1. Can the Palm Oil Industry become Sustainable?

3. What is Palm Oil and where do we use it?
Palm oil is the most widely produced edible vegetable oil in the world
85% of global exports are from Malaysia and Indonesia

4. Benefits and issues
Very high yield - eight to ten times more than other oil seeds
Properties make it great for cooking
Rural communities - employment and education
Dependence on global markets
Environmental impact
Social impact
Economic issues

6. Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
Private certification scheme set up mostly by members of the palm oil industry as well as social and environmental NGOs
8 central principles to ensure economic, environmental and social sustainability

7. Issues around the RSPO Different schemes with different effect
Some allow mixing of certified and conventional oil
Weak enforcement of criteria
Lenient around deforestation and peat land use

8. Where does change need to come from?
Consumer choice?
Business policies?
Government legislation?
International regulation?

9. Any questions?
Adam Harland, Chiara Miescher, Denitsa Rahneva