Palm oil is highly nutritional and astonishingly versatile vegetable oil. It is a household-friendly, relatively inexpensive oil and can replace unhealthy fats in our diets. It has a wide range of application in industrial usage, both in the food and the non-food sectors. In a nutshell, one could state, palm oil is the solution to the global demand for oils and fats. It can eliminate global hunger and provide food security. All this makes palm oil stand apart from the rest of oils and position itself as a precious commodity.
In Malaysia, oil palm cultivation is primarily on designated agricultural land. Furthermore, the opening of new plantations has plateaued in recent years. Oil palm plantations account for only 0.4% of total land used for agriculture. Despite the palm oil industry’s efforts to operate sustainably, the industry is repeatedly associated internationally with deforestation and biodiversity loss. More than 50% of the country’s land area is forest cover. It is now estimated to be 55.6%. Malaysia is a vocal advocate of the right to development, industrialization, eradication of poverty and prosperity. This legitimate desire to become a developed nation would inevitably mean that some forested areas would have to give way for economic transformation. Today the country is thriving through challenges and struggles and maintains its commitment to the environment and future generation. If someone would look at the forest cover data published by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), this matter will be evident. Malaysia conserves and preserves more forested area than its western colleagues. Yet, the country is constantly a punching bag for anti-deforestation campaigns. So then, how can the industry keep itself motivated to keep up the good work?
It is evident in many environmental initiatives taken either by individual companies or through the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) or earlier Malaysian Palm Oil Wildlife Conservation Fund (MPOWCF) that nature is to be conserved and protected. It is important to note that oil palm does not impact all aspects of biodiversity negatively. Like figs and nectar, oil palm is a valuable ecological resource that provides critical linkages between plant and animal communities. Many animal species use the oil palm matrix to move between forest patches, which are not possible in grasslands used for animal herding.
All these are encouraging efforts Malaysia takes in implementing and contributing to the world trade in sustainable agriculture, thus ensuring that it is a positive force in global forestry governance. The country is committed to living up to the challenge of sustainable development and become a global partner in supporting sustainable food supply. Malaysian oil palm plantations are greener than ever. Let us work together to spread the proper information.