SUSTAINABILITY OF PALM OIL:
Malaysian palm oil is sustainable, and this can be proved by the following features that are discussed below:
- Highly regulated industry
The palm oil industry is a highly regulated one and adheres to 15 laws and regulations for the industry’s sustainable development. The laws include but are not limited to the Land Acquisition Act 1960, Environmental Quality (Clean Air Regulations) 1978, Occupational Safety and Health Act (1977), and Protection of Wildlife Act 1972. The industry is working tirelessly with its R&D arm to improve its environmental performance.
- NO DEFORESTATION:
The production of sustainable palm oil involves working with eco-friendly strategies. Palm oil grown on a hector of land yields 10 times more than the other major vegetable oil crops. Due to its high yield, it occupies less area, due to which the rate of deforestation caused by palm oil is very low.
- AMELIORATES THE ATMOSPHERE:
The leaves of the oil palm tree are naturally designed to have a high leave area index, increasing the rate of photosynthesis. It increases the production of oxygen and acts as a better carbon sink. This ability is even superior to a tropical rainforest. It assimilates 44.0 tonnes of dry matter per hectare per year. On the other hand, a rainforest assimilates 25.7 tonnes of dry matter per hectare per year.
The high rate of photosynthesis by palm oil leaves not only increases the level of oxygen. Simultaneously it is also responsible for the production of more rain which is beneficial for the environment.
- ECONOMICAL OIL TO BE CULTIVATED:
Compared to other oil seed crops, palm oil requires less intake of fertilizers, pesticides, and other products necessary for the cultivation of any crop. Thus, making palm oil an economic crop to be cultivated. Along with low input of fuels, it provides us the high yield.
- ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:
Besides other benefits, palm oil also marks positive consequences on the environment. It mainly preserves biodiversity, protects the natural habitat of endangered species, and maintains wildlife corridors up to 500 meters wide for both wild and small animals from one forest to another. Two prominent organizations prove the positive impact of sustainable palm oil; these are:
ROUNDTABLE SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL (RSPO):
The roundtable sustainable palm oil is a global nonprofit initiative that combines the contributors from seven sectors of the palm oil industry. This organization was established in 2004 that encourage the use and production of sustainable palm oil and its products.
MALAYSIA SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL (MSPO):
Another organization for the certification of sustainable palm oil is Malaysia sustainable palm oil (MSPO). It exhibits responsible management and brings positive impacts that include environmental and economic benefits and lessen the adverse effects on people’s health. Both these certifications line up the production of sustainable palm oil by maintaining national laws and regulations.
CONCLUSIONS:
To sum up it all, Sustainable palm oil proves to be helpful from protecting biodiversity to improved efficiency causing economic benefits to the health safety policies. And the main benefit regarding the use of sustainable palm oil is that it adopts guidelines that degrade deforestation, which is the main priority in the cultivation of any crop.