Over the years, issues such has deforestation, loss of wildlife and health concerns have given palm oil and the palm oil industry an unfavourable reputation. However, in the last decade, vast efforts have been made to align palm oil production with global concerns, making oil palm cultivation one of the more sustainable and economically viable crops available.
According to Harvard nutrition experts, palm oil is better than high trans-fat shortenings and probably a better choice than butter. Some studies have even shown that palm oil can help reduce the risk factors for heart disease and aid in brain functioning. Palm oil is also high in tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E that act like antioxidants.
The impact of palm oil cultivation and processing solely depends on agricultural and industry practices, as it is for any crop. In recent years, most high-volume crops have come under the microscope not due to the nature of the crop, but rather due to poor farming, harvesting and processing practices. Prioritising sustainability and environmental responsibility is the only way to address these issues, as is being done for oil palm cultivation in Sri Lanka.
As a country impacted by a deficit in edible vegetal oils that is reliant on palm oil imports, the local economy can be strengthened with the expansion of sustainable palm oil production. Cultivating oil palm is also considered a less labour-intensive process, where workers and their families can not only earn a higher income, but also be able to enjoy a higher standard of living.
Sri Lanka is fortunate to be in a position to create a strong regulatory framework around oil palm cultivation and palm oil production. Currently, there are multiple safeguards in place to ensure environmental responsibility, sustainability and minimising impact on other crops such as rubber. We support the continued development of policy that takes into consideration all these important factors.
We are committed to working with all key agricultural industry stakeholders to ensure growth through inter industry harmony, collaboration and knowledge sharing. Crop diversification does not mean crop replacement - rather, it is complementing cultivations with variety. Diversifying crops, when done in a well-planned, strategic manner, benefits thr agricultural industry as a whole, and the introduction of oil palm cultivations to otherwise unusable land is an opportunity for growers to widen their horizons.
One of the POIA’s main goals is to improve the level of expertise available within the industry, in terms of agronomic practices, processing methods, technology and know-how. By promoting the utilisation of researched, tried and tested approaches used worldwide, the local industry would be in par with global competitors in terms of quality and sustainability.
In the palm oil supply chain, traceability means we are able to trace palm oil products back to its origin, making sure that palm oil is legally sourced and produced in an environmentally friendly manner. We advocate for the use of new industry standard protocols and modern technology, which have proven effective in this area.
We are dedicated to upholding the highest standards, not only in terms of certified quality but also in the area of compliance. Industry certifications enhance the value of sustainable palm oil, supported by strict adherence to regulation and certification standards.