American Academicians See 'Heroic Role' For Palm Oil

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- Palm oil’s versatility, nutrient profile, and sustainable potential make it an essential yet often underappreciated resource, according to two academicians from the United States.

Fellow in the American Society for Nutrition Dr Roger Clemens and University of Maine Professor of Social Sciences in Medicine Dr Peter Pressman said with continued progress in sustainable practices, palm oil can meaningfully contribute to global health and development goals as advanced by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Palm oil occupies a unique and significant position in the broader context of global food security and environmental sustainability. While concerns about dietary fats and ecological impacts are valid, they must be addressed through evidence-based discussions that recognise both the challenges and the solutions.

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“We advocate for balanced, science-based perspectives that consider palm oil’s nutritional value, its evolving environmental practices, and its socio-economic contributions,” they said in a statement today titled “A Heroic Role For Palm Oil.”

The academicians also urge the Malaysian oil palm industry to assert its leadership and move toward more sustainable practices.

“The sustainability of palm oil production has significantly improved over recent years, largely due to initiatives by the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and efforts from producers to reduce its environmental impact. Thus, the palm oil industry is also making strides in waste-to-energy projects, utilising by-products like empty fruit bunches and palm kernel shells for fertiliser and energy generation, further lowering waste and greenhouse gas emissions,” they added. 

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They also contended that the economic empowerment among smallholders in palm oil will lead to improved access to education and healthcare while raising the quality of life in rural communities.

In Malaysia, the palm oil industry supports more than 450,000 small farmers, a significant driver of rural development and contributing to approximately 30-40 per cent of oil palm cultivation in the country. 

-- BERNAMA