of making the industry more sustainable.

The main problem is that palm oil plantations in both countries are consolidated, so they have a lot of capital and can buy influence. 

They lobby both governments to loosen environmental restrictions on the industry, so they can maximize their profits. They have cited the agreement that outside countries and NGOs should not impede their 「right to develop 」.

Across the boarders, it has been a failure of local governments to properly regulate this industry. Some foreign governments have made strides to reduce the environmental damage of the palm oil industry. 

The EU passed a ban to entirely phase out palm oil in the fuel by 2030. Unfortunately other major countries, like the US, have not followed suit just yet. 

In the past few years, there has also been an upturn in private regulation. Global activism has caused a shift in major buyers of palm oil, like Cargill and Unilever. They have made commitments to cut links with deforestation and exploitation. However, there need to be a force in accountability with these commitments and a push for more companies to do the same.

In general, most industrial products: cakes, ready-made meals, sauces, cosmetics... contain palm oil. 

70 percent of cosmetics are manufactured using palm oil — a substance which is controversial, and, according to many, environmentally damaging.

Many of the world's biggest palm oil producers, processors and traders are still failing to implement effective strategies to prevent the destruction of forests across the tropics, often despite having adopted zero deforestation commitments, according to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

Clearance and burning of forests and carbon-rich peat soils in order to free-up land for palm oil plantations is among the biggest drivers of deforestation in the tropics, destroying precarious wildlife habitats, removing natural carbon storage and accelerating biodiversity loss and climate change.

But ZSL found most firms involved in the supply chain for palm oil — used in myriad food and personal care products worldwide — still do not report basic information on how they are monitoring deforestation, caused either by their own or their suppliers' operations, and that they remain far from achieving deforestation goals.

The sobering findings come despite a host of corporate commitments to end deforestation, including a global deadline agreed through the New York Declaration of Forests to halve deforestation by 2020, and a Consumer Goods Forum pledge in 2010 from its members, which include high profile names such as Nestle and P&G, to achieve zero net deforestation from their products by the same date.

While 55% of palm oil producers apply clear zero deforestation commitments on their suppliers, only 10% comprehensively report on how they are monitoring their suppliers, potentially undermining efforts to enforce their pledges.

The findings come in the wildlife conservation charity's latest annual assessment of the world's biggest palm oil producers, processors and traders. It shows that while 56 of the 79 companies assessed — 71 percent — have made a clear commitment to zero deforestation, just 42 percent — 33 out of 79 — provide detailed information on how they are actually monitoring deforestation in their own operations.

Moreover, while 55 percent of palm oil producers apply clear zero deforestation commitments on their suppliers, only 10 percent comprehensively report on how they are monitoring their suppliers, potentially undermining efforts to enforce their pledges throughout their supply chains, according to ZSL.

"2020 has been a wake-up call, with many realizing the impact of human consumption and behavior on the planet," said Eleanor Spencer, ZSL's palm oil technical adviser. "While progress has been made by palm oil companies in setting clear commitments to tackle deforestation, it is now certain that many 2020 zero deforestation targets will not be met. These deadlines cannot be extended any further if we are to meaningfully tackle the climate and biodiversity crises."

ZSL's analysis follows data over the summer showing that primary tropical forest loss has in fact increased during the past 10 years since the Consumer Goods Forum made its zero deforestation pledge, underscoring the need for companies to urgently ramp up their efforts to curb forest destruction, according to Spencer.

"The responsibility to tackle deforestation and improve the sustainability of palm oil production is shared by all actors in the supply chain and key stakeholders outside of it, and it is vital that these different groups work together to push for change," she added.

The analysis was carried out by ZSL's Sustainable Palm Oil Transparency Toolkit (SPOTT) team, an initiative developed by the charity to incentivize the transparent reporting and the implementation of best practice in managing commodity supply chains.

The SPOTT team also highlighted similar concerns with other aspects of companies' No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) commitments, with 72 percent of companies assessed providing comprehensive commitments to no planting on peat, but only 20 percent reporting on the implementation of the commitment. 

Around three-quarters of firms — 59 out of 79 — committed to zero burning, yet only just over half disclosed details of fire management and monitoring practices, the assessment found.

It is crucial now that the industry and its stakeholders come together to ensure sufficient action is being taken on the ground, and that these zero-deforestation targets are not empty promises.

"These results should be a red alert for the palm oil producers, their investors, banks and buyers downstream — all of whom have made the same commitments to stopping forest loss," Spencer said. "

It is crucial now that the industry and its stakeholders come together to ensure sufficient action is being taken on the ground, and that these zero-deforestation targets are not empty promises."

Demand for palm oil has become increasingly controversial due to the commodity's role in driving deforestation, particularly in south-east Asia, including through devastating forest fires which in 2015 produced more carbon emissions that the entire daily emissions of the U.S. Proponents of palm oil point out, however, that it remains one of the most efficient vegetable oil crops in terms of yield per hectare, and that a shift towards less-efficient alternative oils would therefore require more land and potentially lead to even greater habitat destruction.

As well as signing up for certification from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the world's largest palm oil certification scheme, some multinationals have attempted to develop systems to overcome these challenges.

Confectionery giant Nestlé last year launched a satellite monitoring tool in collaboration with Airbus and the Earthworm Foundation, while earlier this month a coalition of investors including Aviva, Fidelity and ACTIAM announced they are developing satellite technology which uses radar imagery, machine learning and data analytics to detect changes in tropical forest cover, helping them assess retailers' and manufacturers' efforts to prevent their demand driving deforestation.

But, as ZSL's stark new findings confirm, the industry and its big brand customers still has a long way to go if it wants to live up to their zero deforestation commitments.

Between 1990 and 2008, oil palm tree plantations were responsible for the deforestation of around 8 percent of the world's forests, according to the BBC. This leads to a loss of biodiversity and habitat for wildlife

 — particularly those already under threat, such as the orangutan. And demand for the crop is increasing.

To further complicate things, we can't simply ban it or stop using it. It's the most widely used vegetable oil on the planet and responsible for an industry worth more than $40 billion. Stopping its production would ruin many people's livelihoods worldwide. 

By 2050, it’s predicted that Indonesia’s palm oil production will double due to global demand, putting massive strain on the island’s remaining rainforests.

Worse, alternative vegetable oils, such asrapeseed, coconut or sunflower, would require up to ten times as much land to produce the same amount. This would only exacerbate the issue.

Nutrient Composition

Palm oil is 100% fat, half of which is saturated. It also contains vitamin E and red palm oil contains antioxidants called carotenoids, which your body can convert into vitamin A.

Here is the nutritional content of one tablespoon (14 grams) of palm oil :

Calories: 114

Fat: 14 grams

Saturated fat: 7 grams

Monounsaturated fat: 5 grams

Polyunsaturated fat: 1.5 grams

Vitamin E: 11% of the RDI

All of palm oil’s calories come from fat. Its fatty acid breakdown is 50% saturated fatty acids, 40% monounsaturated fatty acids and 10% polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The main type of saturated fat found in palm oil is palmitic acid, which contributes 44% of its calories. It also contains high amounts of oleic acid and smaller amounts of linoleic acid and stearic acid.

Red palm oil’s reddish-orange pigment stems from antioxidants known as carotenoids, including beta-carotene, which your body can convert into vitamin A.

In fractionated palm oil, the liquid portion is removed by a crystallizing and filtering process. The remaining solid portion is higher in saturated fat and has a higher melting temperature .

Few topics provide as much controversy in tropical forest and wildlife conservation as the rapid expansion of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations. 

On the one hand, oil palm has been linked to deforestation, peat degradation, biodiversity loss, forest fires, and a range of social issues (Danielsen et al., 2009; Koh and Wilcove, 2008, 2009; Sheil et al., 2009; Sodhi et al., 2010).

On the other hand, oil-palm expansion is considered a powerful driver of economic development in tropical countries with low levels of welfare (Casson, 2000; McCarthy and Zen, 2010; Sheil et al., 2009; World Growth, 2011), and it has been referred to as 「green gold」 (Friends of the Earth, 2008). 

Economic development can lead to reduced levels of forest loss, and biofuels from oil palm can reduce global carbon emissions, but the unanswered question is whether, at a global scale, do the benefits of oil palm outweigh the environmental costs? 

With much of Earth's species diversity residing in tropical areas where oil palm thrives, there seems ample reason to closely assess the role that oil palm has played in tropical deforestation and loss of wildlife. 

There is hope, though, of sustainable palm oil based on a global standard set by the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) — a group of growers, retailers, NGOs and manufacturers. 

To meet their standards, a company must not clear any primary forest, treat workers fairly, and create wildlife zones, among other things. 

However, many critics say that these rules are not strict enough. According to a report by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, there is limited evidence of effective conservation as a result.

That said, in 2016, 75 percent of the total palm oil imports to the UK were sustainable, according to the BBC.

Many retailers and leading brands use it, but as a consumer, knowing which is which can be difficult. 

The RSPO has a logo, but it rarely gets printed on the cosmetic label. The best we can do for now is check the ingredients carefully and do some research.

Cultivation details

A major cash crop but also significant as a food by farmers in many areas. Plants succeed in moist to very wet tropical climates up to elevations of 1,300m. Commercial cultivation is below 700m and preferably lower than 300m. 

It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 35°c, but can tolerate 12 - 38°c. The plant is quite tolerant, though, and succeeds in southern China where there are light frosts and mean daily temperatures can drop below 10°c for weeks on end.

It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 8,000mm. 

Optimally, there should be at least 150 mm of rain each month of the year, ideally falling mostly at night. Plants grow well in full sun, even when small. 

Grows and thrives on wide range of tropical soils, provided they have adequate water supply. Requires a humus-rich soil. Waterlogged, highly lateritic, extremely sandy, stony or peaty soils should be avoided. 

Tolerant of temporary flooding, provided the water is not stagnant. Prefers a pH range 4.5 - 6, tolerating 3.2 - 8. The root system is adventitious, forming a dense mat with a radius of 3 - 5m in the upper 40 - 60cm of the soil. 

Some primary roots are directly below the base of the trunk descending for anchorage for more than 1.5m; the roots produce pneumatodes under very moist conditions.

It is a succession species favoured by slash and burn, and its gene pool has expanded as farmers clear land and create more open habitat for the germination of its seeds.

Plants can commence bearing 3 years after the seed has germinated. The plant produces both male and female flowers, but not usually at the same time. 

An individual inflorescence will be all male or all female flowers; after a series of inflorescences of one sex the plant will then produce a series of inflorescences of the opposite sex. Plants flower all year. 

The fruit is produced in clusters approx 100 fruits. The inflorescence is produced from about every second leaf axil. There are up to 1,500 deep violet fruits (ripening to orange-red) in each roundish dense cluster, weighing 30 kg or more.

Yields of 5 tonnes of oil per hectare have been obtained from mature plants. Spacing: 15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m) 20-30ft. (6-9m).

Top Palm Oil Producing Countries In The World

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. The palm oil in its natural state has a reddish color as a result of the high content of beta-carotene. 

There is a big difference between palm kernel oil and the typical palm oil. 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. 

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 widely-used as a cooking ingredient especially in Southeast Asia and some parts of Brazil and along the tropical belt of Africa. 

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.

In 2015, it was estimated that an average world consumption per head of palm oil stood at 17 pounds. Malaysia and Indonesia are the largest producers of palm oil accounting for almost 90% of the world production.

Top Palm Oil Producing Countries

Indonesia

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. 

For example, in 2016, the country produced 36,000,000 metric tons out of which 25.1 million tons were exported. It is estimated that by 2020, the palm oil project in Indonesia will cover approximately 12 million hectares. 

Indonesia was producing 35% of the world’s palm oil in 2012, and India and China are the importers of Indonesia’s palm oil.

Malaysia

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%.

Malaysia possesses large plantations, and as of 2016, the country’s total palm oil production amounted to 2.1 million metric tons. 

Production of Palm oil in the country is categorized into three; private, smallholder, and joint venture. 

However, the economic activity poses a serious environmental threat in the country by polluting water sources, leading to the loss of biodiversity, and deforestation. 

Malaysia is the leading exporter of the palm oil with its primary importing countries being the European Union, Pakistan, China, the US, and India.

Thailand

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. Palm oil production in the country rose from 6.39 million tons in 2007 to 10.78 million tons in 2011. 

The province of Surat Thani had the highest production of palm oil accounting for 26.59% of all the country’s production. Producers in the country could be categorized into three groups which include smallholder farmers, large companies, and cooperatives and self-help groups.

Most of the palm oil produced in Thailand is used locally, and a small portion is for export. 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. 

The smallholder farmers also face the problem of marketing because they do not have the bargaining power over the prices.

History of Palm Oil

Use of palm oil can be traced as far back as 5000 years ago. 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. 

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.

During the industrial revolution, palm oil became the most sought-after commodity because it was used as an industrial lubricant for machinery. 

Palm oil has been used widely to manufacture soap, and the earliest pioneers were the Lever brothers, now known as the Unilever. By 1870s, palm oil was the primary export product from West Africa for countries such as Nigeria and Ghana.

Palm oil has been linked to several health benefits, including protecting brain function, reducing heart disease risk factors and improving vitamin A status.

Brain Health

Palm oil is an excellent source of tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E with strong antioxidant properties that may support brain health.

Animal and human studies suggest that the tocotrienols in palm oil may help protect the delicate polyunsaturated fats in the brain, slow dementia progression, reduce the risk of stroke and prevent the growth of brain lesions .

In a two-year study of 121 people with brain lesions, the group who took palm oil-derived tocotrienols twice a day remained stable, whereas the group who received a placebo experienced lesion growth.

Heart Health

Palm oil has been credited with providing protection against heart disease.

Although some study results have been mixed, this oil generally appears to have beneficial effects on heart disease risk factors, including lowering 「bad」 LDL cholesterol and increasing 「good」 HDL cholesterol.

A large analysis of 51 studies found that total and LDL cholesterol levels were lower in people who followed palm oil-rich diets than those who consumed diets high in trans fats or myristic and lauric acid . 

A recent three-month study looked at the cholesterol-lowering effects of palm oil made from a hybrid of Elaeis guineensis and Elaeis oleifera trees.

In this study, people consumed either 25 ml (2 tablespoons) of olive oil or a hybrid palm oil daily. Based on a 15% drop in LDL cholesterol in both groups, researchers suggested this palm oil could be called 「the tropical equivalent of olive oil」 .

Nevertheless, it’s important to note that an increase or decrease in LDL cholesterol levels alone cannot predict heart disease risk. There are many other factors involved.

However, a controlled study in 1995 suggested that palm oil might help slow disease progression in people with established heart disease.

In this 18-month study, seven of 25 people treated with the oil showed improvements and 16 remained stable. By contrast, 10 of 25 people in the placebo group experienced disease progression, and none showed improvement.

Improved Vitamin A Status

Palm oil can help improve vitamin A status in people who are deficient or at risk of deficiency.

Studies in pregnant women in developing countries have shown that consuming red palm oil increases vitamin A levels in their blood, as well as in their breastfed infants.

One study found that people with cystic fibrosis, who have difficulty absorbing fat-soluble vitamins, experienced an increase in blood levels of vitamin A after taking two to three tablespoons of red palm oil daily for eight weeks.

Red palm oil has also been shown to help boost vitamin A levels in adults and young children.

In fact, a study from India reported that preschool-aged children who took 5 ml (1 teaspoon) per day had greater increases in vitamin A levels than children who received vitamin A supplements.

Palm oil may help protect brain function, reduce heart disease risk factors and increase vitamin A levels in certain people.

Potential Health Risks

Although most studies have found that palm oil has a protective effect on heart health, others have reported conflicting results .

One study was conducted in women with high cholesterol.

It showed that levels of small, dense LDL (sdLDL) — the type of cholesterol linked to heart disease — increased with palm oil but decreased with other oils. 

However, a combination of palm oil and rice bran oil decreased sdLDL levels (25Trusted Source).

Another study found that sdLDL didn’t change in the group that consumed palm oil, while large LDL particles increased. Large LDL particles are considered less likely to cause heart attacks than small, dense LDL particles .

Other studies have reported elevations in LDL cholesterol levels in response to consuming palm oil. However, in these studies, LDL particle sizes weren’t measured.

It’s important to note that these are only potential risk factors and not evidence that palm oil can actually cause heart disease.

However, one animal study suggests that consuming oil that has been repeatedly reheated may cause plaque deposits in the arteries due to a decrease in the oil’s antioxidant activity.

When rats ate food containing palm oil that had been reheated 10 times, they developed large arterial plaques and other signs of heart disease over the course of six months, whereas rats fed fresh palm oil did not.

Controversies Regarding Palm Oil

There are several ethical issues regarding palm oil production’s effects on the environment, wildlife and communities.In the past decades, increasing demand has led to an unprecedented expansion of palm oil production in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

These countries have humid, tropical climates that are ideally suited for growing oil palm trees.

However, in order to accommodate oil palm plantations, tropical forests and peatland are being destroyed.

A recent analysis found that 45% of land in Southeast Asia currently used for palm oil production had been forest back in 1990, including more than half of all palm oil plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia .

Deforestation is anticipated to have devastating effects on global warming, as the forests play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gasses by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.

In addition, the destruction of native landscapes causes changes in the ecosystem that threaten the health and diversity of wildlife.

Especially concerning is the impact on endangered species such as Bornean orangutans, which are facing extinction due to habitat loss .

There have also been reports of human rights violations by palm oil corporations, such as clearing farmlands and forests without permission, paying low wages, providing unsafe working conditions and significantly reducing the quality of life.

Fortunately, experts say that there are more ethical and sustainable methods.

For instance, a 2015 analysis found that limiting the expansion of new palm oil plantations to areas without forests and planting only in areas with low carbon stocks could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 60% .

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is an organization committed to making oil production as environmentally friendly, culturally sensitive and sustainable as possible.

They only award RSPO certification to producers who adhere to their standards by following certain guidelines, including:

No clearing of forests or areas that contain endangered species, fragile ecosystems or areas critical to meeting basic or traditional community needs.

Significantly reduced use of pesticides and fires.

Fair treatment of workers, according to local and international labor rights standards.

Informing and consulting with local communities before the development of new oil palm plantations on their land.

Replacing tropical forests and peatland with palm oil trees is devastating the environment, wildlife and people’s quality of life.

Take Home Message

Palm oil is one of the most widely used oils in the world.

However, the effects of its production on the environment, health of wild animals and lives of indigenous people are deeply concerning.

If you want to use palm oil, purchase ethical, RSPO-certified brands.

Additionally, since you can get similar health benefits from other oils and foods, it’s probably best to use other fat sources for most of your daily needs.

How to Know if a Product Contains Palm Oil

Just because a product doesn't include "palm oil" on the ingredients list doesn't mean it is palm oil free. For one thing, some products that may contain palm oil are not required to list their ingredients, such as laundry detergent and biodiesel. Additionally, numerous common label ingredients are derived from palm oil, but it's hard to tell based on the name. According to WWF, a few ingredients that are sometimes (but not always) derived from palm oil include:

Vegetable Oil, Vegetable Fat, Palm Kernel, Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Fruit Oil, Palmate, Palmitate, Palmolein, Glyceryl, Stearate, Stearic Acid, Elaeis Guineensis, Palmitic Acid, Palm Stearine, Palmitoyl Oxostearamide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Kernelate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Lauryl Lactylate/Sulphate, Hyrated Palm Glycerides, Etyl Palmitate, Octyl Palmitate, and Palmityl Alcohol.

Palm oil is technically vegan, since it is completely plant-based and does not come from the body of animals. However, because primates are often directly hurt by the palm oil industry, many vegans and environmentalists do their best to avoid palm oil — even though that is sometimes impossible, considering how many ingredients sneakily contain palm oil.

Avoiding palm oil entirely is extremely difficult. It is impossible to know if some ingredients are palm oil-derived, other ingredients and products do not disclose their ingredients, and restaurants may cook with palm oil. 

If the palm oil industry is not an industry you'd like to support, there are a few tricks that may help you avoid palm oil (for the most part).

As a pretty easy first step, you can abstain from buying products that explicitly contain palm oil; you can also choose to support companies that state their products are certified palm oil-free; and finally, because palm oil is difficult to 100 percent avoid, you can work to lower the impact of your diet and purchases in other ways — for example, buy vegan, cruelty-free, and locally-made food and products whenever possible.

Key scientific journals publishing on oil palms and related topics include:

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

Conservation Letters

Bioresource Technology

Trends in Ecology and Evolution