Sustainable Palm Oil in Food and Health Industry

Palm Oil being one of the most versatile products are used in almost every other product. Malaysia and Indonesia account for 80% of the palm oil production in the world. The Malaysian Government and other industrial players have taken up the responsibility of ensuring that all palm oil-related activities remain sustainable and eco friendly.

Sustainable palm oil production involves policies that commit to no deforestation, no peat development, and no exploitation. There are several global and local bodies that promote the growth of the sustainable palm oil sector. Very stringent policies and guidelines have been introduced to ensure that the industries adhere to sustainable practices. These policies include the mandatory sustainable palm oil certification under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) programme.

The Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification Scheme is the national scheme in Malaysia for oil palm plantations, independent and organised smallholdings, and palm oil processing facilities to be certified against the requirements of the MSPO Standards. The mandatory implementation of MSPO certification demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment to the production of sustainable Malaysian palm oil.

Compared to other vegetable oils such as soybean, rapeseed and sunflower, palm oil is the highest yielding vegetable oil. It requires less land to produce the same volume as other edible oils. Therefore, substituting it with other crops may result in larger deforestation to plant these crops, as they require more land.

Dato’ Dr Hj Wan Zawawi Wan Ismail, CEO, Malaysian Palm Oil Council added “ It is a global trend that we are moving towards healthy food systems. We shall optimize land use and ensure resilient ecosystems. Along the process, smallholders need support to become sustainable mainstream producers. The Government has closely observed the impact of Malaysian Palm Oil and taken all the right steps to ensure that it is produced sustainably. Further certifications have also been introduced to clear any misconceptions about its impact on the environment.”