Palm Oil industry in Malaysia. Is it sustainable ?

 - Most of us cook our food using vegetable oil where the source mainly comes from palm oil, soy based & rapeseed.

- Malaysia and Indonesia are the top two world largest palm oil producers accounting for 85% or 42 million tonnes of the total world production last year

- According to the latest report:  "Malaysia is expected to run out of suitable land for new oil palm plantations in the next three to four years, while Indonesia will have another 10 to 12 years for the crop's acreage expansion"

- The palm tree in only plantable within the equator band

- With mature palm trees in Malaysia today will also reduce production level. Replanting is costly and will take time to get reach the optimum yield.

- In the context of sustainability of this industry: People, Planet and Prosperity, SD raises the following concern:

PEOPLE: Will we have enough fruit harvesters in our local plantation given the fact that majority of the plantation workers are Indonesians?

PLANET: Will we focus on Replanting or expansion growth outside Malaysia ?

PROSPERITY: The industry contributes at least 5 % of National GDP and employs more than 1.4 million people in the industry.  Should we now make a concerted effort in terms of moving up the value chain (e.g. downstream business & biofuel) in the industry.  This is all about the concept of having less (land) and getting more (value).  

Start ACTING now or we will be having more olive oil in our local delicacies instead :)