Oil Palm Plantations

Oil Palm: Affordability and Versatility

• Oil palm production is driven by its affordability, abundance, and versatility.
• Its affordability benefits producers (farmers) due to its low cost.
• The abundance of oil palm is attributed to its year-round growth in tropical climates.
• Oil palm's versatility is demonstrated by its use in various products, including food, cosmetics, cleaning agents, and biofuels.
• In 2014, oil palm accounted for approximately 33% of global oil production from oil crops.

Environmental Impacts of Oil Palm Production

• Oil palm production has significant environmental impacts, primarily deforestation.
• Large-scale deforestation occurs to create space for oil palm plantations.
• The burning of forests for plantation development contributes to haze, causing severe health issues.
• In 2003, oil palm plantations covered around 1 million hectares of Kalimantan, illustrating the scale of land conversion.
• Oil palm contributes to deforestation on a global scale, accounting for approximately 2.3% of global deforestation and 5% of tropical deforestation.