The truth about palm oil deforestation

Nowadays we can have access to information with a couple of clicks. If we want to research about a particular topic, the Internet is a great ally, isn’t it? Well, this is not always the case. There is a lot of misinformation about palm oil deforestation . This high-yielding oleaginous crop is proving to be useful in the production of a wide variety of products. This versatility makes it a target for companies producing other types of oil. Many of these companies use the internet to spread misinformation about palm oil deforestation. The reality is that the sector responsible for growing, producing and distributing palm oil is very well organized and regulated under the strictest quality standards. All this is done with the intention of protecting the environment while developing sustainable crops.

The numbers don’t lie

Despite being a high demand crop, palm oil deforestation only stands at 5{01386b8378a02f551055a88d57b0b2f7f54dd8fd5e1062d6ef58fab8af21b2a4} in tropical areas, according to FAO. Globally, this value represents only 2.3{01386b8378a02f551055a88d57b0b2f7f54dd8fd5e1062d6ef58fab8af21b2a4} according to The European Commission. These low numbers are due to the fact that many farmers have shifted from growing crops such as coffee or rubber to palm trees. They can produce up to 10 times more than with other crops. Same amount of land planted but with better yields. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) have highlighted that during the last few years palm oil deforestation has been on a downward trend. This has been the result of agreements between NGOs, producers, companies and governments to achieve sustainable palm oil production.

Committed to the environment and development

More and more companies and influencers are recognizing the efforts made by NGOs, the private sector and governments to mitigate palm oil deforestation. And they are succeeding. This oil has become an essential part of the economy of many productive sectors. Not only for farmers and producers. Companies that use palm oil in the manufacture of their products are also part of this initiative. Even more and more consumers are concerned about supporting those companies that only use certified palm oil. All efforts add up to the same cause. The goal is to reduce palm oil deforestation to zero. More and more small farmers are joining this initiative. In return, they receive advice on how to improve their crop yields. It is a win-win situation. Join this initiative!