PALM OIL: ESSENTIALITY TO THE ECOSYSTEM, HEALTH AND ECONOMIC
Palm oil is a versatile and widely used vegetable oil that has become an essential ingredient in various industries, from food production to cosmetics. However, its cultivation and production have also sparked debates about environmental sustainability. In this blog post, we’ll explore what palm oil is, its uses and benefits, the controversy surrounding its production, and what sustainable palm oil options look like. What is Palm Oil? Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil extracted from the fruit of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis). Native to West Africa, the oil palm tree is now cultivated primarily in tropical regions, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia, which account for over 85% of the world’s palm oil supply. The oil is derived from the fruit's flesh (crude palm oil) and the kernel (palm kernel oil), each having slightly different properties that make them valuable for various applications. Types of Palm Oil 1. Crude Palm Oil (CPO): Extracted from the fruit's flesh...