Myths about palm oil deforestation
In a world where companies that produce corn, soybean, olive, and so on, see their business threatened by the versatility of palm oil, misinformation becomes the only alternative. Much is said about palm oil deforestation and its supposed impact on the flora and fauna of the area where the plantations are located. However, this information is destroyed by facts and figures that show that palm oil has achieved the perfect balance between sustained production and coexistence with animals, such as orangutans. In fact, palm oil producers finance an association that is in charge of the protection and study of these magnificent animals. Besides this, the development of new technologies allows farmers to improve their crop yields without the need of planting new land. This helps to avoid unnecessary expansion of new plantations that could affect the flora and fauna of the ecosystem surrounding the plantations.
What do the statistics say?
Statistics are used to paint a truer picture of what is happening in a situation. When looking at the period between 1990 and 2015, it can be found that palm oil deforestation accounted for only 2.3% of all deforestation recorded globally. However, statistics also show that palm oil production has increased. How is this possible? Coffee and rubber farmers have changed their crops to palm oil because of its high demand and ease of production. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), deforestation related to palm oil has steadily decreased since 2020. This reduction is possible thanks to the efforts of strategic alliances led by organisations such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). These organisations were born out of the need to promote sustainable development policies that are friendly to the ecosystem while improving the quality of life of farmers.
What other alternatives are there?
Although the statistics support the fact that palm oil production is environmentally friendly, some people are keen on promoting the use of other types of oil. However, there is no other oil plant that can produce around 40 kg of oil as palm oil does. Besides that, the physical characteristics of palm oil make it an essential ingredient in the production of a wide range of products. Not only does it help to improve the taste of products such as chocolate or cakes, but it also provides a smooth, palatable texture. Palm oil is known to be the only oil that can withstand up to 300 degrees Celsius before reaching its boiling point. If you like fried chicken, there is no better alternative.
