Palm Oil News. August 2023
CSPO Watch
For all the news on the global palm oil industry. August 2023
Makin' it easy for you to monitor developments in the palm oil industry
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August 31, 2023
Malaysia targets B30 mandate for heavy vehicles by 2030
Malaysia will target 30pc biodiesel blending (B30) in heavy land vehicles by 2030 when palm oil-gasoil spreads are projected to be economically viable, according to the country's national energy transition roadmap (NETR) released on 29 August.
Putrajaya, the government's administrative centre south of the capital Kuala Lumpur, seeks to do a "comprehensive review" of the biodiesel blending programme to ensure the blending rate is achievable with a B30 mandate by 2030, while aiming to increase biorefinery capacity to 3.5bn litres and biomass and biogas power generation capacity to 1.4GW by 2050, the roadmap document said.
The NETR will focus on two key segments of Malaysia's bioenergy potential — agriculture-based bioenergy and waste-based bioenergy such as used cooking oil (UCO).
Malaysia will explore bamboo as a bioenergy feedstock while also supporting research for agriculture-based bioenergy, while developing third-generation bioenergy from algae.
The world's second largest palm oil producer will also strive to improve acceptance of palm derivatives such as crude palm oil and palm oil mill effluent (Pome) oil. The combined bioenergy generation potential of palm oil related residue is at 2,850 MW, the report said.
The country would target scaling up UCO collection by increasing collection facilities, with state-owned energy firm Petronas already having started a UCO collection pilot at its gasoline stations.
Malaysia is expected to produce 240,000 t/yr of UCO by 2030, according to the roadmap document.
SAF blending mandate
Malaysia will also first seek to establish a 1pc sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending mandate while obtaining SAF certification from international bodies, with the mandate rising to 47pc by 2050.
Putrajaya has identified hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) as the frontrunner technical pathway for SAF output in the near term, with Petronas signing an agreement with the Malaysia Palm Oil Board on 14 August to study all types of palm wastes for SAF and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) production.
The state-owned refiner's upcoming biorefinery at the Pengerang integrated complex will be able to produce SAF, with completion targeted by 2026.
Malaysia also expects alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) and gasification-integrated Fischer-Tropsch (GFT) technologies to play a big role in long-term SAF production, the roadmap document said.
Neighbouring country Indonesia's state-owned energy firm Pertamina has also begun trialling the utilisation of SAF in its jet engines. Argus Media
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The EU's deforestation law was cheered here. Brazilian experts and farmers are skeptical
The new EU law to ban imports of products that drive deforestation has been cheered by people across the continent but on the other side of the Atlantic, fears are growing it will disproportionately impact small farmers and lead to deforestation in less protected areas.
The EU deforestation law, which secured its final green light in May, will require producers of cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy, rubber and wood to provide proof that their supply chain is entirely free of deforestation.
Getting to know where the products we consume come from, and making sure that their entire supply chain is free from deforestation, is currently a top priority for many consumers. According to a survey conducted by Globescan in 2022, 78% of Europeans believe that governments should ban products that drive deforestation.
But fears are that the new technological requirements for exportation will place an additional financial burden on small-scale producers, which are often more sustainable than larger farmers, to demonstrate their environmental standards. In the end, it might be easier for them to just stop exporting their production to Europe at all.
But, according to farmers and experts, the impact of the rule is not just political. They argue that there is a risk of social impact if the law imposes barriers that only large-scale farmers can adapt to.
How are you going to demand this level of traceability if you don't provide conditions for production to be regularised? Farmers need technical support for both identifying the bottlenecks and for regularising their supply chain. They need a kind of assistance that doesn't exist today, and small-scale farms will certainly be the most affected," said Caio Penido, producer and president of Instituto Mato-grossense da Carne (Imac), which represents cattle farmers from Mato Grosso, the largest beef-producing state in the country.
Even among Brazilian environmentalists the new deforestation law is under scrutiny. Olívia Benin, who is part of a scientific non-profit that works with public policies to protect Brazilian ecosystems, believes that the new guidelines are a step in the right direction, but should have been built collectively with the countries most affected. How are you going to demand this level of traceability if you don't provide conditions for production to be regularised? Farmers need technical support for both identifying the bottlenecks and for regularising their supply chain. They need a kind of assistance that doesn't exist today, and small-scale farms will certainly be the most affected," said Caio Penido, producer and president of Instituto Mato-grossense da Carne (Imac), which represents cattle farmers from Mato Grosso, the largest beef-producing state in the country.
Even among Brazilian environmentalists the new deforestation law is under scrutiny. Olívia Benin, who is part of a scientific non-profit that works with public policies to protect Brazilian ecosystems, believes that the new guidelines are a step in the right direction, but should have been built collectively with the countries most affected. How are you going to demand this level of traceability if you don't provide conditions for production to be regularised? Farmers need technical support for both identifying the bottlenecks and for regularising their supply chain. They need a kind of assistance that doesn't exist today, and small-scale farms will certainly be the most affected," said Caio Penido, producer and president of Instituto Mato-grossense da Carne (Imac), which represents cattle farmers from Mato Grosso, the largest beef-producing state in the country.
Even among Brazilian environmentalists the new deforestation law is under scrutiny. Olívia Benin, who is part of a scientific non-profit that works with public policies to protect Brazilian ecosystems, believes that the new guidelines are a step in the right direction, but should have been built collectively with the countries most affected. Patricia Figueiredo/ EURONEWS
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Indonesia Invites 19 Countries to Join a Common Protest Against Anti-Deforestation Law Policy
Jakarta -Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) said the Indonesian government had invited other countries, one of which was Malaysia, to join in protesting against European Union policies. That policy is the Anti-Deforestation Law (UU) or the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
Zulhas explained, previously Indonesia had invited as many as 14 countries to voice protests. Currently, the government is preparing a second letter of protest and invites as many as 19 countries.
"Indonesia has also raised this issue together with other WTO members in various WTI committees. We are with Malaysia. Indonesia also shared a position with other countries before we initiated an initiative signed by 14 countries regarding objections to European Union policies," he explained in the opening of the discussion 'Against the Law' European Union Anti-Deforestation', Tuesday (1/8/2023).
"Currently we are compiling a second letter with 19 other countries. Our target is to get as much as possible to strengthen Indonesia's position," he explained.
Zulhas said he had received a direct mandate from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to continue to fight against European Union policies. Because this Anti-Deforestation policy also concerns the impact on small farmers in Indonesia.
"This policy has the potential to hinder trade of US$ 6 million and harm farmers. Indonesian exports to the European Union are worth nearly US$ 7.2, covering nearly 8 million small farmers. The struggle is not easy, but we continue to make efforts including protecting farmers," he concluded.
For information, the Anti-Deforestation Law (UU) or the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is the implementation of the EU's commitment to mitigating climate change.
This policy aims to ensure that products entering the EU do not cause deforestation. There are seven commodities regulated in the EU Anti-Deforestation Law, namely palm oil, coffee, meat, wood, cocoa, soybeans, and rubber.
So these commodities are Indonesian products and are often exported abroad, especially the European Union. Hence, the existence of an Anti-Deforestation Law policy is considered to disrupt Indonesian trade. Detik Finance
Malaysia targets B30 mandate for heavy vehicles by 2030
Malaysia will target 30pc biodiesel blending (B30) in heavy land vehicles by 2030 when palm oil-gasoil spreads are projected to be economically viable, according to the country's national energy transition roadmap (NETR) released on 29 August.
Putrajaya, the government's administrative centre south of the capital Kuala Lumpur, seeks to do a "comprehensive review" of the biodiesel blending programme to ensure the blending rate is achievable with a B30 mandate by 2030, while aiming to increase biorefinery capacity to 3.5bn litres and biomass and biogas power generation capacity to 1.4GW by 2050, the roadmap document said.
The NETR will focus on two key segments of Malaysia's bioenergy potential — agriculture-based bioenergy and waste-based bioenergy such as used cooking oil (UCO).
Malaysia will explore bamboo as a bioenergy feedstock while also supporting research for agriculture-based bioenergy, while developing third-generation bioenergy from algae.
The world's second largest palm oil producer will also strive to improve acceptance of palm derivatives such as crude palm oil and palm oil mill effluent (Pome) oil. The combined bioenergy generation potential of palm oil related residue is at 2,850 MW, the report said.
The country would target scaling up UCO collection by increasing collection facilities, with state-owned energy firm Petronas already having started a UCO collection pilot at its gasoline stations.
Malaysia is expected to produce 240,000 t/yr of UCO by 2030, according to the roadmap document.
SAF blending mandate
Malaysia will also first seek to establish a 1pc sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending mandate while obtaining SAF certification from international bodies, with the mandate rising to 47pc by 2050.
Putrajaya has identified hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) as the frontrunner technical pathway for SAF output in the near term, with Petronas signing an agreement with the Malaysia Palm Oil Board on 14 August to study all types of palm wastes for SAF and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) production.
The state-owned refiner's upcoming biorefinery at the Pengerang integrated complex will be able to produce SAF, with completion targeted by 2026.
Malaysia also expects alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) and gasification-integrated Fischer-Tropsch (GFT) technologies to play a big role in long-term SAF production, the roadmap document said.
Neighbouring country Indonesia's state-owned energy firm Pertamina has also begun trialling the utilisation of SAF in its jet engines. Argus Media
---------
The EU's deforestation law was cheered here. Brazilian experts and farmers are skeptical
The new EU law to ban imports of products that drive deforestation has been cheered by people across the continent but on the other side of the Atlantic, fears are growing it will disproportionately impact small farmers and lead to deforestation in less protected areas.
The EU deforestation law, which secured its final green light in May, will require producers of cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy, rubber and wood to provide proof that their supply chain is entirely free of deforestation.
Getting to know where the products we consume come from, and making sure that their entire supply chain is free from deforestation, is currently a top priority for many consumers. According to a survey conducted by Globescan in 2022, 78% of Europeans believe that governments should ban products that drive deforestation.
But fears are that the new technological requirements for exportation will place an additional financial burden on small-scale producers, which are often more sustainable than larger farmers, to demonstrate their environmental standards. In the end, it might be easier for them to just stop exporting their production to Europe at all.
But, according to farmers and experts, the impact of the rule is not just political. They argue that there is a risk of social impact if the law imposes barriers that only large-scale farmers can adapt to.
How are you going to demand this level of traceability if you don't provide conditions for production to be regularised? Farmers need technical support for both identifying the bottlenecks and for regularising their supply chain. They need a kind of assistance that doesn't exist today, and small-scale farms will certainly be the most affected," said Caio Penido, producer and president of Instituto Mato-grossense da Carne (Imac), which represents cattle farmers from Mato Grosso, the largest beef-producing state in the country.
Even among Brazilian environmentalists the new deforestation law is under scrutiny. Olívia Benin, who is part of a scientific non-profit that works with public policies to protect Brazilian ecosystems, believes that the new guidelines are a step in the right direction, but should have been built collectively with the countries most affected. How are you going to demand this level of traceability if you don't provide conditions for production to be regularised? Farmers need technical support for both identifying the bottlenecks and for regularising their supply chain. They need a kind of assistance that doesn't exist today, and small-scale farms will certainly be the most affected," said Caio Penido, producer and president of Instituto Mato-grossense da Carne (Imac), which represents cattle farmers from Mato Grosso, the largest beef-producing state in the country.
Even among Brazilian environmentalists the new deforestation law is under scrutiny. Olívia Benin, who is part of a scientific non-profit that works with public policies to protect Brazilian ecosystems, believes that the new guidelines are a step in the right direction, but should have been built collectively with the countries most affected. How are you going to demand this level of traceability if you don't provide conditions for production to be regularised? Farmers need technical support for both identifying the bottlenecks and for regularising their supply chain. They need a kind of assistance that doesn't exist today, and small-scale farms will certainly be the most affected," said Caio Penido, producer and president of Instituto Mato-grossense da Carne (Imac), which represents cattle farmers from Mato Grosso, the largest beef-producing state in the country.
Even among Brazilian environmentalists the new deforestation law is under scrutiny. Olívia Benin, who is part of a scientific non-profit that works with public policies to protect Brazilian ecosystems, believes that the new guidelines are a step in the right direction, but should have been built collectively with the countries most affected. Patricia Figueiredo/ EURONEWS
---------
Indonesia Invites 19 Countries to Join a Common Protest Against Anti-Deforestation Law Policy
Jakarta -Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) said the Indonesian government had invited other countries, one of which was Malaysia, to join in protesting against European Union policies. That policy is the Anti-Deforestation Law (UU) or the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
Zulhas explained, previously Indonesia had invited as many as 14 countries to voice protests. Currently, the government is preparing a second letter of protest and invites as many as 19 countries.
"Indonesia has also raised this issue together with other WTO members in various WTI committees. We are with Malaysia. Indonesia also shared a position with other countries before we initiated an initiative signed by 14 countries regarding objections to European Union policies," he explained in the opening of the discussion 'Against the Law' European Union Anti-Deforestation', Tuesday (1/8/2023).
"Currently we are compiling a second letter with 19 other countries. Our target is to get as much as possible to strengthen Indonesia's position," he explained.
Zulhas said he had received a direct mandate from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to continue to fight against European Union policies. Because this Anti-Deforestation policy also concerns the impact on small farmers in Indonesia.
"This policy has the potential to hinder trade of US$ 6 million and harm farmers. Indonesian exports to the European Union are worth nearly US$ 7.2, covering nearly 8 million small farmers. The struggle is not easy, but we continue to make efforts including protecting farmers," he concluded.
For information, the Anti-Deforestation Law (UU) or the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is the implementation of the EU's commitment to mitigating climate change.
This policy aims to ensure that products entering the EU do not cause deforestation. There are seven commodities regulated in the EU Anti-Deforestation Law, namely palm oil, coffee, meat, wood, cocoa, soybeans, and rubber.
So these commodities are Indonesian products and are often exported abroad, especially the European Union. Hence, the existence of an Anti-Deforestation Law policy is considered to disrupt Indonesian trade. Detik Finance
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August 30, 2023
Malaysia to power green energy projects with US$430 million fund in ‘decade of action’
Malaysia, which gets year-round sunlight, sees potential to be a leading producer of renewable energy in the region
The amount is a blip of the 1.2 trillion ringgit (US$260 billion) that Anwar said Malaysia needs to invest by 2050 for its energy transition master plan
Oil-rich Malaysia will establish a US$430 million seed fund for its ambitious plan to turn energy transition into the country’s next growth generator, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday, in a “decade of action” to meet climate targets while creating new jobs.
With an economy that is largely driven by its depleting oil and gas industry, the Southeast Asian country is also blessed with a year-round sun and other natural resources, which means it now sees potential to be a leading renewable energy producer in the region.
The seed fund is aimed at providing financial resources to private and state energy transition projects that would otherwise yield below-market returns. SCMP
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UK-‘Cut tax on clean fuels’, say hauliers and climate campaigners
More than 30 industry leaders and environmental campaigners have today urged ministers to cut duties on clean replacements for diesel.
In a letter to the UK Transport Minister Jesse Norman, they cite the “urgent imperative” to reduce harmful pollutants, with 1 in 20 deaths across the UK directly attributed to poor air quality.
The UK transport was responsible for 27% of all emissions last year but advanced biofuels could cut greenhouse gas emissions from the sector by up to 90%.
Led by one of the UK’s largest sustainable fuels suppliers, Green Biofuels, the letter argues price reductions in renewable diesel fuel can be achieved at no cost to the taxpayer, with consumers encouraged to switch to sustainable alternatives by creating price parity with diesel.
Signatories of support come from leading figures in firms such as infrastructure contractor Skanska and hauliers JW Suckling Transport Limited as well as from clean air campaigner and CEO of Enjoy the Air, Kate Barnard, and environmental campaigner, Dominic Dyer.
They write: “while some incentives do exist in the UK, these do not achieve price parity with diesel. As such, we believe your department, in collaboration with the Treasury, should look at reducing duties and creating tax incentives to catalyse the switch to renewable diesel.” Biofuels News
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Sime Darby Plantation : Sabah Rural Electrification Initiative wins 2023 ASEAN Energy Awards
Sabah Rural Electrification Initiative wins 2023 ASEAN Energy Awards
Petaling Jaya, 30 August 2023 - Sime Darby Plantation Renewable Energy Sdn Bhd (SDPRE) is the 2nd Runner Up in the prestigious ASEAN Energy Awards (AEA). The category of the award was Renewable Energy - On-Grid.
The recognition was accorded to SDPRE's successful rural electrification project called, 'Captive Power and Rural Community Electrification via Renewable Energy Sourcing from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), at the Sandakan Bay Biogas Power Plant (SBBPP)'. SDPRE is a fully owned subsidiary of Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP).
POME, a wastewater by-product of the palm oil milling process emits methane, a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) which has 27 times higher global warming potential of carbon dioxide. SBBPP captures methane from POME and converts it into biogas, a renewable source of energy that generates electricity. With its strong 1 MWe capacity, the electricity generated by SBBPP is distributed to essential points of SDP's palm oil operations in Sandakan Bay including the workers' quarters and approximately 825 houses in the surrounding local community, meeting about 4 million kWh/year demand. These housing areas are remote, and they do not have the access to the grid connection.
SDPRE was selected to represent Malaysia in the AEA 2023 after winning the National Energy Awards (NEA) 2023 organised by Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) back on 17 August 2023. The NEA serves as a platform to acknowledge exceptional accomplishments and exemplary practices from both the public and private sectors, recognising their contributions to advancing the nation's sustainable energy goals.
Head of Sime Darby Plantation Renewable Energy, Dr Hirzun Mohd Yusof said the company was deeply honoured to receive the accolade from the ASEAN Energy Awards. Market Screener/ Sime Darby Plantations
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Press Release-OCHO SUR RECEIVES ‘CARBON MEASURED’ CERTIFICATION: LEADING THE WAY IN SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL WITH GREEN INITIATIVE
A LANDMARK IN SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL
Ocho Sur, a company dedicated to sustainable palm oil production in Ucayali, has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining the international certification “Carbon Measured” from Green Initiative. The certification process completed by Ocho Sur complies with the international standards promoted by the United Nations, ensuring consistency and transparency in the measurement of the company’s carbon footprint and its commitment to sustainable development.
“The Carbon Measured certification from Green Initiative acknowledges that Ocho Sur has conducted a comprehensive measurement of all greenhouse gas emissions throughout its value chain,” stated Michael Spoor, CEO of Ocho Sur. It is essential for organizations to measure their carbon footprint, as this allows them to identify mitigation measures and establish action plans to achieve carbon neutrality. This initiative drives the company to develop a new generation of products with low carbon emissions or climate-smart attributes, thereby enhancing its market positioning and fostering innovation. Furthermore, it commits the company to accelerate the decarbonization of its activities and to protect local ecosystems in Pucallpa. The work carried out enabled Ocho Sur to strike a balance between generated emissions and emissions captured in its plantations, climate providing the company with a holistic perspective on mitigation opportunities and positive impact. EINNEWS
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Trade strengthening institutions and tourism after conflict in Liberia
KEY RESULTS
The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) provided support to Liberia’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) to coordinate trade-related programmes and develop new projects. This support included facilitating the long-term secondment of trade policy experts to support the country’s World Trade Organization (WTO) accession process.
The EIF also supported the quality enhancement and systematization of processes around stakeholder dialogue on trade-related issues across the public sector, donor community, the private sector and civil society.
The EIF worked with Liberia on institutional capacity‑building, as the Government of Liberia gained self-sustainability to attract donors and design projects inspired by EIF-funded projects in tourism, palm oil and e-commerce.
In partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), EIF support tapped into the significant potential of Liberia's tourism sector, spurring the development of crucial tourism infrastructure, such as in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County.
Liberia, a small West African country, is home to 5.2 million people and shares borders with Sierra Leone, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire. It boasts abundant natural assets, including vast forests, coastlines, mineral resources and a rich cultural heritage. However, years of civil conflict between 1990 and 2003 eroded the country’s infrastructure and left more than 150,000 people dead. Hundreds of thousands of others were displaced to neighbouring countries. A peace deal brokered by the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) marked the end of the civil war in 2003. Trade4Dev
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PepsiCo returns to Indonesia, breaks ground for snack factory
CIKARANG, Indonesia, Aug 30 (Reuters) - U.S. food and beverage maker PepsiCo (PEP.O) began building a snack factory in Indonesia's West Java on Wednesday, marking its return to Southeast Asia's largest economy after splitting with a local partner two years ago.
The factory, part of PepsiCo's $200 million commitment to invest in Indonesia over a 10-year period, is expected to start producing snacks by 2025.
PepsiCo's affiliate Fritolay Netherlands Holding B.V. and Indofood CBP (ICBP.JK), a unit of Indonesia's largest food company Indofood Group, ended a 30-year joint venture in 2021 without providing any reason, when Indofood bought PepsiCo's minority stake.
The JV at the time had manufactured a range of snacks under brands like Lay's, Cheetos and Doritos.
Building the new factory without a local partner, PepsiCo pledged to source most raw materials for its snacks, including corn and palm oil, from sustainable sources and to use renewable power sources. Reuters
Malaysia to power green energy projects with US$430 million fund in ‘decade of action’
Malaysia, which gets year-round sunlight, sees potential to be a leading producer of renewable energy in the region
The amount is a blip of the 1.2 trillion ringgit (US$260 billion) that Anwar said Malaysia needs to invest by 2050 for its energy transition master plan
Oil-rich Malaysia will establish a US$430 million seed fund for its ambitious plan to turn energy transition into the country’s next growth generator, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday, in a “decade of action” to meet climate targets while creating new jobs.
With an economy that is largely driven by its depleting oil and gas industry, the Southeast Asian country is also blessed with a year-round sun and other natural resources, which means it now sees potential to be a leading renewable energy producer in the region.
The seed fund is aimed at providing financial resources to private and state energy transition projects that would otherwise yield below-market returns. SCMP
---------
UK-‘Cut tax on clean fuels’, say hauliers and climate campaigners
More than 30 industry leaders and environmental campaigners have today urged ministers to cut duties on clean replacements for diesel.
In a letter to the UK Transport Minister Jesse Norman, they cite the “urgent imperative” to reduce harmful pollutants, with 1 in 20 deaths across the UK directly attributed to poor air quality.
The UK transport was responsible for 27% of all emissions last year but advanced biofuels could cut greenhouse gas emissions from the sector by up to 90%.
Led by one of the UK’s largest sustainable fuels suppliers, Green Biofuels, the letter argues price reductions in renewable diesel fuel can be achieved at no cost to the taxpayer, with consumers encouraged to switch to sustainable alternatives by creating price parity with diesel.
Signatories of support come from leading figures in firms such as infrastructure contractor Skanska and hauliers JW Suckling Transport Limited as well as from clean air campaigner and CEO of Enjoy the Air, Kate Barnard, and environmental campaigner, Dominic Dyer.
They write: “while some incentives do exist in the UK, these do not achieve price parity with diesel. As such, we believe your department, in collaboration with the Treasury, should look at reducing duties and creating tax incentives to catalyse the switch to renewable diesel.” Biofuels News
---------
Sime Darby Plantation : Sabah Rural Electrification Initiative wins 2023 ASEAN Energy Awards
Sabah Rural Electrification Initiative wins 2023 ASEAN Energy Awards
Petaling Jaya, 30 August 2023 - Sime Darby Plantation Renewable Energy Sdn Bhd (SDPRE) is the 2nd Runner Up in the prestigious ASEAN Energy Awards (AEA). The category of the award was Renewable Energy - On-Grid.
The recognition was accorded to SDPRE's successful rural electrification project called, 'Captive Power and Rural Community Electrification via Renewable Energy Sourcing from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), at the Sandakan Bay Biogas Power Plant (SBBPP)'. SDPRE is a fully owned subsidiary of Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP).
POME, a wastewater by-product of the palm oil milling process emits methane, a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) which has 27 times higher global warming potential of carbon dioxide. SBBPP captures methane from POME and converts it into biogas, a renewable source of energy that generates electricity. With its strong 1 MWe capacity, the electricity generated by SBBPP is distributed to essential points of SDP's palm oil operations in Sandakan Bay including the workers' quarters and approximately 825 houses in the surrounding local community, meeting about 4 million kWh/year demand. These housing areas are remote, and they do not have the access to the grid connection.
SDPRE was selected to represent Malaysia in the AEA 2023 after winning the National Energy Awards (NEA) 2023 organised by Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) back on 17 August 2023. The NEA serves as a platform to acknowledge exceptional accomplishments and exemplary practices from both the public and private sectors, recognising their contributions to advancing the nation's sustainable energy goals.
Head of Sime Darby Plantation Renewable Energy, Dr Hirzun Mohd Yusof said the company was deeply honoured to receive the accolade from the ASEAN Energy Awards. Market Screener/ Sime Darby Plantations
---------
Press Release-OCHO SUR RECEIVES ‘CARBON MEASURED’ CERTIFICATION: LEADING THE WAY IN SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL WITH GREEN INITIATIVE
A LANDMARK IN SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL
Ocho Sur, a company dedicated to sustainable palm oil production in Ucayali, has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining the international certification “Carbon Measured” from Green Initiative. The certification process completed by Ocho Sur complies with the international standards promoted by the United Nations, ensuring consistency and transparency in the measurement of the company’s carbon footprint and its commitment to sustainable development.
“The Carbon Measured certification from Green Initiative acknowledges that Ocho Sur has conducted a comprehensive measurement of all greenhouse gas emissions throughout its value chain,” stated Michael Spoor, CEO of Ocho Sur. It is essential for organizations to measure their carbon footprint, as this allows them to identify mitigation measures and establish action plans to achieve carbon neutrality. This initiative drives the company to develop a new generation of products with low carbon emissions or climate-smart attributes, thereby enhancing its market positioning and fostering innovation. Furthermore, it commits the company to accelerate the decarbonization of its activities and to protect local ecosystems in Pucallpa. The work carried out enabled Ocho Sur to strike a balance between generated emissions and emissions captured in its plantations, climate providing the company with a holistic perspective on mitigation opportunities and positive impact. EINNEWS
---------
Trade strengthening institutions and tourism after conflict in Liberia
KEY RESULTS
The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) provided support to Liberia’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) to coordinate trade-related programmes and develop new projects. This support included facilitating the long-term secondment of trade policy experts to support the country’s World Trade Organization (WTO) accession process.
The EIF also supported the quality enhancement and systematization of processes around stakeholder dialogue on trade-related issues across the public sector, donor community, the private sector and civil society.
The EIF worked with Liberia on institutional capacity‑building, as the Government of Liberia gained self-sustainability to attract donors and design projects inspired by EIF-funded projects in tourism, palm oil and e-commerce.
In partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), EIF support tapped into the significant potential of Liberia's tourism sector, spurring the development of crucial tourism infrastructure, such as in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County.
Liberia, a small West African country, is home to 5.2 million people and shares borders with Sierra Leone, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire. It boasts abundant natural assets, including vast forests, coastlines, mineral resources and a rich cultural heritage. However, years of civil conflict between 1990 and 2003 eroded the country’s infrastructure and left more than 150,000 people dead. Hundreds of thousands of others were displaced to neighbouring countries. A peace deal brokered by the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) marked the end of the civil war in 2003. Trade4Dev
----------
PepsiCo returns to Indonesia, breaks ground for snack factory
CIKARANG, Indonesia, Aug 30 (Reuters) - U.S. food and beverage maker PepsiCo (PEP.O) began building a snack factory in Indonesia's West Java on Wednesday, marking its return to Southeast Asia's largest economy after splitting with a local partner two years ago.
The factory, part of PepsiCo's $200 million commitment to invest in Indonesia over a 10-year period, is expected to start producing snacks by 2025.
PepsiCo's affiliate Fritolay Netherlands Holding B.V. and Indofood CBP (ICBP.JK), a unit of Indonesia's largest food company Indofood Group, ended a 30-year joint venture in 2021 without providing any reason, when Indofood bought PepsiCo's minority stake.
The JV at the time had manufactured a range of snacks under brands like Lay's, Cheetos and Doritos.
Building the new factory without a local partner, PepsiCo pledged to source most raw materials for its snacks, including corn and palm oil, from sustainable sources and to use renewable power sources. Reuters
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August 29, 2023
Indonesia Hopes Croatia will open door to CPO exports to EU: DPR
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), Lodewijk F. Paulus, has expressed the hope that Croatia will become an entry point for Indonesia's crude palm oil (CPO) exports into the European Union (EU).
"We still have problems with our CPO to enter the EU. Croatia, with its modern seaports, is expected to be our entrance," Paulus said after receiving a courtesy visit from a Croatian Parliament delegation here on Monday.
He said he hopes that Croatia, through its seaports, could become Indonesia's door to export its CPO products to central and eastern Europe.
Indonesia and Croatia established diplomatic relations in 1992.
Although it is a small country in Europe, Croatia has three modern ports, making it a strategic partner in the Balkan region, Paulus said.
"There is no reason for the EU to ban us because we have received their recognition on clean energy. Of course, bilateral relations must be profitable. We will see what (commodities) can be exported there," he explained. Antara News
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Nigeria-Edo State Explores Partnership with Foreign Groups to Propel Agro Sector Growth
The Edo State Government yesterday, revealed that it was making substantial strides towards propelling its agro-sector economy to new heights, focusing on heightened productivity and sustainable practices.
It said the commitment had garnered the attention and support of vital development partners, all aligned with the state’s core objective of cultivating the sector’s growth while ensuring its enduring viability on the global stage.
The Edo government stated this during a high-level meeting held in Benin City, the state capital, adding that key representatives from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), British High Commission Abuja, and Propcom+ gathered to deliberate on the state’s visionary agenda.
The Managing Director of Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO), Kelvin Uwaibi, who unveiled the state’s strategic partnership with international development allies on behalf of Governor Godwin Obaseki, noted that the strategic alliance was, “aimed to beckon investments, particularly in the flourishing oil palm value chain and other vital commodities, ultimately diversifying the state’s revenue streams.”
Uwaibi, who underlined the state’s multifaceted approach to the sector, spotlighting oil palm as a linchpin, however, added that Edo State recognises the strategic imperative of diversification, incorporating additional commodities like cocoa, rubber and cassava.
Other crop products, he further said like maize, rice were also being considered by the government in a move geared towards empowering smallholder farmers, facilitating quicker returns on their investments while prioritising sustainability over mere business profitability. This Day Live
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Cambodia reserves 100 mln USD for boosting agriculture
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Tuesday that the government has reserved 100 million U.S. dollars for boosting the country's agricultural sector.
"We have prepared a budget of 100 million U.S. dollars to intervene in agricultural products such as paddy rice, milled rice and vegetables," he said in a speech during a get-together with some 18,000 garment factory workers in Phnom Penh.
Hun Manet said the prices of agricultural products have fluctuated based on demands in the international market, adding that however, the budget will help stabilize the prices of agricultural products for farmers.
The budget will also be used for the improvement of the irrigation system and for training agricultural specialists, he said.
Meanwhile, the prime minister said the Cambodian government has planned to deploy agricultural officials to all communes nationwide to work directly with farmers.
Agriculture is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy. Xinhua
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Indian Solvent Extractors and Thai Oil Millers To Forge Collaboration
New Delhi, Aug 29 (KNN) The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) will sign an agreement with the Thai Palm Oil Crushing Mills Association on September 28 in Mumbai to foster cooperation between Indian importers and refiners and Thai producers and exporters of crude palm oil, reported The Hindu Businessline.
A 19-member delegation of importers and refiners led by SEA President Ajay Jhunjhunwala visited Thailand between August 23 to 27 to comprehensively study the oil palm cultivation region in Surat Thani, BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA informed.
The delegation engaged in a series of productive business-to-business meetings with prominent Thai crushers, refiners, and exporters of palm oil in Surat Thani, facilitating a deeper understanding of the capabilities of Thai producers and exporters. The itinerary also included a visit to Krabi Port, providing valuable insights into the logistics of supplying crude palm oil to India, he said.
As per reports, the SEA delegation met with senior Thai government officials, including Tamasak Wicharaya, Deputy Secretary General to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs; Burin Sukphisal, member of the Thai Palm Oil Policy Committee; and Supatra Sawaengsri, Director at the Department of International Trade Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce in Thailand.
Mehta informed that the discussions focussed on Thai government’s long-term oil palm development policies and the potential for expanded bilateral trade through increased exports of crude palm oil to India. KNN India
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Indonesia Hopes Croatia will open door to CPO exports to EU: DPR
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), Lodewijk F. Paulus, has expressed the hope that Croatia will become an entry point for Indonesia's crude palm oil (CPO) exports into the European Union (EU).
"We still have problems with our CPO to enter the EU. Croatia, with its modern seaports, is expected to be our entrance," Paulus said after receiving a courtesy visit from a Croatian Parliament delegation here on Monday.
He said he hopes that Croatia, through its seaports, could become Indonesia's door to export its CPO products to central and eastern Europe.
Indonesia and Croatia established diplomatic relations in 1992.
Although it is a small country in Europe, Croatia has three modern ports, making it a strategic partner in the Balkan region, Paulus said.
"There is no reason for the EU to ban us because we have received their recognition on clean energy. Of course, bilateral relations must be profitable. We will see what (commodities) can be exported there," he explained. Antara News
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Nigeria-Edo State Explores Partnership with Foreign Groups to Propel Agro Sector Growth
The Edo State Government yesterday, revealed that it was making substantial strides towards propelling its agro-sector economy to new heights, focusing on heightened productivity and sustainable practices.
It said the commitment had garnered the attention and support of vital development partners, all aligned with the state’s core objective of cultivating the sector’s growth while ensuring its enduring viability on the global stage.
The Edo government stated this during a high-level meeting held in Benin City, the state capital, adding that key representatives from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), British High Commission Abuja, and Propcom+ gathered to deliberate on the state’s visionary agenda.
The Managing Director of Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO), Kelvin Uwaibi, who unveiled the state’s strategic partnership with international development allies on behalf of Governor Godwin Obaseki, noted that the strategic alliance was, “aimed to beckon investments, particularly in the flourishing oil palm value chain and other vital commodities, ultimately diversifying the state’s revenue streams.”
Uwaibi, who underlined the state’s multifaceted approach to the sector, spotlighting oil palm as a linchpin, however, added that Edo State recognises the strategic imperative of diversification, incorporating additional commodities like cocoa, rubber and cassava.
Other crop products, he further said like maize, rice were also being considered by the government in a move geared towards empowering smallholder farmers, facilitating quicker returns on their investments while prioritising sustainability over mere business profitability. This Day Live
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Cambodia reserves 100 mln USD for boosting agriculture
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Tuesday that the government has reserved 100 million U.S. dollars for boosting the country's agricultural sector.
"We have prepared a budget of 100 million U.S. dollars to intervene in agricultural products such as paddy rice, milled rice and vegetables," he said in a speech during a get-together with some 18,000 garment factory workers in Phnom Penh.
Hun Manet said the prices of agricultural products have fluctuated based on demands in the international market, adding that however, the budget will help stabilize the prices of agricultural products for farmers.
The budget will also be used for the improvement of the irrigation system and for training agricultural specialists, he said.
Meanwhile, the prime minister said the Cambodian government has planned to deploy agricultural officials to all communes nationwide to work directly with farmers.
Agriculture is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy. Xinhua
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Indian Solvent Extractors and Thai Oil Millers To Forge Collaboration
New Delhi, Aug 29 (KNN) The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) will sign an agreement with the Thai Palm Oil Crushing Mills Association on September 28 in Mumbai to foster cooperation between Indian importers and refiners and Thai producers and exporters of crude palm oil, reported The Hindu Businessline.
A 19-member delegation of importers and refiners led by SEA President Ajay Jhunjhunwala visited Thailand between August 23 to 27 to comprehensively study the oil palm cultivation region in Surat Thani, BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA informed.
The delegation engaged in a series of productive business-to-business meetings with prominent Thai crushers, refiners, and exporters of palm oil in Surat Thani, facilitating a deeper understanding of the capabilities of Thai producers and exporters. The itinerary also included a visit to Krabi Port, providing valuable insights into the logistics of supplying crude palm oil to India, he said.
As per reports, the SEA delegation met with senior Thai government officials, including Tamasak Wicharaya, Deputy Secretary General to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs; Burin Sukphisal, member of the Thai Palm Oil Policy Committee; and Supatra Sawaengsri, Director at the Department of International Trade Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce in Thailand.
Mehta informed that the discussions focussed on Thai government’s long-term oil palm development policies and the potential for expanded bilateral trade through increased exports of crude palm oil to India. KNN India
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August 28, 2023
Why Europe Feels Threatened by Indonesian Biodiesel?
Summary The European Union (EU) alleges that some parties are trying to evade its import duties on biodiesel from Indonesia by sending it through other countries before entering the EU market.
The European Union (EU) has been repeatedly targeting Indonesian biodiesel with various measures. The latest one is an investigation into the alleged circumvention of import duties by Indonesian exporters.
The EU claims that Indonesia is trying to avoid paying the duties that should apply to biodiesel imports in the region. The investigation was initiated by the European Biodiesel Board, which represents the interests of European biodiesel producers. KataData
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New GMO Alert: The Slippery Slope of Synbio Palm Oil
Palm oil is ubiquitous, in part because it has a higher yield and lower cost of production than any other vegetable oil. Oil palm is primarily grown in the global south, with Malaysia and Indonesia being the largest producers. In developing countries, palm oil is primarily relied upon for use as cooking oil.
In more affluent countries, palm oil has become increasingly present in consumer products, so that today, more than half of the products sold in the U.S. contain palm oil. These include personal care products, cosmetics, detergents, and a full range of food products. And the demand is growing. According to GlobeNewsWire, the palm oil market is expected to surpass $98.8 billion by 2030.
As the use of palm oil has expanded – making the cultivation of the crop more lucrative – so have the issues surrounding its cultivation. Chief among these is the large-scale conversion of native forests to oil palm plantations, with the incumbent loss of species and diversity, loss of critical habitat, soil erosion, and the pollution of natural resources. Labor issues have also been associated with the cultivation of oil palm, including worker exploitation, child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking.
However, that being said, the increase in the use of palm oil has also had some positive impacts, including the building of rural economies, a reduction in rural poverty, and an increase in food security for rural communities. Non GMO Project
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Malaysia-Public-private partnerships can boost people’s income, says Zahid
GOVERNMENT agencies have been urged to forge cooperation and smart partnerships with the private sector and provide companies the opportunities in various fields in efforts to help increase the income of the people and the country as a whole.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said for example, agencies under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry could do so through joint ventures involving underutilised land.
“We can no longer think in silo. We have to work together, establish connections and be business-friendly… Don’t be apprehensive. Give the private sector a chance. Eventually, they will contribute to the government in the form of corporate taxes and assist in economic growth.
“This, in turn, will bring economic spillover and provide jobs for the people, especially those in the rural areas. This is a shared victory for all those involved,” he said at the opening ceremony of the palm oil biogas project of the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) in Ulu Keratong, Rompin, today. The Malaysian Insight
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Sarawak Oil Palms Bhd Foundation to focus on sustainability issues, social responsibility efforts
MIRI (Aug 27): Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOPB) announced it will be extending its dedication to sustainability issues and social responsibility efforts through its newly established SOPB Foundation.
The announcement was made during its 55th anniversary celebration dinner at Imperial Hotel here on Friday.
In a statement, it said the foundation is a testament to the organisation’s commitment to give back to society.
It aims to initiate and support projects that drive positive social, environmental, and community impact.
Also taking place at the celebration was the launch of a book entitled ‘Honouring 55 Years of Excellence: Celebrating the Heroes of Our Success’ which encapsulates the remarkable journey of the organisation from its humble beginnings to its current eminence as a leading figure in the palm oil sector. The Borneo Post
Why Europe Feels Threatened by Indonesian Biodiesel?
Summary The European Union (EU) alleges that some parties are trying to evade its import duties on biodiesel from Indonesia by sending it through other countries before entering the EU market.
- The EU has repeatedly made policies to prevent or restrict Indonesian biodiesel from entering the region.
- The EU also plans to ban all biodiesel based on palm oil (crude palm oil) by 2030, citing environmental concerns.
The European Union (EU) has been repeatedly targeting Indonesian biodiesel with various measures. The latest one is an investigation into the alleged circumvention of import duties by Indonesian exporters.
The EU claims that Indonesia is trying to avoid paying the duties that should apply to biodiesel imports in the region. The investigation was initiated by the European Biodiesel Board, which represents the interests of European biodiesel producers. KataData
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New GMO Alert: The Slippery Slope of Synbio Palm Oil
Palm oil is ubiquitous, in part because it has a higher yield and lower cost of production than any other vegetable oil. Oil palm is primarily grown in the global south, with Malaysia and Indonesia being the largest producers. In developing countries, palm oil is primarily relied upon for use as cooking oil.
In more affluent countries, palm oil has become increasingly present in consumer products, so that today, more than half of the products sold in the U.S. contain palm oil. These include personal care products, cosmetics, detergents, and a full range of food products. And the demand is growing. According to GlobeNewsWire, the palm oil market is expected to surpass $98.8 billion by 2030.
As the use of palm oil has expanded – making the cultivation of the crop more lucrative – so have the issues surrounding its cultivation. Chief among these is the large-scale conversion of native forests to oil palm plantations, with the incumbent loss of species and diversity, loss of critical habitat, soil erosion, and the pollution of natural resources. Labor issues have also been associated with the cultivation of oil palm, including worker exploitation, child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking.
However, that being said, the increase in the use of palm oil has also had some positive impacts, including the building of rural economies, a reduction in rural poverty, and an increase in food security for rural communities. Non GMO Project
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Malaysia-Public-private partnerships can boost people’s income, says Zahid
GOVERNMENT agencies have been urged to forge cooperation and smart partnerships with the private sector and provide companies the opportunities in various fields in efforts to help increase the income of the people and the country as a whole.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said for example, agencies under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry could do so through joint ventures involving underutilised land.
“We can no longer think in silo. We have to work together, establish connections and be business-friendly… Don’t be apprehensive. Give the private sector a chance. Eventually, they will contribute to the government in the form of corporate taxes and assist in economic growth.
“This, in turn, will bring economic spillover and provide jobs for the people, especially those in the rural areas. This is a shared victory for all those involved,” he said at the opening ceremony of the palm oil biogas project of the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) in Ulu Keratong, Rompin, today. The Malaysian Insight
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Sarawak Oil Palms Bhd Foundation to focus on sustainability issues, social responsibility efforts
MIRI (Aug 27): Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOPB) announced it will be extending its dedication to sustainability issues and social responsibility efforts through its newly established SOPB Foundation.
The announcement was made during its 55th anniversary celebration dinner at Imperial Hotel here on Friday.
In a statement, it said the foundation is a testament to the organisation’s commitment to give back to society.
It aims to initiate and support projects that drive positive social, environmental, and community impact.
Also taking place at the celebration was the launch of a book entitled ‘Honouring 55 Years of Excellence: Celebrating the Heroes of Our Success’ which encapsulates the remarkable journey of the organisation from its humble beginnings to its current eminence as a leading figure in the palm oil sector. The Borneo Post
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August 27, 2023
‘China is a good and reliable ally’
Johor Ruler: Crucial for Malaysia to maintain ties with key trading partner
PETALING JAYA: It’s crucial for Malaysia to maintain friendly relations with China, says Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar (pic).
Describing the Asian superpower as a “good and reliable” investment partner, His Majesty said Johor has had a long-standing good relationship with China since the time of his ancestors.
“A Chinese emperor once presented the ‘Double Dragon Precious Star’ award to my great-great-grandfather.
“After that, the Chinese were invited to Johor to cultivate gambier and pepper.
“That’s why I have been reiterating that the Chinese in Johor are not outsiders. They were invited to be here,” the Ruler said in an interview published in Sin Chew Daily yesterday, following a recent meeting at the palace in Johor Baru. The StarMY
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Indonesia seeks Netherlands' support against EU anti-deforestation policy
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia has sought the Netherlands' support against the European Union's (EU's) anti-deforestation trade policy that could negatively impact Indonesian farmers.
"We ask for support from the Dutch government to minimize barriers for Indonesian products that have met sustainable standards to enter the EU," Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said here on Saturday.
Trade between Indonesia and the EU has huge potential, but it could be hampered by the EU's anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR), he added.
According to him, EUDR has the potential to negatively impact the exports of Indonesia's flagship products such as palm oil, coffee, rubber, and timber.
Indonesia and the Netherlands are also pushing for the completion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) negotiations in 2024.
"The negotiator team is looking forward to settling the negotiations. Indonesia also hopes that the Dutch government can support these efforts," Hasan said. Antara News
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Kenya and Indonesia target regional blocs
Kenya and Indonesia are seeking to utilise improved political and trade ties to access each other’s regional trading blocs to expand their export markets.
During Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s visit to Kenya this week, several cooperation agreements – in energy, health, agriculture, textile and clothing, and security – were signed.
Already, Jakarta-based Pertamina Geothermal Energy has entered an agreement with Kenya’s Africa Geothermal International Limited (Agil) to develop a geothermal plant in Longonot.
Kenyan President William Ruto said Nairobi will utilise the improved ties with Jakarta to slim Kenya’s trade balance with Indonesia, which is currently in deficit. The East African
‘China is a good and reliable ally’
Johor Ruler: Crucial for Malaysia to maintain ties with key trading partner
PETALING JAYA: It’s crucial for Malaysia to maintain friendly relations with China, says Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar (pic).
Describing the Asian superpower as a “good and reliable” investment partner, His Majesty said Johor has had a long-standing good relationship with China since the time of his ancestors.
“A Chinese emperor once presented the ‘Double Dragon Precious Star’ award to my great-great-grandfather.
“After that, the Chinese were invited to Johor to cultivate gambier and pepper.
“That’s why I have been reiterating that the Chinese in Johor are not outsiders. They were invited to be here,” the Ruler said in an interview published in Sin Chew Daily yesterday, following a recent meeting at the palace in Johor Baru. The StarMY
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Indonesia seeks Netherlands' support against EU anti-deforestation policy
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia has sought the Netherlands' support against the European Union's (EU's) anti-deforestation trade policy that could negatively impact Indonesian farmers.
"We ask for support from the Dutch government to minimize barriers for Indonesian products that have met sustainable standards to enter the EU," Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said here on Saturday.
Trade between Indonesia and the EU has huge potential, but it could be hampered by the EU's anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR), he added.
According to him, EUDR has the potential to negatively impact the exports of Indonesia's flagship products such as palm oil, coffee, rubber, and timber.
Indonesia and the Netherlands are also pushing for the completion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) negotiations in 2024.
"The negotiator team is looking forward to settling the negotiations. Indonesia also hopes that the Dutch government can support these efforts," Hasan said. Antara News
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Kenya and Indonesia target regional blocs
Kenya and Indonesia are seeking to utilise improved political and trade ties to access each other’s regional trading blocs to expand their export markets.
During Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s visit to Kenya this week, several cooperation agreements – in energy, health, agriculture, textile and clothing, and security – were signed.
Already, Jakarta-based Pertamina Geothermal Energy has entered an agreement with Kenya’s Africa Geothermal International Limited (Agil) to develop a geothermal plant in Longonot.
Kenyan President William Ruto said Nairobi will utilise the improved ties with Jakarta to slim Kenya’s trade balance with Indonesia, which is currently in deficit. The East African
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August 26, 2023
Ecoscience International bags RM24 mil contract to build palm oil refinery complex in Indonesia
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 25): Ecoscience International Bhd, which debuted on Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market last month, has bagged a RM24.04 million contract for the construction of a palm oil refinery complex in Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The palm oil refinery complex will consist a 300-tonne-per-day (tpd) physical refining plant, 300-tpd dry fractionation plant and bottling plant for Palopo Industrial Park at Sulawesi.
The Johor-based palm oil milling services provider said in a Bursa’s filing that its wholly owned subsidiary Ecoscience Manufacturing & Engineering Sdn Bhd has accepted a letter of award issued by PT Wijaya Inti Nusantara Sawit (PWINS) for the design, supply and fabricate works for the construction of the palm oil refinery complex. The EdgeMY
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Nigeria's Ondo State Moves To Boost Oil Palm Production, Enters Into Agreement With Private Firm
Ondo State government is intensifying effort to restore its lost revenue in oil palm business as the state synergizes with a private agricultural farm to boost palm oil production.
Secretary to the state government, Princess Oladunni Odu said in Akure that the state will not relent in giving unabated support to indigenous investors in its agribusiness sector, in order to secure its position as a leading producer of oil palm in Nigeria.
A statement by press officer in the SSG office, Debbie Funmilayo stated that Odu, made the remark while signing a memorandum of understanding between Ondo State government and Abbis Farms Nigeria Limited on the establishment and cultivation of 961 hectares of farmland for oil palm plantation in Ala Forest reserve, Ondo State.
Ala forest reserve is one of those plantations in the state that some farmers are accusing the government of forcefully ejecting them while bringing in foreigners. The SourceNG
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Ecoscience International bags RM24 mil contract to build palm oil refinery complex in Indonesia
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 25): Ecoscience International Bhd, which debuted on Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market last month, has bagged a RM24.04 million contract for the construction of a palm oil refinery complex in Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The palm oil refinery complex will consist a 300-tonne-per-day (tpd) physical refining plant, 300-tpd dry fractionation plant and bottling plant for Palopo Industrial Park at Sulawesi.
The Johor-based palm oil milling services provider said in a Bursa’s filing that its wholly owned subsidiary Ecoscience Manufacturing & Engineering Sdn Bhd has accepted a letter of award issued by PT Wijaya Inti Nusantara Sawit (PWINS) for the design, supply and fabricate works for the construction of the palm oil refinery complex. The EdgeMY
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Nigeria's Ondo State Moves To Boost Oil Palm Production, Enters Into Agreement With Private Firm
Ondo State government is intensifying effort to restore its lost revenue in oil palm business as the state synergizes with a private agricultural farm to boost palm oil production.
Secretary to the state government, Princess Oladunni Odu said in Akure that the state will not relent in giving unabated support to indigenous investors in its agribusiness sector, in order to secure its position as a leading producer of oil palm in Nigeria.
A statement by press officer in the SSG office, Debbie Funmilayo stated that Odu, made the remark while signing a memorandum of understanding between Ondo State government and Abbis Farms Nigeria Limited on the establishment and cultivation of 961 hectares of farmland for oil palm plantation in Ala Forest reserve, Ondo State.
Ala forest reserve is one of those plantations in the state that some farmers are accusing the government of forcefully ejecting them while bringing in foreigners. The SourceNG
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August 25, 2023
Anti-Deforestation Law Is EU's Measure to Regulate Palm Oil Price, Expert Says
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Researcher from the Institute for Economic and Social Research of Universitas Indonesia Eugenia Mardanugraha said that the EU's Anti Deforestation Law (EUDR) is Europe's line of action to control the prices of palm oil.
According to Eugenia, the regulation to prevent agricultural import in relation to illegal deforestation is no more than the EU's ploy to hinder Indonesia's industrial development, including its palm oil industry.
"With the regulation (EUDR), EU tries to control the international palm oil price," said Eugenia when met at West Bandung, on August 23, 2023.
She explained that the financial market dominance affects the prospects and future of the Indonesian palm oil industry. Therefore, it's unsurprising for the EU to release EUDR. According to Eugenia, Indonesia has to control the financial market, since developing the palm oil industry could not depend on supply control alone.
Eugenia said that Europe, especially the Netherlands, will lose its hold to control prices if Indonesia's financial market or palm oil market continues to grow. Thus, she urges Indonesia to develop a mature palm oil financial market to rise above the Netherlands and Malaysia.
"One thing for sure, the [EUDR] implementation causes a decrease in palm oil demand," said Eugenia. Tempo
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Environmental Activists Urge Palm Oil Companies to Disclose HGU; Gapki Responds
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The head of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) Eddy Martono responded to requests from environmental activists to disclose their right to cultivate (HGU) to the public. He said that all companies registered to Gapki have already reported their permit documents, including HGU, to the Agriculture Permit Information System (Siperibun).
However, Eddy refused to disclose the documents to the public. Eddy reasoned that the soft file of the documents including HGU is not owned by the companies. "The [soft file] is owned by the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning including the HGU and HGB," he said when met in West Bandung on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
According to Eddy, the companies only received the physical copies of the map and certificate for HGU. Despite this fact, Eddy said the companies still conducted land mapping containing the planting limitations.
Eddy proceeded to emphasize his unwillingness to disclose the data. "This our self-made [land mapping], not the official government-issued data. Thus, we refuse to publish the data to avoid the possibility of a data disparity caused by shifting," he said.
However, Eddy reflected that the public could still submit to the ministry for the official data of HGU documents with certain procedures.
Previously, the government obliged companies to report the data on current land conditions to HGU on the Siperibun website. Tempo
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Asian Agri's KUD partners sign cooperation agreement for palm oil replanting
Three of Asian Agri's Village Unit Cooperatives (KUD) partners on 21 July, signed a cooperation agreement (PKS) for the Palm Oil Replanting Programme (PSR)
The agreement was signed in collaboration with the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) and the banking sector, as distributors of PSR funding assistance, which is located at the Ibis Styles Hotel in Bogor, West Java. The three partner cooperatives are replanting total of 778 ha of palm oil smallholders' plantation, including its 300 ha of land, KUD Jaya Makmur, Kampung Kumbara Utama, Kerinci Kanan District, Siak Regency, Riau covering 172 ha, and KUD Bukit Makmur, Sencano Jaya Village, Batang Peranap District, Indragiri Hulu Regency, Riau covering 306 ha.
BPDPKS director of Fund Collection, Sunari said, “As is known that PSR is a national strategic programme as part of the Government’s efforts to increase the productivity of national oil palm plantations. Therefore, through the signing of the cooperation agreement between the three parties in this X (ten) phase, it is hoped that synergies will be established between BPDPKS, banks, and cooperatives or smallholder groups to be able to accelerate the target achievement of the PSR programme.”
Asian Agri’s head of partnerships, Rudy Rismanto expressed his appreciation for the governments support through BPDPKS and the banking sector in supporting Asian Agri’s partner smallholders in funding this replanting programme. These funds will be very beneficial for partner farmers who are ready to replant their oil palm plantations. In addition, head of Jaya Makmur Cooperative, Sudiyono and the head of KUD Bukit Makmur, Irwan Ritonga also expressed their appreciation.
Rismanto emphasised that carrying out 100% of the partner smallholder replanting programme was one of the first pillar targets in the Asian Agri 2030 sustainability commitment that was launched by Asian Agri in February 2022. “In achieving the Asian Agri 2030 target, we are always committed to providing assistance to partner smallholders, both providing knowledge about the best oil palm plantation practices, providing high-quality Topaz seeds to optimise productivity, assisting the loan process to finance the process of rejuvenating smallholders’ oil palm plantations, to assisting them to do other businesses outside of oil palm plantations as alternative income,” said Rismanto. Far Eastern Agriculture
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Assam Pradesh Kissan Congress stage a protests against palm oil cultivation
The Assam Pradesh Kissan Congress (APKC) staged a protest in front of the Directorate of Agriculture (DA) at Khanapara in Guwahati on Thursday against the Rs 11,040 crore National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) scheme. A memorandum was also given to the Chief Minister of Assam through the Director of Agriculture to stop the palm deal in Assam.
GUWAHATI: The Assam Pradesh Kissan Congress (APKC) staged a protest in front of the Directorate of Agriculture (DA) at Khanapara in Guwahati on Thursday against the Rs 11,040 crore National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) scheme. A memorandum was also given to the Chief Minister of Assam through the Director of Agriculture to stop the palm deal in Assam. The APKC Media Cell Vice-Chairman Mehedi Alom Bora and Assam Pradesh Krishak Congress General Secretary (Administrative) Debakanta Saikia were present at the protest with General Secretary (Organisational) Nazrul Kazi. The protest was attended by APKC members and farmers from various districts of Assam. The protestors also gave a list of side effects of palm oil cultivation.
They said the department had signed contracts with private parties in May 2021 to cultivate the crop in Tinsukia, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon, Kamrup, and Goalpara districts of the state in an attempt towards large-scale production, which can bring massive destruction of forests. This will lead to a loss of biodiversity and massive carbon dioxide emissions in the name of clearing the areas. Greenhouse gases will increase as well, increasing human-animal conflicts.
They also pointed out the massive waste generated by these factories, which can destroy the environment and harm the local biodiversity. They also mentioned the water prospect of commercial cultivation of this crop, leading to a complete depletion of groundwater because of irrigation, apart from the risks of heart disease because of this crop. They also pointed out that 100 scientists from across the country requested the PM stop commercial cultivation, giving an example of its ban in Sri Lanka. They also mentioned that this initiative will increase dependency on corporate groups and destroy any possibility of self-reliance. Sentinel Assam
Anti-Deforestation Law Is EU's Measure to Regulate Palm Oil Price, Expert Says
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Researcher from the Institute for Economic and Social Research of Universitas Indonesia Eugenia Mardanugraha said that the EU's Anti Deforestation Law (EUDR) is Europe's line of action to control the prices of palm oil.
According to Eugenia, the regulation to prevent agricultural import in relation to illegal deforestation is no more than the EU's ploy to hinder Indonesia's industrial development, including its palm oil industry.
"With the regulation (EUDR), EU tries to control the international palm oil price," said Eugenia when met at West Bandung, on August 23, 2023.
She explained that the financial market dominance affects the prospects and future of the Indonesian palm oil industry. Therefore, it's unsurprising for the EU to release EUDR. According to Eugenia, Indonesia has to control the financial market, since developing the palm oil industry could not depend on supply control alone.
Eugenia said that Europe, especially the Netherlands, will lose its hold to control prices if Indonesia's financial market or palm oil market continues to grow. Thus, she urges Indonesia to develop a mature palm oil financial market to rise above the Netherlands and Malaysia.
"One thing for sure, the [EUDR] implementation causes a decrease in palm oil demand," said Eugenia. Tempo
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Environmental Activists Urge Palm Oil Companies to Disclose HGU; Gapki Responds
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The head of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) Eddy Martono responded to requests from environmental activists to disclose their right to cultivate (HGU) to the public. He said that all companies registered to Gapki have already reported their permit documents, including HGU, to the Agriculture Permit Information System (Siperibun).
However, Eddy refused to disclose the documents to the public. Eddy reasoned that the soft file of the documents including HGU is not owned by the companies. "The [soft file] is owned by the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning including the HGU and HGB," he said when met in West Bandung on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
According to Eddy, the companies only received the physical copies of the map and certificate for HGU. Despite this fact, Eddy said the companies still conducted land mapping containing the planting limitations.
Eddy proceeded to emphasize his unwillingness to disclose the data. "This our self-made [land mapping], not the official government-issued data. Thus, we refuse to publish the data to avoid the possibility of a data disparity caused by shifting," he said.
However, Eddy reflected that the public could still submit to the ministry for the official data of HGU documents with certain procedures.
Previously, the government obliged companies to report the data on current land conditions to HGU on the Siperibun website. Tempo
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Asian Agri's KUD partners sign cooperation agreement for palm oil replanting
Three of Asian Agri's Village Unit Cooperatives (KUD) partners on 21 July, signed a cooperation agreement (PKS) for the Palm Oil Replanting Programme (PSR)
The agreement was signed in collaboration with the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) and the banking sector, as distributors of PSR funding assistance, which is located at the Ibis Styles Hotel in Bogor, West Java. The three partner cooperatives are replanting total of 778 ha of palm oil smallholders' plantation, including its 300 ha of land, KUD Jaya Makmur, Kampung Kumbara Utama, Kerinci Kanan District, Siak Regency, Riau covering 172 ha, and KUD Bukit Makmur, Sencano Jaya Village, Batang Peranap District, Indragiri Hulu Regency, Riau covering 306 ha.
BPDPKS director of Fund Collection, Sunari said, “As is known that PSR is a national strategic programme as part of the Government’s efforts to increase the productivity of national oil palm plantations. Therefore, through the signing of the cooperation agreement between the three parties in this X (ten) phase, it is hoped that synergies will be established between BPDPKS, banks, and cooperatives or smallholder groups to be able to accelerate the target achievement of the PSR programme.”
Asian Agri’s head of partnerships, Rudy Rismanto expressed his appreciation for the governments support through BPDPKS and the banking sector in supporting Asian Agri’s partner smallholders in funding this replanting programme. These funds will be very beneficial for partner farmers who are ready to replant their oil palm plantations. In addition, head of Jaya Makmur Cooperative, Sudiyono and the head of KUD Bukit Makmur, Irwan Ritonga also expressed their appreciation.
Rismanto emphasised that carrying out 100% of the partner smallholder replanting programme was one of the first pillar targets in the Asian Agri 2030 sustainability commitment that was launched by Asian Agri in February 2022. “In achieving the Asian Agri 2030 target, we are always committed to providing assistance to partner smallholders, both providing knowledge about the best oil palm plantation practices, providing high-quality Topaz seeds to optimise productivity, assisting the loan process to finance the process of rejuvenating smallholders’ oil palm plantations, to assisting them to do other businesses outside of oil palm plantations as alternative income,” said Rismanto. Far Eastern Agriculture
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Assam Pradesh Kissan Congress stage a protests against palm oil cultivation
The Assam Pradesh Kissan Congress (APKC) staged a protest in front of the Directorate of Agriculture (DA) at Khanapara in Guwahati on Thursday against the Rs 11,040 crore National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) scheme. A memorandum was also given to the Chief Minister of Assam through the Director of Agriculture to stop the palm deal in Assam.
GUWAHATI: The Assam Pradesh Kissan Congress (APKC) staged a protest in front of the Directorate of Agriculture (DA) at Khanapara in Guwahati on Thursday against the Rs 11,040 crore National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) scheme. A memorandum was also given to the Chief Minister of Assam through the Director of Agriculture to stop the palm deal in Assam. The APKC Media Cell Vice-Chairman Mehedi Alom Bora and Assam Pradesh Krishak Congress General Secretary (Administrative) Debakanta Saikia were present at the protest with General Secretary (Organisational) Nazrul Kazi. The protest was attended by APKC members and farmers from various districts of Assam. The protestors also gave a list of side effects of palm oil cultivation.
They said the department had signed contracts with private parties in May 2021 to cultivate the crop in Tinsukia, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon, Kamrup, and Goalpara districts of the state in an attempt towards large-scale production, which can bring massive destruction of forests. This will lead to a loss of biodiversity and massive carbon dioxide emissions in the name of clearing the areas. Greenhouse gases will increase as well, increasing human-animal conflicts.
They also pointed out the massive waste generated by these factories, which can destroy the environment and harm the local biodiversity. They also mentioned the water prospect of commercial cultivation of this crop, leading to a complete depletion of groundwater because of irrigation, apart from the risks of heart disease because of this crop. They also pointed out that 100 scientists from across the country requested the PM stop commercial cultivation, giving an example of its ban in Sri Lanka. They also mentioned that this initiative will increase dependency on corporate groups and destroy any possibility of self-reliance. Sentinel Assam
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August 24, 2023
EU’s green rules clash with trade goals as India talks resume
The European Union and India will try to advance talks on a trade deal this week as the bloc’s demands for strict sustainability requirements have become a key stumbling block.
European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis will discuss the proposed pact with Indian commerce minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of a Group of 20 trade meeting in India, as both sides seek to diversify their economies away from China.
The EU has a strong interest in sealing the trade deal but the bloc’s sustainability regime is complicating its trade negotiations across a number of countries, people familiar with the matter said. The bloc needs to figure out how to communicate more clearly that green elements in the trade talks are legally required to avoid being labeled as protectionist, the people added.
The EU sees part of its mission as using its economic weight to promote green goals globally, but other countries are often reluctant to make those kind of commitments, which has snagged negotiations on a range of trade deals from South America to Asia.
A free-trade agreement with India — one of the world’s fastest growing economies — would unlock mutual access for goods and investment in key areas such as digital markets, critical raw materials and energy. AJOT
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Palm Oil Industry Slows Down in Indonesia, Expert Says
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) Eddy Martono says that the palm oil industry in Indonesia is currently slowing down. Eddy mentions that compared to last year, the export value of palm oil has decreased.
"The condition [of the palm oil industry] is relatively bad, the export of palm oil in Indonesia is increasing but the number is decreasing," he said in a discussion in West Bandung on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
The cause of this condition is the declining price of global vegetable oil.
According to Gapki, the value of crude palm oil exports from January to June this year was only US$14.6 million. The number sharply declined from the previous year at the same period with US$17.63, despite the increasing number of exports from US$12.040 to US$16.313 in 2023.
Additionally, Eddy explained that palm oil only has 33% of the target market while the rest is vegetable oil. Meanwhile, he believes that palm oil cannot stand on its own, meaning the condition of vegetable oil affects palm oil.
For example, at the start of the Russia-Ukrane war, the price of vegetable oil rose sharply, causing Indonesia to implement a palm oil export ban. At the time, palm oil production was halted completely. Tempo
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EU’s green rules clash with trade goals as India talks resume
The European Union and India will try to advance talks on a trade deal this week as the bloc’s demands for strict sustainability requirements have become a key stumbling block.
European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis will discuss the proposed pact with Indian commerce minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of a Group of 20 trade meeting in India, as both sides seek to diversify their economies away from China.
The EU has a strong interest in sealing the trade deal but the bloc’s sustainability regime is complicating its trade negotiations across a number of countries, people familiar with the matter said. The bloc needs to figure out how to communicate more clearly that green elements in the trade talks are legally required to avoid being labeled as protectionist, the people added.
The EU sees part of its mission as using its economic weight to promote green goals globally, but other countries are often reluctant to make those kind of commitments, which has snagged negotiations on a range of trade deals from South America to Asia.
A free-trade agreement with India — one of the world’s fastest growing economies — would unlock mutual access for goods and investment in key areas such as digital markets, critical raw materials and energy. AJOT
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Palm Oil Industry Slows Down in Indonesia, Expert Says
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) Eddy Martono says that the palm oil industry in Indonesia is currently slowing down. Eddy mentions that compared to last year, the export value of palm oil has decreased.
"The condition [of the palm oil industry] is relatively bad, the export of palm oil in Indonesia is increasing but the number is decreasing," he said in a discussion in West Bandung on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
The cause of this condition is the declining price of global vegetable oil.
According to Gapki, the value of crude palm oil exports from January to June this year was only US$14.6 million. The number sharply declined from the previous year at the same period with US$17.63, despite the increasing number of exports from US$12.040 to US$16.313 in 2023.
Additionally, Eddy explained that palm oil only has 33% of the target market while the rest is vegetable oil. Meanwhile, he believes that palm oil cannot stand on its own, meaning the condition of vegetable oil affects palm oil.
For example, at the start of the Russia-Ukrane war, the price of vegetable oil rose sharply, causing Indonesia to implement a palm oil export ban. At the time, palm oil production was halted completely. Tempo
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August 23, 2023
Indonesia-Gapki Denies Report of 3.3 Million Ha of Illegal Palm Oil Land in Forest Areas
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) rebutted the government’s report that there are 3.3 million hectares of illegal oil palm plantations in forest areas. The association’s chairman Eddy Martono said it was a bad narrative for palm oil business actors as they were seen to have committed deforestation in the country.
According to him, the 3.3 million hectares of oil palm plantations are legal and already equipped with the right to cultivate (HGU) permits. Thus, he concluded that the government claimed their lands as forest areas.
On June 23, 2023, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan disclosed data on illegal oil palm plantations in forest areas. The audit results were reported to President Joko Jokowi Widodo who then issued Presidential Decree No. 9/2023 on the task force to improve the governance of the palm oil industry and optimize state revenue.
Eddy clarified that the 3.3 million hectares of oil palm plantations have HGU permits while the plasma plantations have certificates of ownership (SHM) since the era of President Soeharto. Tempo
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Is China flooding Europe with fake biofuels?
European biofuel producers have come under significant price pressure as Chinese companies inundate the second-generation biofuel market with their cheaper products.
Biofuels are an important cornerstone of Europe's ambitious plan to reduce harmful carbon emissions in the transportation sector. So-called advanced biofuels are especially important as they are made from nonfood biomass like used cooking oils, tallow, and other waste and residue lipids.
Demand for those second-generation biofuels is high in Europe, and a lot of it is presently coming from China, says Elmar Baumann from the German Biofuel Industry Association (VDB).
"Imports from China have approximately doubled in the first half of 2023 compared with the previous year," Baumann told DW.
Chinese biofuel glut raises suspicion DW
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EU’s Green Rules Clash With Trade Goals as India Talks Resume
(Bloomberg) -- The European Union and India will try to advance talks on a trade deal this week as the bloc’s demands for strict sustainability requirements have become a key stumbling block.
European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis will discuss the proposed pact with Indian commerce minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of a Group of 20 trade meeting in India, as both sides seek to diversify their economies away from China.
The EU has a strong interest in sealing the trade deal but the bloc’s sustainability regime is complicating its trade negotiations across a number of countries, people familiar with the matter said. The bloc needs to figure out how to communicate more clearly that green elements in the trade talks are legally required to avoid being labeled as protectionist, the people added.
The EU sees part of its mission as using its economic weight to promote green goals globally, but other countries are often reluctant to make those kind of commitments, which has snagged negotiations on a range of trade deals from South America to Asia.
A free-trade agreement with India — one of the world’s fastest growing economies — would unlock mutual access for goods and investment in key areas such as digital markets, critical raw materials and energy.
“The EU standards are quite high and its approach to FTAs is very technocratic. India is a test case to see whether the EU is able to push its strategic interest,” said Garima Mohan, senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund think tank, adding that India is set to hold a general election next year. “If they are able to close a deal before the elections, India would be a success story for the EU.” Bloomberg
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India-SEA delegation to explore collaboration potential with Thai palm oil industry
A delegation of the Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA) of India will be visiting Thailand to explore the potential for collaboration with the palm oil industry in Thailand.
Stating that the visit of the SEA delegation to Thailand holds great potential for Indian edible oil industry’s growth and collaboration, BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said the delegation will delve deep into Thailand’s flourishing palm oil complex.
On exploring Thailand’s palm oil complex, he said the delegation aims to grasp the intricate dynamics of Thailand’s palm oil industry. The delegation will look at gaining insights into the seamless processes and vast export opportunities that Thailand offers.
Establishing direct contactMentioning that the delegation will be fostering direct relationships with Thai producers and exporters, he said direct connections will be established with the key players in Thailand’s palm oil sector.
At present, oil palm plantations in Thailand yield 3.2-3.5 million tonnes (mt) annually. Of this, 1.2 mt caters to the domestic needs of Thailand. He said an additional 1.2-1.5 mt fuels Thailand’s innovative 7 per cent bio-diesel blend. Around 1 mt of palm oil is exported, predominantly to India. Remarkably, this constitutes a substantial 15 per cent of India’s total palm oil imports, he said. The Hindu Businessline
Indonesia-Gapki Denies Report of 3.3 Million Ha of Illegal Palm Oil Land in Forest Areas
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) rebutted the government’s report that there are 3.3 million hectares of illegal oil palm plantations in forest areas. The association’s chairman Eddy Martono said it was a bad narrative for palm oil business actors as they were seen to have committed deforestation in the country.
According to him, the 3.3 million hectares of oil palm plantations are legal and already equipped with the right to cultivate (HGU) permits. Thus, he concluded that the government claimed their lands as forest areas.
On June 23, 2023, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan disclosed data on illegal oil palm plantations in forest areas. The audit results were reported to President Joko Jokowi Widodo who then issued Presidential Decree No. 9/2023 on the task force to improve the governance of the palm oil industry and optimize state revenue.
Eddy clarified that the 3.3 million hectares of oil palm plantations have HGU permits while the plasma plantations have certificates of ownership (SHM) since the era of President Soeharto. Tempo
---------
Is China flooding Europe with fake biofuels?
European biofuel producers have come under significant price pressure as Chinese companies inundate the second-generation biofuel market with their cheaper products.
Biofuels are an important cornerstone of Europe's ambitious plan to reduce harmful carbon emissions in the transportation sector. So-called advanced biofuels are especially important as they are made from nonfood biomass like used cooking oils, tallow, and other waste and residue lipids.
Demand for those second-generation biofuels is high in Europe, and a lot of it is presently coming from China, says Elmar Baumann from the German Biofuel Industry Association (VDB).
"Imports from China have approximately doubled in the first half of 2023 compared with the previous year," Baumann told DW.
Chinese biofuel glut raises suspicion DW
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EU’s Green Rules Clash With Trade Goals as India Talks Resume
(Bloomberg) -- The European Union and India will try to advance talks on a trade deal this week as the bloc’s demands for strict sustainability requirements have become a key stumbling block.
European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis will discuss the proposed pact with Indian commerce minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of a Group of 20 trade meeting in India, as both sides seek to diversify their economies away from China.
The EU has a strong interest in sealing the trade deal but the bloc’s sustainability regime is complicating its trade negotiations across a number of countries, people familiar with the matter said. The bloc needs to figure out how to communicate more clearly that green elements in the trade talks are legally required to avoid being labeled as protectionist, the people added.
The EU sees part of its mission as using its economic weight to promote green goals globally, but other countries are often reluctant to make those kind of commitments, which has snagged negotiations on a range of trade deals from South America to Asia.
A free-trade agreement with India — one of the world’s fastest growing economies — would unlock mutual access for goods and investment in key areas such as digital markets, critical raw materials and energy.
“The EU standards are quite high and its approach to FTAs is very technocratic. India is a test case to see whether the EU is able to push its strategic interest,” said Garima Mohan, senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund think tank, adding that India is set to hold a general election next year. “If they are able to close a deal before the elections, India would be a success story for the EU.” Bloomberg
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India-SEA delegation to explore collaboration potential with Thai palm oil industry
A delegation of the Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA) of India will be visiting Thailand to explore the potential for collaboration with the palm oil industry in Thailand.
Stating that the visit of the SEA delegation to Thailand holds great potential for Indian edible oil industry’s growth and collaboration, BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said the delegation will delve deep into Thailand’s flourishing palm oil complex.
On exploring Thailand’s palm oil complex, he said the delegation aims to grasp the intricate dynamics of Thailand’s palm oil industry. The delegation will look at gaining insights into the seamless processes and vast export opportunities that Thailand offers.
Establishing direct contactMentioning that the delegation will be fostering direct relationships with Thai producers and exporters, he said direct connections will be established with the key players in Thailand’s palm oil sector.
At present, oil palm plantations in Thailand yield 3.2-3.5 million tonnes (mt) annually. Of this, 1.2 mt caters to the domestic needs of Thailand. He said an additional 1.2-1.5 mt fuels Thailand’s innovative 7 per cent bio-diesel blend. Around 1 mt of palm oil is exported, predominantly to India. Remarkably, this constitutes a substantial 15 per cent of India’s total palm oil imports, he said. The Hindu Businessline
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August 22, 2023
China to Import More Indonesian Palm Oil in 2024: Gapki
Jakarta. China will likely purchase 8 million tons of Indonesian palm oil in 2024 after imports suffered a decline amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an association of the commodity’s producers.
Beijing has been the top buyer of Indonesian palm oil by country since 2019 with imports reaching 8.15 million tons that year. However, the pandemic caused China to import less palm oil from the Southeast Asian nation.
The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) reported that China only bought 6.17 million tons of palm oil from Indonesia in the Covid-hit 2020. The figures then slightly picked up to 6.65 million tons in 2021 and shrank to 6.35 million tons a year later. Indonesia has exported 3.35 million tons of palm oil to China as of the first half of 2023.
“Our palm oil exports to China are expected to slightly rise to 7 million in 2023, and at least 8 million tons next year,” Gapki chairman Eddy Martono told a recent forum. Jakarta Globe
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EU to investigate Indonesian biodiesel amid tax concerns
European Commission officials have launched an investigation into biodiesel imports following suspicions that Indonesian biodiesel is transiting through China and the United Kingdom in a bid to circumvent taxes.
Under EU law, biodiesel from Indonesia is subject to a 6.5% customs duty. This tax, known as a countervailing duty, is applied to neutralise subsidies given by the Indonesian state.
It is suspected that Indonesian biodiesel is therefore being sent to China and the UK – countries not subject to such a custom duty – where it is relabelled as being of Chinese and British origin, thereby avoiding import taxes.
Domestic biodiesel producers pressured EU officials to take action to combat the potentially fraudulent activity, having suspected that Indonesian biodiesel was transiting through third countries for some years.
In 2022, the Chinese Island of Hainan accounted for around a third of Chinese biodiesel exports to Europe, some 2.3 million tonnes, despite the island having limited biofuel production capacity.
Formal request
The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), a trade association representing producers, submitted a formal request for investigation to DG TRADE in July, arguing that alleged fraudulent imports were harming the integrity of the EU biodiesel market.
EURACTIV understands that DG TRADE was in correspondence with the trade association to examine the claims, subsequently confirming that it will launch an official investigation into the discrepancies. It is expected that the investigation will take nine months to complete. Euractiv
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China to Import More Indonesian Palm Oil in 2024: Gapki
Jakarta. China will likely purchase 8 million tons of Indonesian palm oil in 2024 after imports suffered a decline amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an association of the commodity’s producers.
Beijing has been the top buyer of Indonesian palm oil by country since 2019 with imports reaching 8.15 million tons that year. However, the pandemic caused China to import less palm oil from the Southeast Asian nation.
The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) reported that China only bought 6.17 million tons of palm oil from Indonesia in the Covid-hit 2020. The figures then slightly picked up to 6.65 million tons in 2021 and shrank to 6.35 million tons a year later. Indonesia has exported 3.35 million tons of palm oil to China as of the first half of 2023.
“Our palm oil exports to China are expected to slightly rise to 7 million in 2023, and at least 8 million tons next year,” Gapki chairman Eddy Martono told a recent forum. Jakarta Globe
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EU to investigate Indonesian biodiesel amid tax concerns
European Commission officials have launched an investigation into biodiesel imports following suspicions that Indonesian biodiesel is transiting through China and the United Kingdom in a bid to circumvent taxes.
Under EU law, biodiesel from Indonesia is subject to a 6.5% customs duty. This tax, known as a countervailing duty, is applied to neutralise subsidies given by the Indonesian state.
It is suspected that Indonesian biodiesel is therefore being sent to China and the UK – countries not subject to such a custom duty – where it is relabelled as being of Chinese and British origin, thereby avoiding import taxes.
Domestic biodiesel producers pressured EU officials to take action to combat the potentially fraudulent activity, having suspected that Indonesian biodiesel was transiting through third countries for some years.
In 2022, the Chinese Island of Hainan accounted for around a third of Chinese biodiesel exports to Europe, some 2.3 million tonnes, despite the island having limited biofuel production capacity.
Formal request
The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), a trade association representing producers, submitted a formal request for investigation to DG TRADE in July, arguing that alleged fraudulent imports were harming the integrity of the EU biodiesel market.
EURACTIV understands that DG TRADE was in correspondence with the trade association to examine the claims, subsequently confirming that it will launch an official investigation into the discrepancies. It is expected that the investigation will take nine months to complete. Euractiv
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August 21, 2023
EU deforestation rules risk ‘catastrophic’ impact on global trade, says ITC chief
Head of International Trade Centre warns move favours big companies that can trace where their produce was grown
EU rules to curb deforestation could have a “catastrophic” impact on global trade if the bloc does not help small producers and developing nations to adapt, the head of the multilateral International Trade Centre has said.
Pamela Coke-Hamilton, executive director of the ITC, a joint agency of the UN and World Trade Organization, told the Financial Times that a ban on goods linked to deforestation from entering the EU favoured big companies that can trace where their produce had been grown and risked “cutting off” smaller suppliers.
“What the biggest producers may do is, not being able to do the traceability for these small farmers, simply cut them off,” she said.
Countries such as Brazil or Honduras, among the main suppliers of coffee to the bloc, or Indonesia and Malaysia, key palm oil and rubber exporters, are among those most affected by the regulation. Financial Times
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FGV cultivates sustainable practices in agriculture
As our planet struggles under the weight of climate change and environmental degradation, responsible companies across the globe are doubling down on efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, recognising the urgent need for immediate action.
One such company is FGV Holdings Bhd (FGV), a global and diversified agribusiness focused primarily on three sectors: plantation, sugar and logistics. Based in Malaysia, it is one of the world’s largest producers of crude palm oil and a contributor to the country’s total annual output of this commodity by up to 15%.
Listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia, FGV has 50 years of industry expertise and operations in nine countries across Asia, the Middle East, North America and Europe. The company is supported by a strong workforce of more than 45,000 people and is committed to delivering sustainable food and agri-products to the world while tapping into new revenue streams from the circular economy.
Commitment to sustainability
To further position itself as a leader in sustainable agriculture, FGV has made a bold commitment to no deforestation, no development on peatland and no exploitation as well as to contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The company has a dedicated sustainability programme that addresses environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and has received several certifications for its sustainable practices, including the Malaysian Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification. The Edge Malaysia
EU deforestation rules risk ‘catastrophic’ impact on global trade, says ITC chief
Head of International Trade Centre warns move favours big companies that can trace where their produce was grown
EU rules to curb deforestation could have a “catastrophic” impact on global trade if the bloc does not help small producers and developing nations to adapt, the head of the multilateral International Trade Centre has said.
Pamela Coke-Hamilton, executive director of the ITC, a joint agency of the UN and World Trade Organization, told the Financial Times that a ban on goods linked to deforestation from entering the EU favoured big companies that can trace where their produce had been grown and risked “cutting off” smaller suppliers.
“What the biggest producers may do is, not being able to do the traceability for these small farmers, simply cut them off,” she said.
Countries such as Brazil or Honduras, among the main suppliers of coffee to the bloc, or Indonesia and Malaysia, key palm oil and rubber exporters, are among those most affected by the regulation. Financial Times
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FGV cultivates sustainable practices in agriculture
As our planet struggles under the weight of climate change and environmental degradation, responsible companies across the globe are doubling down on efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, recognising the urgent need for immediate action.
One such company is FGV Holdings Bhd (FGV), a global and diversified agribusiness focused primarily on three sectors: plantation, sugar and logistics. Based in Malaysia, it is one of the world’s largest producers of crude palm oil and a contributor to the country’s total annual output of this commodity by up to 15%.
Listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia, FGV has 50 years of industry expertise and operations in nine countries across Asia, the Middle East, North America and Europe. The company is supported by a strong workforce of more than 45,000 people and is committed to delivering sustainable food and agri-products to the world while tapping into new revenue streams from the circular economy.
Commitment to sustainability
To further position itself as a leader in sustainable agriculture, FGV has made a bold commitment to no deforestation, no development on peatland and no exploitation as well as to contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The company has a dedicated sustainability programme that addresses environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and has received several certifications for its sustainable practices, including the Malaysian Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification. The Edge Malaysia
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August 21, 2023
China to Import More Indonesian Palm Oil in 2024: Gapki
China to Import More Indonesian Palm Oil in 2024: Gapki
August 20, 2023
Indonesian President Jokowi urges people to remind future leaders to continue downstreaming
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has appealed to Indonesians to have the courage to remind their future leaders to continue downstreaming in all fields.
He delivered the statement at the inauguration of the 2023–2026 Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) DPP and the inauguration of the 2023 GAMKI National Working Meeting in Medan, North Sumatra, on Saturday.
"So don't export raw materials; later, please remind the future leaders not to export raw materials. The people must have the courage to remind them about that," President said in a live YouTube broadcast released by the Presidential Secretariat, which was accessed from Jakarta.
Downstreaming refers to turning raw materials into semi-finished goods or finished goods before exporting them.
While reiterating the importance of downstreaming in all fields, President Widodo noted that for more than 400 years, since the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) era, the Indonesian nation has always exported raw materials.
Even though it earned money from the export of raw materials, the amount was very little. Antara News
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Malaysia posts weakest GDP growth in nearly 2 years as exports slump
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Malaysia's economic growth hit the lowest in nearly two years in the second quarter due to sliding exports and a global slowdown, prompting the central bank on Friday to warn that full-year growth will come in at the lower end of its previous forecast.
The weaker outlook does not change most economists' expectations for the central bank to keep policy rates on hold this year as the Southeast Asian economy confronts weakening global demand and a slowdown in main trading partner China.
Second-quarter annual growth came in at 2.9%, central bank data showed. The expansion was the slowest pace since the third quarter of 2021 when the economy contracted by 4.2%, and was lower than the 5.6% growth in the first quarter of the year.
Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast gross domestic product growth at 3.3% in the April to June period.
Bank Negara Malaysia also said full-year economic expansion will come in at the lower end of the 4% to 5% range it had forecast earlier, though some economists predict the target will be hard to reach as domestic demand slows as well. Reuters
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Assam, India: Do not despoil Northeast with oil palm expansion, says MP Pradyut Bordoloi
Guwahati: A group of MPs from the Northeast have urged the government to reconsider its plans to expand oil palm cultivation in the region, citing the environmental and social risks involved.
The MPs, led by Pradyut Bordoloi of the Congress, said that the expansion of oil palm would lead to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity in the Northeast.
Bordoloi along with Congress MPs Vincent Pala (Meghalaya) Abdul Khaleque (Assam) and Gaurav Gogoi (Assam), NPP MP Agatha Sangma (Meghalaya), NPP MP Lorho S Pfoze (Manipur), submitted a letter to Prime Minister Modi urging him to review the plan for palm oil expansion in the Northeast.
They also pointed out that the region is climatically unsuitable for oil palm cultivation. Northeast Now
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Vietnam's coffee industry urged to get ready for EU’s deforestation regulation
The coffee industry should step up the digitalisation of the value chain to get ready for the European Union (EU)’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to maintain and expand exports to this bloc, according to the Việt Nam Trade Office in Belgium.
For the coffee industry, exporters must ensure that the products weren’t sourced from deforested land or land with forest degradation to be eligible for entering the EU market. — VNA/VNS Photo
The coffee industry should step up the digitalisation of the value chain to get ready for the European Union (EU)’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to maintain and expand exports to this bloc, according to the Việt Nam Trade Office in Belgium.
The trade office said that the law passed by the European Parliament on May 16 and taking effect from December 30, 2024, required companies to demonstrate their products weren’t sourced from deforested land or land with forest degradation.
The law targets cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy and wood as well as commodities fed by or made using these products such as leather, chocolate, printed paper and furniture.
As a major coffee exporter to the EU, Việt Nam should get prepared for the law to maintain and expand coffee exports to the bloc, raising the pressing need for digitalisation of the value chain. Vietnam net
Indonesian President Jokowi urges people to remind future leaders to continue downstreaming
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has appealed to Indonesians to have the courage to remind their future leaders to continue downstreaming in all fields.
He delivered the statement at the inauguration of the 2023–2026 Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) DPP and the inauguration of the 2023 GAMKI National Working Meeting in Medan, North Sumatra, on Saturday.
"So don't export raw materials; later, please remind the future leaders not to export raw materials. The people must have the courage to remind them about that," President said in a live YouTube broadcast released by the Presidential Secretariat, which was accessed from Jakarta.
Downstreaming refers to turning raw materials into semi-finished goods or finished goods before exporting them.
While reiterating the importance of downstreaming in all fields, President Widodo noted that for more than 400 years, since the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) era, the Indonesian nation has always exported raw materials.
Even though it earned money from the export of raw materials, the amount was very little. Antara News
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Malaysia posts weakest GDP growth in nearly 2 years as exports slump
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Malaysia's economic growth hit the lowest in nearly two years in the second quarter due to sliding exports and a global slowdown, prompting the central bank on Friday to warn that full-year growth will come in at the lower end of its previous forecast.
The weaker outlook does not change most economists' expectations for the central bank to keep policy rates on hold this year as the Southeast Asian economy confronts weakening global demand and a slowdown in main trading partner China.
Second-quarter annual growth came in at 2.9%, central bank data showed. The expansion was the slowest pace since the third quarter of 2021 when the economy contracted by 4.2%, and was lower than the 5.6% growth in the first quarter of the year.
Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast gross domestic product growth at 3.3% in the April to June period.
Bank Negara Malaysia also said full-year economic expansion will come in at the lower end of the 4% to 5% range it had forecast earlier, though some economists predict the target will be hard to reach as domestic demand slows as well. Reuters
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Assam, India: Do not despoil Northeast with oil palm expansion, says MP Pradyut Bordoloi
Guwahati: A group of MPs from the Northeast have urged the government to reconsider its plans to expand oil palm cultivation in the region, citing the environmental and social risks involved.
The MPs, led by Pradyut Bordoloi of the Congress, said that the expansion of oil palm would lead to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity in the Northeast.
Bordoloi along with Congress MPs Vincent Pala (Meghalaya) Abdul Khaleque (Assam) and Gaurav Gogoi (Assam), NPP MP Agatha Sangma (Meghalaya), NPP MP Lorho S Pfoze (Manipur), submitted a letter to Prime Minister Modi urging him to review the plan for palm oil expansion in the Northeast.
They also pointed out that the region is climatically unsuitable for oil palm cultivation. Northeast Now
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Vietnam's coffee industry urged to get ready for EU’s deforestation regulation
The coffee industry should step up the digitalisation of the value chain to get ready for the European Union (EU)’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to maintain and expand exports to this bloc, according to the Việt Nam Trade Office in Belgium.
For the coffee industry, exporters must ensure that the products weren’t sourced from deforested land or land with forest degradation to be eligible for entering the EU market. — VNA/VNS Photo
The coffee industry should step up the digitalisation of the value chain to get ready for the European Union (EU)’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to maintain and expand exports to this bloc, according to the Việt Nam Trade Office in Belgium.
The trade office said that the law passed by the European Parliament on May 16 and taking effect from December 30, 2024, required companies to demonstrate their products weren’t sourced from deforested land or land with forest degradation.
The law targets cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy and wood as well as commodities fed by or made using these products such as leather, chocolate, printed paper and furniture.
As a major coffee exporter to the EU, Việt Nam should get prepared for the law to maintain and expand coffee exports to the bloc, raising the pressing need for digitalisation of the value chain. Vietnam net
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August 19, 2023
Europe’s Climate Consensus Is Unraveling
The European Union's drive for ever more intrusive regulations to combat climate change are being met with resistance from member states. Despite the Commission's best efforts to push the Green Deal, exorbitant economic costs and voter discontent has sparked a renewed interest in nuclear energy.
The departure of EU ‘climate’ Commissioner Frans Timmermans—who will be taking his chances in the upcoming Dutch election—may well be a pivotal moment for the future of ‘green’ politics. Timmermans is the face of the European Union’s drive for ever more intrusive regulations that are meant to combat climate change—regulations that are being met with resistance from member states. Despite the Commission’s best efforts to push the Green Deal, exorbitant economic costs and voter discontent have sparked a renewed interest in nuclear energy throughout Europe. European Conservative
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Indonesia and EU trade barbs over biodiesel import duties
In the latest dispute regarding palm oil, Indonesia and the European Union have clashed over biodiesel import duties that have been slapped on the Southeast Asian nation’s commodity since 2019. The bloc said on Thursday it had launched an investigation into whether biodiesel from Indonesia was circumventing EU duties by going through China and the United Kingdom, only two days after Indonesia filed a case regarding the bloc’s imposition of duties with the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Jakarta Post
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Did you know about these powerful health benefits of palm oil?
An edible vegetable oil that is commonly used to cook food, palm oil is derived from the fruit of oil palms and is believed to comprise a whole lot of nutrients.
Speaking of nutrients, it is loaded with vitamins E and K, which are two important components that are good for our body's overall functioning.
Here are five health benefits of palm oil. News Bytes
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Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation allocates RM1.2m to fund orangutan population study in Sabah, says Plantation sec-gen
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 — The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), an agency under the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK), has allocated RM1.2 million to finance a study of the orangutan population in Sabah for a period of two years, starting this year.
KPK secretary-general Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli @ Sukari said the study was important to obtain the latest number of the orangutan population.
“The study will be carried out soon, to obtain facts related to the protected animal, which have become iconic in Sabah, such as their activities and locations.
“Even though there have been various studies conducted in the past, we will conduct this study, and we want to see how the population trend is. Hence, when a comprehensive study is conducted, we have data which can be shared,” he said. Malay Mail
Europe’s Climate Consensus Is Unraveling
The European Union's drive for ever more intrusive regulations to combat climate change are being met with resistance from member states. Despite the Commission's best efforts to push the Green Deal, exorbitant economic costs and voter discontent has sparked a renewed interest in nuclear energy.
The departure of EU ‘climate’ Commissioner Frans Timmermans—who will be taking his chances in the upcoming Dutch election—may well be a pivotal moment for the future of ‘green’ politics. Timmermans is the face of the European Union’s drive for ever more intrusive regulations that are meant to combat climate change—regulations that are being met with resistance from member states. Despite the Commission’s best efforts to push the Green Deal, exorbitant economic costs and voter discontent have sparked a renewed interest in nuclear energy throughout Europe. European Conservative
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Indonesia and EU trade barbs over biodiesel import duties
In the latest dispute regarding palm oil, Indonesia and the European Union have clashed over biodiesel import duties that have been slapped on the Southeast Asian nation’s commodity since 2019. The bloc said on Thursday it had launched an investigation into whether biodiesel from Indonesia was circumventing EU duties by going through China and the United Kingdom, only two days after Indonesia filed a case regarding the bloc’s imposition of duties with the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Jakarta Post
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Did you know about these powerful health benefits of palm oil?
An edible vegetable oil that is commonly used to cook food, palm oil is derived from the fruit of oil palms and is believed to comprise a whole lot of nutrients.
Speaking of nutrients, it is loaded with vitamins E and K, which are two important components that are good for our body's overall functioning.
Here are five health benefits of palm oil. News Bytes
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Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation allocates RM1.2m to fund orangutan population study in Sabah, says Plantation sec-gen
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 — The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), an agency under the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK), has allocated RM1.2 million to finance a study of the orangutan population in Sabah for a period of two years, starting this year.
KPK secretary-general Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli @ Sukari said the study was important to obtain the latest number of the orangutan population.
“The study will be carried out soon, to obtain facts related to the protected animal, which have become iconic in Sabah, such as their activities and locations.
“Even though there have been various studies conducted in the past, we will conduct this study, and we want to see how the population trend is. Hence, when a comprehensive study is conducted, we have data which can be shared,” he said. Malay Mail
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August 18, 2023
EU starts probe on Indonesian biodiesel avoiding import duties
BRUSSELS, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The European Union said on Thursday it had launched an investigation into whether biodiesel from Indonesia was circumventing EU duties by going through China and Britain.
The EU is Indonesia's third-largest destination for palm oil products and an important market for its biodiesel, which is made from palm oil. Indonesia is the world's biggest palm oil producer.
The EU's probe followed an initial request from the European Biodiesel Board, an association of European producers.
"The request contains sufficient evidence that the existing countervailing measures on imports of the product concerned are being circumvented by imports of the product under investigation," the European Commission said in the EU's official journal.
"A change in the pattern of trade involving exports from Indonesia and the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom to the Union has taken place following the imposition of the existing countervailing measures," it added. Reuters
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Malaysia, a strong example of deforestation success story
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Indonesia can be considered examples of success stories in deforestation, says a research manager from the Washington-based Global Forest Watch (GFW).
"They have been (success stories) for several years now, ever since the 2015 fires (linked to the El Niño)," said GFW senior geographic information system research manager Liz Goldman.
"We're seeing government and corporate actions coming together to have a positive influence there," she was quoted as saying in a report by the UK's The Guardian on the progress of deforestation throughout the world.
The report said that falling deforestation rates in Indonesia, Malaysia, Colombia and Brazil could help efforts to combat climate change and protect biodiversity.
Goldman said the data indicated that Malaysia and Indonesia had made strides where deforestation was concerned.
The article also quoted Arief Wijaya, programme director for the World Resources Institute in Indonesia, who said government efforts to protect forests better had produced results.
He said the palm oil sector in Indonesia and Malaysia, the world's top commodity producers, was no longer a significant driver of deforestation.
According to the report, Wijaya urged caution about the European Union's new deforestation law, which bans imports of commodities grown on land deforested after 2020.
He said the law may fail to recognise the progress made by countries where deforestation is concerned. New Straits Times
EU starts probe on Indonesian biodiesel avoiding import duties
BRUSSELS, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The European Union said on Thursday it had launched an investigation into whether biodiesel from Indonesia was circumventing EU duties by going through China and Britain.
The EU is Indonesia's third-largest destination for palm oil products and an important market for its biodiesel, which is made from palm oil. Indonesia is the world's biggest palm oil producer.
The EU's probe followed an initial request from the European Biodiesel Board, an association of European producers.
"The request contains sufficient evidence that the existing countervailing measures on imports of the product concerned are being circumvented by imports of the product under investigation," the European Commission said in the EU's official journal.
"A change in the pattern of trade involving exports from Indonesia and the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom to the Union has taken place following the imposition of the existing countervailing measures," it added. Reuters
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Malaysia, a strong example of deforestation success story
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Indonesia can be considered examples of success stories in deforestation, says a research manager from the Washington-based Global Forest Watch (GFW).
"They have been (success stories) for several years now, ever since the 2015 fires (linked to the El Niño)," said GFW senior geographic information system research manager Liz Goldman.
"We're seeing government and corporate actions coming together to have a positive influence there," she was quoted as saying in a report by the UK's The Guardian on the progress of deforestation throughout the world.
The report said that falling deforestation rates in Indonesia, Malaysia, Colombia and Brazil could help efforts to combat climate change and protect biodiversity.
Goldman said the data indicated that Malaysia and Indonesia had made strides where deforestation was concerned.
The article also quoted Arief Wijaya, programme director for the World Resources Institute in Indonesia, who said government efforts to protect forests better had produced results.
He said the palm oil sector in Indonesia and Malaysia, the world's top commodity producers, was no longer a significant driver of deforestation.
According to the report, Wijaya urged caution about the European Union's new deforestation law, which bans imports of commodities grown on land deforested after 2020.
He said the law may fail to recognise the progress made by countries where deforestation is concerned. New Straits Times
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August 17, 2023
EU to probe if Indonesia circumventing biodiesel import duties
The EU's probe followed an initial request from the European Biodiesel Board. "The request contains sufficient evidence that the existing countervailing measures on imports of the product concerned are being circumvented by imports of the product under investigation," the European Commission said in the EU's official journal.
The European Union said on Thursday it had launched an investigation into whether Indonesia was circumventing EU duties on imports of biodiesel originating in the country by going through China and Britain.
The EU is Indonesia's third-largest destination for palm oil products and an important market for its biodiesel, which is made from palm oil, while Indonesia is the world's biggest palm oil producer. The EU's probe followed an initial request from the European Biodiesel Board. Devdiscourse
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Godrej Agrovet’s oil palm plantation drive boosts sustainable farming in Andhra Pradesh
GAVL’s successful plantation event, attended by officials and farmers, aims to enhance oil palm production and reduce imports, supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture.
Godrej Agrovet Ltd. (GAVL) organised an oil palm plantation drive on Thursday in Chintampalli, Andhra Pradesh. The event was attended by 200 farmers from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Agriculture Commissioner P K Singh, MP from Eluru, Kothagiri Sridhar, K Suresh, Director, ICAR- Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) and Sougata Niyogi, CEO-Oil Palm Business, GAVL.
Agriculture Commissione P K Singh said, “The plantation drive, which coincided with the rainy season has received encouraging response from the oil palm processing companies and farmers. Covering approximately 3500 ha of the area and planting more than 5.00 lakh planting material during the drive, this will further assist us in achieving the target of bringing an additional area of 6.5 lakh ha. under oil palm production by 2025-26. Collaborating with players like Godrej, we are confident of enhancing productivity and creating sustainable income sources for the oil palm farmers”. The Hindu Businessline
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Trade Rules Are Increasingly ESG Rules
Steve Banker for Forbes
There are important changes in trade regulation occurring that supply chain professionals need to be aware of. Environmental, social and governance issues are increasingly finding their way into trade policy. Increases in business process outsourcing means that human rights and environmental violations are no longer only an internal company matter, companies are expected to monitor their end-to-end inbound supply chains. End-to-end means that this monitoring extends beyond a company’s immediate suppliers to include a supplier’s supplier, and that supplier’s supplier, and on up through the supply chain. Procurement managers are now asked to address ESG issues in their sourcing and foreign manufacturing operations. Meanwhile, trade compliance managers are tasked with ensuring that the procurement department is following the rules. Forbes
EU to probe if Indonesia circumventing biodiesel import duties
The EU's probe followed an initial request from the European Biodiesel Board. "The request contains sufficient evidence that the existing countervailing measures on imports of the product concerned are being circumvented by imports of the product under investigation," the European Commission said in the EU's official journal.
The European Union said on Thursday it had launched an investigation into whether Indonesia was circumventing EU duties on imports of biodiesel originating in the country by going through China and Britain.
The EU is Indonesia's third-largest destination for palm oil products and an important market for its biodiesel, which is made from palm oil, while Indonesia is the world's biggest palm oil producer. The EU's probe followed an initial request from the European Biodiesel Board. Devdiscourse
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Godrej Agrovet’s oil palm plantation drive boosts sustainable farming in Andhra Pradesh
GAVL’s successful plantation event, attended by officials and farmers, aims to enhance oil palm production and reduce imports, supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture.
Godrej Agrovet Ltd. (GAVL) organised an oil palm plantation drive on Thursday in Chintampalli, Andhra Pradesh. The event was attended by 200 farmers from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Agriculture Commissioner P K Singh, MP from Eluru, Kothagiri Sridhar, K Suresh, Director, ICAR- Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) and Sougata Niyogi, CEO-Oil Palm Business, GAVL.
Agriculture Commissione P K Singh said, “The plantation drive, which coincided with the rainy season has received encouraging response from the oil palm processing companies and farmers. Covering approximately 3500 ha of the area and planting more than 5.00 lakh planting material during the drive, this will further assist us in achieving the target of bringing an additional area of 6.5 lakh ha. under oil palm production by 2025-26. Collaborating with players like Godrej, we are confident of enhancing productivity and creating sustainable income sources for the oil palm farmers”. The Hindu Businessline
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Trade Rules Are Increasingly ESG Rules
Steve Banker for Forbes
There are important changes in trade regulation occurring that supply chain professionals need to be aware of. Environmental, social and governance issues are increasingly finding their way into trade policy. Increases in business process outsourcing means that human rights and environmental violations are no longer only an internal company matter, companies are expected to monitor their end-to-end inbound supply chains. End-to-end means that this monitoring extends beyond a company’s immediate suppliers to include a supplier’s supplier, and that supplier’s supplier, and on up through the supply chain. Procurement managers are now asked to address ESG issues in their sourcing and foreign manufacturing operations. Meanwhile, trade compliance managers are tasked with ensuring that the procurement department is following the rules. Forbes
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August 16, 2023
Indonesia initiates WTO dispute complaint regarding EU duties on biodiesel imports
Indonesia has requested WTO dispute consultations with the European Union regarding the EU’s imposition of countervailing duties on imports of biodiesel from Indonesia. The request was circulated to WTO members on 15 August.
Indonesia claims that the EU countervailing duty measures and the underlying investigation that led to the imposition of the measures are inconsistent with a number of provisions of the WTO's Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994.
Further information is available in document WT/DS618/1
What is a request for consultations?
The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel. WTO
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Malaysia's palm oil board, Petronas to study use of palm waste as sustainable aviation fuel-SAF
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Malaysia's palm oil board and state oil firm Petronas (IPO-PETO.KL) have signed an agreement to study the use of used cooking oil and palm oil waste as sustainable aviation fuel.
The two organisations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Aug. 14 to explore the potential of palm-based products and wastes, such as used cooking oil and palm oil mill effluent, as the main raw materials for local bio-refineries to produce sustainable aviation fuel.
"The signing of the MoU is also in line with the National Energy Policy 2022-2040 to reduce carbon emissions and make the energy sector a catalyst for the nation's socioeconomic development," the Malaysian Palm Oil Board said in a statement on Wednesday. Reuters
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Indonesia initiates WTO dispute complaint regarding EU duties on biodiesel imports
Indonesia has requested WTO dispute consultations with the European Union regarding the EU’s imposition of countervailing duties on imports of biodiesel from Indonesia. The request was circulated to WTO members on 15 August.
Indonesia claims that the EU countervailing duty measures and the underlying investigation that led to the imposition of the measures are inconsistent with a number of provisions of the WTO's Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994.
Further information is available in document WT/DS618/1
What is a request for consultations?
The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel. WTO
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Malaysia's palm oil board, Petronas to study use of palm waste as sustainable aviation fuel-SAF
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Malaysia's palm oil board and state oil firm Petronas (IPO-PETO.KL) have signed an agreement to study the use of used cooking oil and palm oil waste as sustainable aviation fuel.
The two organisations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Aug. 14 to explore the potential of palm-based products and wastes, such as used cooking oil and palm oil mill effluent, as the main raw materials for local bio-refineries to produce sustainable aviation fuel.
"The signing of the MoU is also in line with the National Energy Policy 2022-2040 to reduce carbon emissions and make the energy sector a catalyst for the nation's socioeconomic development," the Malaysian Palm Oil Board said in a statement on Wednesday. Reuters
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August 13, 2023
Mega oil palm plantation drive organized in 49 districts of 11 states
Under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm, the State Governments along with Oil Palm processing companies initiated a ‘Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive’ that commenced on 25th July 2023 to further promote and increase oil palm cultivation, making the country and its farmers ‘Atma-Nirbhar’ in edible oils production. This will further assist in achieving the target of bringing an additional area of 6.5 lakh ha. under oil palm production by 2025-26.
The major oil palm growing states where the plantation drive was organized are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Tripura. The Oil Palm Processing companies such as Patanjali Food Pvt. Ltd., Godrej Agrovet, and 3F participated actively in the drive. Apart from that other regional companies such as KE Cultivation and NavBharat also participated in the drive. The Mega Oil Palm Plantation drive concluded on 12th August 2023. Through this drive, the states and the companies were able to reach out to more than 7000 farmers in 77 villages of 49 districts in 11 states, covering approximately 3500 ha. of the area and planting more than 5.00 lakh planting material.
As part of the mega plantation drive, the companies also organized unique and intensive large-scale technical training seminars on oil palm cultivation for farmers along with the department staff. The aim of the seminars conducted was to make the farmers and the staff more aware of the management packages which will help to ensure the plants’ health, thereby enhancing productivity and creating sustainable income sources. Orissa Diary
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Revolutionising agro-economy: Assam’s bold step in oil palm plantation
In a significant move towards achieving self-sufficiency in edible oil production, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on August 8, 2023, the launch of a massive oil palm plantation project.
n a significant move towards achieving self-sufficiency in edible oil production, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on August 8, 2023, the launch of a massive oil palm plantation project. This initiative is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of reducing India’s dependence on edible oil imports and boosting domestic production. The project aims to revolutionise the agro-economy of the state by introducing oil palm cultivation on a large scale, a move that has gained enthusiasm among farmers keen to enhance their income. Sentinel Assam
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Oil palm to fetch remunerative income: DC
PASIGHAT, Aug 12: An oil palm plantation drive under National Mission on Edible Oil – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) was conducted on Saturday at Moruk area of Remi village under Bilat circle of East Siang.
An awareness programme with farmers and other stakeholders was also conducted by state agriculture department in collaboration with Patanjali Food Ltd (PFL) Zone III oil Palm Division.
DC Tayi Taggu, in his address, urged the farmers to come forward to take up cultivation of oil palm, a cash crop, being right time to avail planting materials and other inputs of Govt subsidy to support their ventures. He asked them to take advice of departmental experts for cash crop cultivation which can fetch remunerative income to boost rural economy.
District agriculture officer O. Moyong earlier said that oil palm cultivation is a remunerative and sustainable income generating cash crop which is less labour intensive but high income yielding. The GoAP has signed MoU with PEL for buy back policy after the harvesting.
Niglok processing unit will use all fresh fruit bunches (FFBs)produced by district farmers as per MoU, he said, and advised to adopt inter-cropping of oil palm with ginger and vegetables by adopting scientific farming and following “package of practice” to boost production. Arunachal Observer
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Taking away rights-Forest Conservation Act 2023 contradicts The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 and The Panchayats
Several legal minds who are in the know about forest acts in India, have maintained that the FCA 2023 will negate the impact of a landmark Supreme Court order of 1996 – known as the Godavarman judgment – that has since been the touchstone of forest conservation in the country. The judgment has been the basis of hundreds of court orders across the country to extend a protective shield to large tract of “deemed forest” or natural forests, including Aravalis in the National Capital Region (NCR), over the past 27 years. The experts believe that the amended Forest Conservation Act 2023 contradicts The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 and The Panchayats (Extension to The Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 by not defining strategic linear projects or addressing the requirement for people’s consent to access certain lands. One of the most serious issue that arise from the Forest(Conservation)Amendment Act 2023 was the concern by environmental activists that it will erase the rights of indigenous communities living on India’s borders, such as Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. If the bill comes into effect, it exempts many activities from requiring forest clearances, including those in forest lands of up to 0.10 hectares alongside roads and rail lines and construction of defence-related or public utility projects. Worse still, the amended Act will also exempt forest lands within 100 kilometres.
from the international border / Line of Control / Line of Actual Control for strategic linear projects. That 100-km range from the international border with Myanmar easily covers entire Nagaland including other north eastern states. The amended forest act has come under scrutiny of various tribe organisations including political non-NDA parties in Nagaland. These organisations have expressed apprehension that the amended Act will come into direct conflict with Article 371A with regard to ownership of land and its resources in Nagaland and all other tribal states which also enjoy protective laws under 371. The reason why the Centre has determined that the amended forest Act should be passed through brute majority enjoyed by the ruling party alliance appears to fit with the speculations for mining minerals. Though speculative, the fact is that the Act empowers the Centre to decide on using lands belonging to communities raises deep suspicions. The Act in particular has been received with strong objections from various tribe organisations and non-NDA political parties in Nagaland who have put the onus on the NDPP-BJP led oppositionless government to pass a resolution in the house to protect the status of ownership of land in consonance with Article 371A.Interestingly some of the organisations stand opposed to the state government’s scheme to promote and subsidize palm oil in Nagaland in lieu of central policy. Both the forest act and palm oil scheme are linked to a business corporate and that is why no amount of objection can change what has been decided. Nagaland Post
Mega oil palm plantation drive organized in 49 districts of 11 states
Under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm, the State Governments along with Oil Palm processing companies initiated a ‘Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive’ that commenced on 25th July 2023 to further promote and increase oil palm cultivation, making the country and its farmers ‘Atma-Nirbhar’ in edible oils production. This will further assist in achieving the target of bringing an additional area of 6.5 lakh ha. under oil palm production by 2025-26.
The major oil palm growing states where the plantation drive was organized are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Tripura. The Oil Palm Processing companies such as Patanjali Food Pvt. Ltd., Godrej Agrovet, and 3F participated actively in the drive. Apart from that other regional companies such as KE Cultivation and NavBharat also participated in the drive. The Mega Oil Palm Plantation drive concluded on 12th August 2023. Through this drive, the states and the companies were able to reach out to more than 7000 farmers in 77 villages of 49 districts in 11 states, covering approximately 3500 ha. of the area and planting more than 5.00 lakh planting material.
As part of the mega plantation drive, the companies also organized unique and intensive large-scale technical training seminars on oil palm cultivation for farmers along with the department staff. The aim of the seminars conducted was to make the farmers and the staff more aware of the management packages which will help to ensure the plants’ health, thereby enhancing productivity and creating sustainable income sources. Orissa Diary
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Revolutionising agro-economy: Assam’s bold step in oil palm plantation
In a significant move towards achieving self-sufficiency in edible oil production, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on August 8, 2023, the launch of a massive oil palm plantation project.
n a significant move towards achieving self-sufficiency in edible oil production, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on August 8, 2023, the launch of a massive oil palm plantation project. This initiative is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of reducing India’s dependence on edible oil imports and boosting domestic production. The project aims to revolutionise the agro-economy of the state by introducing oil palm cultivation on a large scale, a move that has gained enthusiasm among farmers keen to enhance their income. Sentinel Assam
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Oil palm to fetch remunerative income: DC
PASIGHAT, Aug 12: An oil palm plantation drive under National Mission on Edible Oil – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) was conducted on Saturday at Moruk area of Remi village under Bilat circle of East Siang.
An awareness programme with farmers and other stakeholders was also conducted by state agriculture department in collaboration with Patanjali Food Ltd (PFL) Zone III oil Palm Division.
DC Tayi Taggu, in his address, urged the farmers to come forward to take up cultivation of oil palm, a cash crop, being right time to avail planting materials and other inputs of Govt subsidy to support their ventures. He asked them to take advice of departmental experts for cash crop cultivation which can fetch remunerative income to boost rural economy.
District agriculture officer O. Moyong earlier said that oil palm cultivation is a remunerative and sustainable income generating cash crop which is less labour intensive but high income yielding. The GoAP has signed MoU with PEL for buy back policy after the harvesting.
Niglok processing unit will use all fresh fruit bunches (FFBs)produced by district farmers as per MoU, he said, and advised to adopt inter-cropping of oil palm with ginger and vegetables by adopting scientific farming and following “package of practice” to boost production. Arunachal Observer
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Taking away rights-Forest Conservation Act 2023 contradicts The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 and The Panchayats
Several legal minds who are in the know about forest acts in India, have maintained that the FCA 2023 will negate the impact of a landmark Supreme Court order of 1996 – known as the Godavarman judgment – that has since been the touchstone of forest conservation in the country. The judgment has been the basis of hundreds of court orders across the country to extend a protective shield to large tract of “deemed forest” or natural forests, including Aravalis in the National Capital Region (NCR), over the past 27 years. The experts believe that the amended Forest Conservation Act 2023 contradicts The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 and The Panchayats (Extension to The Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 by not defining strategic linear projects or addressing the requirement for people’s consent to access certain lands. One of the most serious issue that arise from the Forest(Conservation)Amendment Act 2023 was the concern by environmental activists that it will erase the rights of indigenous communities living on India’s borders, such as Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. If the bill comes into effect, it exempts many activities from requiring forest clearances, including those in forest lands of up to 0.10 hectares alongside roads and rail lines and construction of defence-related or public utility projects. Worse still, the amended Act will also exempt forest lands within 100 kilometres.
from the international border / Line of Control / Line of Actual Control for strategic linear projects. That 100-km range from the international border with Myanmar easily covers entire Nagaland including other north eastern states. The amended forest act has come under scrutiny of various tribe organisations including political non-NDA parties in Nagaland. These organisations have expressed apprehension that the amended Act will come into direct conflict with Article 371A with regard to ownership of land and its resources in Nagaland and all other tribal states which also enjoy protective laws under 371. The reason why the Centre has determined that the amended forest Act should be passed through brute majority enjoyed by the ruling party alliance appears to fit with the speculations for mining minerals. Though speculative, the fact is that the Act empowers the Centre to decide on using lands belonging to communities raises deep suspicions. The Act in particular has been received with strong objections from various tribe organisations and non-NDA political parties in Nagaland who have put the onus on the NDPP-BJP led oppositionless government to pass a resolution in the house to protect the status of ownership of land in consonance with Article 371A.Interestingly some of the organisations stand opposed to the state government’s scheme to promote and subsidize palm oil in Nagaland in lieu of central policy. Both the forest act and palm oil scheme are linked to a business corporate and that is why no amount of objection can change what has been decided. Nagaland Post
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August 12, 2023
Telangana govt allots 82,000 acres to Lohiya Group for Oil Palm plantation, processing units
The Telangana government has allotted 82,000 acres of land in Karimnagar and Jagityal districts to Lohiya Group to be used for cultivation of oil palm plantation and the setting up of oil palm processing units.
Lohiya Group Managing Director Mahaveer Lohiya, in a press release said, "We applaud the government for this initiative that will reduce India's dependence on the import of crude palm oil and cater to the needs of a spectrum of industries countrywide. Our expertise and world class standards in the industry have been recognised over the past few decades and we are honored to be chosen to be part of the government's initiative." According to the Telangana State Oil Palm Mission website, presently 45,000 acres is under oil palm cultivation in Khammam, Kothagudem and Suryapet Districts. The Hans India
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Indonesia Aims Stronger Ties with Thailand to Bolster Rubber Prices
Jakarta. Indonesia is seeking to partner with fellow rubber producer Thailand as the country grapples with plummeting prices and the European Union's rollout of an anti-deforestation law.
Rubber trade was high on the agenda during Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan’s recent meeting with Thai House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.
According to Zulkifli, Thailand and Indonesia are the world’s top two rubber-producing nations. However, problems come one after another: starting from the falling prices of rubber to the commodity being subject to the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR).
“Thailand and Indonesia are the world’s leading rubber producers who are facing similar situations due to the global natural rubber prices that continue to fluctuate over the past decade,” Zulkifli was quoted as saying in a recent press statement. Jakarta Globe
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Telangana govt allots 82,000 acres to Lohiya Group for Oil Palm plantation, processing units
The Telangana government has allotted 82,000 acres of land in Karimnagar and Jagityal districts to Lohiya Group to be used for cultivation of oil palm plantation and the setting up of oil palm processing units.
Lohiya Group Managing Director Mahaveer Lohiya, in a press release said, "We applaud the government for this initiative that will reduce India's dependence on the import of crude palm oil and cater to the needs of a spectrum of industries countrywide. Our expertise and world class standards in the industry have been recognised over the past few decades and we are honored to be chosen to be part of the government's initiative." According to the Telangana State Oil Palm Mission website, presently 45,000 acres is under oil palm cultivation in Khammam, Kothagudem and Suryapet Districts. The Hans India
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Indonesia Aims Stronger Ties with Thailand to Bolster Rubber Prices
Jakarta. Indonesia is seeking to partner with fellow rubber producer Thailand as the country grapples with plummeting prices and the European Union's rollout of an anti-deforestation law.
Rubber trade was high on the agenda during Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan’s recent meeting with Thai House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.
According to Zulkifli, Thailand and Indonesia are the world’s top two rubber-producing nations. However, problems come one after another: starting from the falling prices of rubber to the commodity being subject to the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR).
“Thailand and Indonesia are the world’s leading rubber producers who are facing similar situations due to the global natural rubber prices that continue to fluctuate over the past decade,” Zulkifli was quoted as saying in a recent press statement. Jakarta Globe
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August 09, 2023
Indonesia Sees Opening to Conclude Long-Awaited Trade Deal with EU
Jakarta. The formation of a joint task force on the European Union's anti-deforestation law gave Indonesia some hope that it would be able to conclude its overdue trade deal with the 27-member bloc, according to a senior minister.
Indonesia is currently negotiating a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with the EU. Talks first began in July 2016, and have already reached 15 rounds of negotiations to this day. Indonesia aims to wrap up the negotiations by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) has caused a setback for Europe’s ties with palm oil-producing Indonesia. However, the EU, Indonesia, and fellow palm oil producer Malaysia recently agreed to establish an ad hoc joint task force on the EUDR. This task force aims to identify the best possible solution to the anti-deforestation law.
Indonesia perceives the task force’s establishment as a sign of the EU possibly softening its stance. And this will likely translate into the long-awaited conclusion of the CEPA talks. Jakarta Globe
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Indonesia, Malaysia and EU form task force to negotiate palm oil trade under EUDR
Indonesia and Malaysia and the European Union have agreed to form an ad hoc task force to hash out issues related to the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation, or EUDR, Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs said Aug. 7.
Indonesia and Malaysia account for about 85% of palm oil's global trade while the EU is typically the third largest importer the tropical oil -- a big chunk of which it uses to produce biodiesel.
A kick-off meeting of the task force was held in Jakarta Aug. 4 and was chaired by Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs deputy for Food and Agribusiness Coordination, Musdhalifah Machmud, secretary general of the Malaysian Ministry of Plantations and Commodities YBhg. Dato' Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli, and European Commission director of Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism Astrid Schomaker, the Indonesian ministry said.
At the meeting, all parties agreed on terms of reference on issues such as smallholders in the supply chain, national certification schemes, and scientific data on deforestation and forest degradation, Jakarta's trade ministry said.
The three parties set a deadline of 2024-end for the task force to complete its work and said that the next meeting will be held in November 2023.
The EU is expected to import about 8.9 million mt of vegetable oils in the marketing year 2023-24 (July-June) of which palm oil imports were seen at 4.8 million mt, according to the US Foreign Agricultural Service data released July 12 in its monthly oilseeds report.
In MY 2022-23, the EU imported 4.05 million mt of palm oil, down 18% from the year before, according to customs data from the EU.
Arguments over EUDR SPGlobal
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Malaysia should not be used as compliance benchmark for EU deforestation law: Fadillah
MIRI: Malaysia should not be regarded as a high risk country in terms of deforestation and it would be unfair for the European Union (EU) to put the country as the benchmark for compliance with the EU Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR), Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said.
"The benchmark of compliance should be based on the industry itself, not the country. That way it will be better as far as the industry is concerned," Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said when opening the Palm Oil Milling Technology Exhibition and Conference (Pomtec) 2023 here today. New Straits Times/ Bernama
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Nigeria-Palm Oil Crisis Grips Africa's Largest Consumer of Palm Oil
One of the biggest casualties of the Nigerian civil war was the local palm oil production industry.
By the end of the war, most of the oil palm plantations located in the south-east and south-south regions of Nigeria had been destroyed.
Even worse, the small landholders of oil palm who survived the war had been dispersed, mostly to go seek new beginnings elsewhere.
Half a century after the war ended, Nigeria is yet to recover from this major dent in its local palm oil production. It did not help that the discovery of crude oil in the 1960s and the boom of global crude prices in the 1980s completely distracted the government from nipping the problem in the bud very early on.
Today, despite being the fifth largest producer of palm oil globally, Nigeria crawls behind Columbia and Thailand. The top two highest producers, Indonesia and Malaysia account for 85-90% of the total production globally.
Large producer, larger consumer
IndexMundi, a data portal, states that the domestic palm oil produced in 2014 amounted to 930,000MT, roughly 1 million MT short of the 2.0 million MT of palm oil consumption in Nigeria in the same year. Naira Metrics
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Indonesia Sees Opening to Conclude Long-Awaited Trade Deal with EU
Jakarta. The formation of a joint task force on the European Union's anti-deforestation law gave Indonesia some hope that it would be able to conclude its overdue trade deal with the 27-member bloc, according to a senior minister.
Indonesia is currently negotiating a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with the EU. Talks first began in July 2016, and have already reached 15 rounds of negotiations to this day. Indonesia aims to wrap up the negotiations by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) has caused a setback for Europe’s ties with palm oil-producing Indonesia. However, the EU, Indonesia, and fellow palm oil producer Malaysia recently agreed to establish an ad hoc joint task force on the EUDR. This task force aims to identify the best possible solution to the anti-deforestation law.
Indonesia perceives the task force’s establishment as a sign of the EU possibly softening its stance. And this will likely translate into the long-awaited conclusion of the CEPA talks. Jakarta Globe
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Indonesia, Malaysia and EU form task force to negotiate palm oil trade under EUDR
Indonesia and Malaysia and the European Union have agreed to form an ad hoc task force to hash out issues related to the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation, or EUDR, Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs said Aug. 7.
Indonesia and Malaysia account for about 85% of palm oil's global trade while the EU is typically the third largest importer the tropical oil -- a big chunk of which it uses to produce biodiesel.
A kick-off meeting of the task force was held in Jakarta Aug. 4 and was chaired by Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs deputy for Food and Agribusiness Coordination, Musdhalifah Machmud, secretary general of the Malaysian Ministry of Plantations and Commodities YBhg. Dato' Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli, and European Commission director of Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism Astrid Schomaker, the Indonesian ministry said.
At the meeting, all parties agreed on terms of reference on issues such as smallholders in the supply chain, national certification schemes, and scientific data on deforestation and forest degradation, Jakarta's trade ministry said.
The three parties set a deadline of 2024-end for the task force to complete its work and said that the next meeting will be held in November 2023.
The EU is expected to import about 8.9 million mt of vegetable oils in the marketing year 2023-24 (July-June) of which palm oil imports were seen at 4.8 million mt, according to the US Foreign Agricultural Service data released July 12 in its monthly oilseeds report.
In MY 2022-23, the EU imported 4.05 million mt of palm oil, down 18% from the year before, according to customs data from the EU.
Arguments over EUDR SPGlobal
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Malaysia should not be used as compliance benchmark for EU deforestation law: Fadillah
MIRI: Malaysia should not be regarded as a high risk country in terms of deforestation and it would be unfair for the European Union (EU) to put the country as the benchmark for compliance with the EU Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR), Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said.
"The benchmark of compliance should be based on the industry itself, not the country. That way it will be better as far as the industry is concerned," Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said when opening the Palm Oil Milling Technology Exhibition and Conference (Pomtec) 2023 here today. New Straits Times/ Bernama
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Nigeria-Palm Oil Crisis Grips Africa's Largest Consumer of Palm Oil
One of the biggest casualties of the Nigerian civil war was the local palm oil production industry.
By the end of the war, most of the oil palm plantations located in the south-east and south-south regions of Nigeria had been destroyed.
Even worse, the small landholders of oil palm who survived the war had been dispersed, mostly to go seek new beginnings elsewhere.
Half a century after the war ended, Nigeria is yet to recover from this major dent in its local palm oil production. It did not help that the discovery of crude oil in the 1960s and the boom of global crude prices in the 1980s completely distracted the government from nipping the problem in the bud very early on.
Today, despite being the fifth largest producer of palm oil globally, Nigeria crawls behind Columbia and Thailand. The top two highest producers, Indonesia and Malaysia account for 85-90% of the total production globally.
Large producer, larger consumer
IndexMundi, a data portal, states that the domestic palm oil produced in 2014 amounted to 930,000MT, roughly 1 million MT short of the 2.0 million MT of palm oil consumption in Nigeria in the same year. Naira Metrics
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August 08, 2023
Malaysian Minister Challenges EUDR Country Bench Marking for Deforestation Risks
MIRI: Malaysia should not be regarded as a high risk country in terms of deforestation and it would be unfair for the European Union (EU) to put the country as the benchmark for compliance with the EU Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR), Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said.
“The benchmark of compliance should be based on the industry itself, not the country. That way it will be better as far as the industry is concerned,” Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said when opening the Palm Oil Milling Technology Exhibition and Conference (Pomtec) 2023 here today.
He stressed that Malaysia will continue to discuss the matter in future meetings of the Joint Task Force (JTF), which also include the EU and Indonesia.
The task force had its first meeting on Aug 4 in Jakarta, Indonesia following their recent joint mission to Brussels in May.
The ad hoc JTF aims to address concerns raised by Indonesia and Malaysia pertaining to the EUDR implementation and to identify practical solutions and approaches.
However, the minister also shared a positive development, noting the EU’s recognition of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification Scheme as a benchmark for the country’s effort to ensure responsible practices in the industry. The Sun Daily
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Malaysia's Positive Strides Towards Compliance with EU Deforestation Regulation
In recent years, palm oil-producing countries have made remarkable progress in addressing sustainability issues including deforestation and biodiversity loss. Through concerted efforts and initiatives, the industry is taking significant steps towards reducing negative environmental impact. The latest data on global deforestation released by an independent expert group, World Resources Institute (WRI) showed that while 4.1 million hectares or 10% of the world’s primary rainforest were lost from 2021 to 2022, major palm oil producing countries like Indonesia and Malaysia have demonstrated remarkable reductions in forest loss. Malaysia, in particular, has seen a 57% decline in forest loss, reflecting the government's commitment to its pledge made at the Rio Summit and the successful implementation of the mandatory Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme.
These positive findings position Malaysia favourably as it prepares to meet the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements.
As the EU establishes its country benchmarking system to assess the risk of deforestation, the latest data from WRI unequivocally justifies Malaysia's classification as 'Low Risk' for deforestation. Malaysia values its natural landscape and biodiversity while balancing sustainable development and economic opportunities aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
This commitment is further reinforced by effective unilateral action and long-term commitment from the industry and its stakeholders. The revised MSPO scheme, implemented in 2022, includes a no-deforestation cut-off date of 31 December 2019 and signifies the Malaysian government's dedication to producing certified sustainable palm oil. The widespread adoption of No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation (NDPE) policies across the industry has also contributed to Malaysia's efforts in reducing deforestation. Considering these findings, the EU should take them into account when engaging with Malaysia to ensure that Malaysian commodities are classified as Low Risk and in full compliance with the EUDR. MPOC
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EU’s hopes to make trade more sustainable, diversified before 2024
With the 2024 European elections and the reorganisation of European Commission jobs looming, Brussels must hurry to conclude crucial negotiations on sustainable and diversified EU trade by the end of 2023.
On the table are two draft laws to ensure no harm to human rights or the environment occurs along EU value chains and several trade agreements, but negotiations are proving to be lengthy and tough – and might not make the deadline.
More trade…
After some comparatively easy wins in the past 12 months, such as concluding negotiations with Chile and signing a free trade agreement with New Zealand, the EU now has its sights on bigger things. EURACTIV
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Surging Popularity of Eco-Friendly Cosmetics Fuels Palmitic Acid Market Expansion
Dublin, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Palmitic Acid Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report and Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
As the global palmitic acid market expands at an unprecedented pace, reaching a projected value of USD 519 million by 2030, the study highlights the crucial role of the product in diverse end-use segments. With soaring demand in personal care & cosmetics, soaps & detergents, greases & lubricants, and other industries, palmitic acid emerges as a key ingredient in various consumer and industrial products.
Driven by the rising popularity of natural and organic alternatives, palmitic acid derived from palm oil and coconut oil is now a favored ingredient in personal care and household products like shampoos, soaps, and laundry detergents. Consumers are increasingly embracing safer and healthier alternatives to synthetic ingredients, fuelling the demand for palmitic acid. Yahoo Finance
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Malaysian Minister Challenges EUDR Country Bench Marking for Deforestation Risks
MIRI: Malaysia should not be regarded as a high risk country in terms of deforestation and it would be unfair for the European Union (EU) to put the country as the benchmark for compliance with the EU Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR), Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said.
“The benchmark of compliance should be based on the industry itself, not the country. That way it will be better as far as the industry is concerned,” Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said when opening the Palm Oil Milling Technology Exhibition and Conference (Pomtec) 2023 here today.
He stressed that Malaysia will continue to discuss the matter in future meetings of the Joint Task Force (JTF), which also include the EU and Indonesia.
The task force had its first meeting on Aug 4 in Jakarta, Indonesia following their recent joint mission to Brussels in May.
The ad hoc JTF aims to address concerns raised by Indonesia and Malaysia pertaining to the EUDR implementation and to identify practical solutions and approaches.
However, the minister also shared a positive development, noting the EU’s recognition of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification Scheme as a benchmark for the country’s effort to ensure responsible practices in the industry. The Sun Daily
---------
Malaysia's Positive Strides Towards Compliance with EU Deforestation Regulation
In recent years, palm oil-producing countries have made remarkable progress in addressing sustainability issues including deforestation and biodiversity loss. Through concerted efforts and initiatives, the industry is taking significant steps towards reducing negative environmental impact. The latest data on global deforestation released by an independent expert group, World Resources Institute (WRI) showed that while 4.1 million hectares or 10% of the world’s primary rainforest were lost from 2021 to 2022, major palm oil producing countries like Indonesia and Malaysia have demonstrated remarkable reductions in forest loss. Malaysia, in particular, has seen a 57% decline in forest loss, reflecting the government's commitment to its pledge made at the Rio Summit and the successful implementation of the mandatory Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme.
These positive findings position Malaysia favourably as it prepares to meet the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements.
As the EU establishes its country benchmarking system to assess the risk of deforestation, the latest data from WRI unequivocally justifies Malaysia's classification as 'Low Risk' for deforestation. Malaysia values its natural landscape and biodiversity while balancing sustainable development and economic opportunities aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
This commitment is further reinforced by effective unilateral action and long-term commitment from the industry and its stakeholders. The revised MSPO scheme, implemented in 2022, includes a no-deforestation cut-off date of 31 December 2019 and signifies the Malaysian government's dedication to producing certified sustainable palm oil. The widespread adoption of No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation (NDPE) policies across the industry has also contributed to Malaysia's efforts in reducing deforestation. Considering these findings, the EU should take them into account when engaging with Malaysia to ensure that Malaysian commodities are classified as Low Risk and in full compliance with the EUDR. MPOC
---------
EU’s hopes to make trade more sustainable, diversified before 2024
With the 2024 European elections and the reorganisation of European Commission jobs looming, Brussels must hurry to conclude crucial negotiations on sustainable and diversified EU trade by the end of 2023.
On the table are two draft laws to ensure no harm to human rights or the environment occurs along EU value chains and several trade agreements, but negotiations are proving to be lengthy and tough – and might not make the deadline.
More trade…
After some comparatively easy wins in the past 12 months, such as concluding negotiations with Chile and signing a free trade agreement with New Zealand, the EU now has its sights on bigger things. EURACTIV
---------
Surging Popularity of Eco-Friendly Cosmetics Fuels Palmitic Acid Market Expansion
Dublin, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Palmitic Acid Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report and Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
As the global palmitic acid market expands at an unprecedented pace, reaching a projected value of USD 519 million by 2030, the study highlights the crucial role of the product in diverse end-use segments. With soaring demand in personal care & cosmetics, soaps & detergents, greases & lubricants, and other industries, palmitic acid emerges as a key ingredient in various consumer and industrial products.
Driven by the rising popularity of natural and organic alternatives, palmitic acid derived from palm oil and coconut oil is now a favored ingredient in personal care and household products like shampoos, soaps, and laundry detergents. Consumers are increasingly embracing safer and healthier alternatives to synthetic ingredients, fuelling the demand for palmitic acid. Yahoo Finance
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August 07, 2023
Palm oil replacement ‘not the answer’: Nestle taps satellite tech for sustainability amid EU Deforestation Regulation debate
Nestle has voiced support for the continued use of palm oil in the food and beverage sector amid intense debate surrounding the recently-enacted EU Deforestation Regulation, while also striving to guarantee its supply chain sustainability using advance satellite technology. Food Navigator Asia
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Exploring the Intersection of Telecommunications and Biofuel: The Palm Oil Waste Scenario
The intersection of telecommunications and biofuel is an intriguing concept that is steadily gaining traction in the global arena. The case of palm oil waste is a prime example of this convergence, showcasing how technological advancements can contribute to environmental sustainability.
Palm oil production, a significant economic driver in many tropical countries, generates a considerable amount of waste. Traditionally, this waste has been viewed as a problematic byproduct. However, recent developments in biofuel technology have transformed this waste into a valuable resource, creating an opportunity for sustainable energy production.
The telecommunications industry, on the other hand, is a rapidly growing sector that requires an immense amount of energy to function. With the advent of 5G technology and the Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for energy in this sector is expected to skyrocket. This burgeoning energy requirement has led the industry to explore alternative, sustainable sources of energy, and biofuel derived from palm oil waste presents a promising solution.
The transformation of palm oil waste into biofuel involves a process known as anaerobic digestion. This process breaks down the organic matter in the waste, producing biogas that can be used as a source of renewable energy. This energy can then be used to power telecommunications infrastructure, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels.
This intersection of telecommunications and biofuel is not just about energy production; it also involves data collection and analysis. Telecommunications technology can be used to monitor the biofuel production process, ensuring optimal efficiency and sustainability. For instance, sensors can be installed in the anaerobic digestion tanks to monitor temperature, pH levels, and other factors that influence the efficiency of biogas production. This data can then be transmitted and analyzed in real-time, allowing for immediate adjustments to the process if necessary. Energy Portal
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India-Promoting oil palm for future needs: TS Agriculture Minister
The State govt aims to expand oil palm cultivation to cover 2.3 lakh acres during the FY 2023-24. For this purpose, an allocation of Rs 750 crore has been made, said Niranjan Reddy.
HYDERABAD: Agriculture Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy on Saturday said that the State government is taking proactive measures to promote oil palm cultivation keeping in view the future requirements of the State.
Responding to queries raised by MLAs S Venkata Veeraiah, M Kishan Reddy, and others during Question Hour in the Assembly, Niranjan Reddy said that the per capita consumption of edible oils in the country stands at 19 kg per annum, or 250 lakh metric tonnes, while domestic production only accounts for 132 lakh metric tonnes. The shortfall in supply necessitates imports from countries like Malaysia, he said.
“To address this issue, the Telangana government has been actively encouraging oil palm cultivation. Since 1992-93, 1.54 lakh acres have been dedicated to oil palm cultivation in the State, with 1.18 lakh acres added after the formation of Telangana. New Indian Express
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Nigeria-Okomu & Presco: A tale of two palm oil giants
It is glaring that the impressive figures of Okomu Oil Plc and Presco Plc have buoyed investors’ confidence so far and the good tidings is that analysts are sanguine the top palm oil producers will maintain profit growth this year.
The biggest palm oil producers raked in N88.67 billion in sales for the first six months of 2023 from N82.51 billion in the similar period of 2022.
Further checks revealed Okomu Oil Palm recorded revenue of N38.07 billion from the local market (Nigeria) while N2.53 billion was earned from export sales in the first half of 2023.
Analysts said both firms are taking advantage of the opportunities in Nigeria’s agri-business value chain that is responsible for the company’s consistent earnings growth in the last five years.
“Nigeria’s oil palm imports from Malaysia will continue to increase for the time being because our investment in the industry is still very insignificant,” Henry Olatujoye, managing director, of Palmtrade and Commodities Development Nigeria Ltd told BusinessDay.
The country’s palm oil import from Malaysia increased to 92,961 metric tons (MT) between January-April 2023, from 20,513 MT in the corresponding period of 2022 which indicates a 72,448 MT increase. Business DayNG
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Palm oil replacement ‘not the answer’: Nestle taps satellite tech for sustainability amid EU Deforestation Regulation debate
Nestle has voiced support for the continued use of palm oil in the food and beverage sector amid intense debate surrounding the recently-enacted EU Deforestation Regulation, while also striving to guarantee its supply chain sustainability using advance satellite technology. Food Navigator Asia
---------
Exploring the Intersection of Telecommunications and Biofuel: The Palm Oil Waste Scenario
The intersection of telecommunications and biofuel is an intriguing concept that is steadily gaining traction in the global arena. The case of palm oil waste is a prime example of this convergence, showcasing how technological advancements can contribute to environmental sustainability.
Palm oil production, a significant economic driver in many tropical countries, generates a considerable amount of waste. Traditionally, this waste has been viewed as a problematic byproduct. However, recent developments in biofuel technology have transformed this waste into a valuable resource, creating an opportunity for sustainable energy production.
The telecommunications industry, on the other hand, is a rapidly growing sector that requires an immense amount of energy to function. With the advent of 5G technology and the Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for energy in this sector is expected to skyrocket. This burgeoning energy requirement has led the industry to explore alternative, sustainable sources of energy, and biofuel derived from palm oil waste presents a promising solution.
The transformation of palm oil waste into biofuel involves a process known as anaerobic digestion. This process breaks down the organic matter in the waste, producing biogas that can be used as a source of renewable energy. This energy can then be used to power telecommunications infrastructure, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels.
This intersection of telecommunications and biofuel is not just about energy production; it also involves data collection and analysis. Telecommunications technology can be used to monitor the biofuel production process, ensuring optimal efficiency and sustainability. For instance, sensors can be installed in the anaerobic digestion tanks to monitor temperature, pH levels, and other factors that influence the efficiency of biogas production. This data can then be transmitted and analyzed in real-time, allowing for immediate adjustments to the process if necessary. Energy Portal
---------
India-Promoting oil palm for future needs: TS Agriculture Minister
The State govt aims to expand oil palm cultivation to cover 2.3 lakh acres during the FY 2023-24. For this purpose, an allocation of Rs 750 crore has been made, said Niranjan Reddy.
HYDERABAD: Agriculture Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy on Saturday said that the State government is taking proactive measures to promote oil palm cultivation keeping in view the future requirements of the State.
Responding to queries raised by MLAs S Venkata Veeraiah, M Kishan Reddy, and others during Question Hour in the Assembly, Niranjan Reddy said that the per capita consumption of edible oils in the country stands at 19 kg per annum, or 250 lakh metric tonnes, while domestic production only accounts for 132 lakh metric tonnes. The shortfall in supply necessitates imports from countries like Malaysia, he said.
“To address this issue, the Telangana government has been actively encouraging oil palm cultivation. Since 1992-93, 1.54 lakh acres have been dedicated to oil palm cultivation in the State, with 1.18 lakh acres added after the formation of Telangana. New Indian Express
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Nigeria-Okomu & Presco: A tale of two palm oil giants
It is glaring that the impressive figures of Okomu Oil Plc and Presco Plc have buoyed investors’ confidence so far and the good tidings is that analysts are sanguine the top palm oil producers will maintain profit growth this year.
The biggest palm oil producers raked in N88.67 billion in sales for the first six months of 2023 from N82.51 billion in the similar period of 2022.
Further checks revealed Okomu Oil Palm recorded revenue of N38.07 billion from the local market (Nigeria) while N2.53 billion was earned from export sales in the first half of 2023.
Analysts said both firms are taking advantage of the opportunities in Nigeria’s agri-business value chain that is responsible for the company’s consistent earnings growth in the last five years.
“Nigeria’s oil palm imports from Malaysia will continue to increase for the time being because our investment in the industry is still very insignificant,” Henry Olatujoye, managing director, of Palmtrade and Commodities Development Nigeria Ltd told BusinessDay.
The country’s palm oil import from Malaysia increased to 92,961 metric tons (MT) between January-April 2023, from 20,513 MT in the corresponding period of 2022 which indicates a 72,448 MT increase. Business DayNG
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August 06, 2023
Indonesia, Malaysia, EU create task force on deforestation regulation
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia, Malaysia, and the European Union (EU) have agreed to establish an Ad Hoc Joint Task Force (JTF) on the European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR).
The kick-off meeting of the Ad Hoc JTF was conducted on August 4 in Jakarta.
The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Minister for Food and Agribusiness at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of Indonesia, Musdhalifah Machmud; Secretary General, Ministry of Plantation and Commodities of Malaysia, Dato’ Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli; and Director for Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism at the European Commission, Astrid Schomaker.
The co-chairs underscored their agreement to seek common interests between producers and consumers of plantation crops, according to a joint press statement between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the EU received here on Saturday.
“The Ad Hoc JTF aims to address concerns raised by Indonesia and Malaysia pertaining to the implementation of the EUDR and to identify practical solutions and approaches relevant to the implementation of the EUDR,” it said. Antara News
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JOINT PRESS RELEASE: THE KICK-OFF MEETING OF THE AD HOC JOINT TASK FORCE BETWEEN INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, AND THE EUROPEAN UNION
Following the Joint Mission carried out by Indonesia and Malaysia to Brussels on 30 – 31 May 2023 and the follow-up visit of the European Commission to Indonesia and Malaysia on 26 – 28 June 2023, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the European Union agreed to establish an Ad Hoc Joint Task Force (JTF) on European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The Kick-off Meeting of the Ad Hoc JTF was conducted on 4 August 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Musdhalifah Machmud, Deputy Minister for Food and Agribusiness, Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs (CMEA), the Republic of Indonesia, YBhg. Dato’ Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli, Secretary General Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (MPC) of Malaysia, and Ms. Astrid Schomaker, Director for Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism, European Commission (EC). The meeting was facilitated by the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) and attended by the representatives and stakeholders of relevant commodities subject to the EUDR.
The Co-Chairs underscored their agreement to seek common interests between producing and consuming countries and therefore, the Ad Hoc JTF is a platform to serve as a consultative mechanism to support coordination and promotion of mutual understanding between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the European Union. The Ad Hoc JTF aims to address concerns raised by Indonesia and Malaysia pertaining to the implementation of the EUDR and to, identify practical solutions and approaches relevant for the Implementation of the EUDR. The Ad Hoc JTF will establish a dialogue and relevant workstreams, where deemed useful, led by respective governments to build mutual understanding on the implementation of the regulation and its core aspects, including benchmarking. CPOPC
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MPOB signs MoU with Indian trade body
NEW DELHI (Aug 5): The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an Indian trade body to promote the exchange of vegetable oil sector knowhow between the two countries.
The MOU with the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA) seeks to encourage collaboration between Malaysian and Indian companies in commercial and technical areas, MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir told Bernama.
It covers areas such as sustainable vegetable oil production and trade, technology transfer and capacity building in palm-oil based industries, and promotion of best practices and quality standards.
The MOU was signed on Friday (Aug 4) on the sidelines of an industry conference in New Delhi.
IVPA president Sudhakar Desai said Indian companies can benefit from Malaysia’s advanced knowledge in palm oil products and equipment.
“There can be scope for mutual interaction and discussions in a number of areas,” Sudhakar said. The Borneo Post
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Agriculture Minister launched Oil Palm Plantation of Ramdev's Patanjali and Godrej to meet the shortage of edible oil
Ramdev's Patanjali Trust and Godrej company has come forward to meet Tripura's palm oil shortage. The central government has undertaken a nationwide program from July 25 to August 5 to reduce the shortage of palm oil in the country. A mega palm oil plantation was also inaugurated in the state last Friday as part of this programme. Agriculture Minister Ratanlal Nath started this mega oil palm plantation by planting saplings in Shashinagar of Belbari Block under Jirania Agriculture Division.
Palm garden will be developed in an area of 6 lakh 50 thousand hectares across the country. Among these, 3 lakh 27 thousand hectares have been targeted for North Eastern region which will be completed by next year 2025-26. In this case, a target of 7 thousand hectares has been taken in Tripura. Which will be completed by 2026-27. Agreement signed with Patanjali Foods Limited and Godrej company. Today with the help of Godrej, such a plantation program has been undertaken in Ambasa. Tripura Info
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Nagaland launches mega palm oil plantation NSF expresses concern
Kohima, Aug 5 (PTI) With the Central government earmarking over Rs 11,000 crore to encourage palm oil production, Nagaland launched a mega palm oil plantation drive.
Nagaland Advisor for Agriculture and MLA, Mhathung Yanthan officially inaugurated the campaign at the Agri Expo site in Chumoukedima district on Friday, stated a DIPR release here.
Speaking on the occasion, Yanthan emphasised the significance of the drive, highlighting its national scope.
Acknowledging the environmental concerns related to oil palm plantations, he encouraged farmers and the department to take on the challenge and to invest sincere efforts in becoming proficient oil palm growers.
Head of Marketing Development at Godrej, Swamani Dutta assured the provision of essential resources like fertilizers, pesticides, and farming equipment in the coming months, along with the establishment of the first Samadhran Center in Dimapur.
Meanwhile, following the launch of the mega oil palm plantation drive, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), on Saturday expressed concern about the long-term negative impact the commercial cultivation of oil palm could have on the health, forest, biodiversity and quality of the soil of the state. The WeekIN
Indonesia, Malaysia, EU create task force on deforestation regulation
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia, Malaysia, and the European Union (EU) have agreed to establish an Ad Hoc Joint Task Force (JTF) on the European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR).
The kick-off meeting of the Ad Hoc JTF was conducted on August 4 in Jakarta.
The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Minister for Food and Agribusiness at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of Indonesia, Musdhalifah Machmud; Secretary General, Ministry of Plantation and Commodities of Malaysia, Dato’ Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli; and Director for Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism at the European Commission, Astrid Schomaker.
The co-chairs underscored their agreement to seek common interests between producers and consumers of plantation crops, according to a joint press statement between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the EU received here on Saturday.
“The Ad Hoc JTF aims to address concerns raised by Indonesia and Malaysia pertaining to the implementation of the EUDR and to identify practical solutions and approaches relevant to the implementation of the EUDR,” it said. Antara News
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JOINT PRESS RELEASE: THE KICK-OFF MEETING OF THE AD HOC JOINT TASK FORCE BETWEEN INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, AND THE EUROPEAN UNION
Following the Joint Mission carried out by Indonesia and Malaysia to Brussels on 30 – 31 May 2023 and the follow-up visit of the European Commission to Indonesia and Malaysia on 26 – 28 June 2023, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the European Union agreed to establish an Ad Hoc Joint Task Force (JTF) on European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The Kick-off Meeting of the Ad Hoc JTF was conducted on 4 August 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Musdhalifah Machmud, Deputy Minister for Food and Agribusiness, Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs (CMEA), the Republic of Indonesia, YBhg. Dato’ Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli, Secretary General Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (MPC) of Malaysia, and Ms. Astrid Schomaker, Director for Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism, European Commission (EC). The meeting was facilitated by the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) and attended by the representatives and stakeholders of relevant commodities subject to the EUDR.
The Co-Chairs underscored their agreement to seek common interests between producing and consuming countries and therefore, the Ad Hoc JTF is a platform to serve as a consultative mechanism to support coordination and promotion of mutual understanding between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the European Union. The Ad Hoc JTF aims to address concerns raised by Indonesia and Malaysia pertaining to the implementation of the EUDR and to, identify practical solutions and approaches relevant for the Implementation of the EUDR. The Ad Hoc JTF will establish a dialogue and relevant workstreams, where deemed useful, led by respective governments to build mutual understanding on the implementation of the regulation and its core aspects, including benchmarking. CPOPC
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MPOB signs MoU with Indian trade body
NEW DELHI (Aug 5): The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an Indian trade body to promote the exchange of vegetable oil sector knowhow between the two countries.
The MOU with the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA) seeks to encourage collaboration between Malaysian and Indian companies in commercial and technical areas, MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir told Bernama.
It covers areas such as sustainable vegetable oil production and trade, technology transfer and capacity building in palm-oil based industries, and promotion of best practices and quality standards.
The MOU was signed on Friday (Aug 4) on the sidelines of an industry conference in New Delhi.
IVPA president Sudhakar Desai said Indian companies can benefit from Malaysia’s advanced knowledge in palm oil products and equipment.
“There can be scope for mutual interaction and discussions in a number of areas,” Sudhakar said. The Borneo Post
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Agriculture Minister launched Oil Palm Plantation of Ramdev's Patanjali and Godrej to meet the shortage of edible oil
Ramdev's Patanjali Trust and Godrej company has come forward to meet Tripura's palm oil shortage. The central government has undertaken a nationwide program from July 25 to August 5 to reduce the shortage of palm oil in the country. A mega palm oil plantation was also inaugurated in the state last Friday as part of this programme. Agriculture Minister Ratanlal Nath started this mega oil palm plantation by planting saplings in Shashinagar of Belbari Block under Jirania Agriculture Division.
Palm garden will be developed in an area of 6 lakh 50 thousand hectares across the country. Among these, 3 lakh 27 thousand hectares have been targeted for North Eastern region which will be completed by next year 2025-26. In this case, a target of 7 thousand hectares has been taken in Tripura. Which will be completed by 2026-27. Agreement signed with Patanjali Foods Limited and Godrej company. Today with the help of Godrej, such a plantation program has been undertaken in Ambasa. Tripura Info
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Nagaland launches mega palm oil plantation NSF expresses concern
Kohima, Aug 5 (PTI) With the Central government earmarking over Rs 11,000 crore to encourage palm oil production, Nagaland launched a mega palm oil plantation drive.
Nagaland Advisor for Agriculture and MLA, Mhathung Yanthan officially inaugurated the campaign at the Agri Expo site in Chumoukedima district on Friday, stated a DIPR release here.
Speaking on the occasion, Yanthan emphasised the significance of the drive, highlighting its national scope.
Acknowledging the environmental concerns related to oil palm plantations, he encouraged farmers and the department to take on the challenge and to invest sincere efforts in becoming proficient oil palm growers.
Head of Marketing Development at Godrej, Swamani Dutta assured the provision of essential resources like fertilizers, pesticides, and farming equipment in the coming months, along with the establishment of the first Samadhran Center in Dimapur.
Meanwhile, following the launch of the mega oil palm plantation drive, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), on Saturday expressed concern about the long-term negative impact the commercial cultivation of oil palm could have on the health, forest, biodiversity and quality of the soil of the state. The WeekIN
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August 05, 2023
Malaysia-Indonesia task force to promote understanding of EU deforestation regulations
THE world’s largest palm oil producers, Malaysia and Indonesia, have agreed to set up an ad hoc joint task force (JTF) to establish dialogue and relevant workstreams to build mutual understanding on the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its core aspects, including benchmarking
This follows their recent joint mission to Brussels in May, with the first meeting yesterday (Aug 4) in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The meeting was co-chaired by Indonesia’s Food and Agribusiness Deputy Minister Dr Musdhalifah Machmud, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs (CMEA), Malaysia’s Plantation and Commodities Ministry (MPC) secretary-general Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli and the European Commission Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism director Astrid Schomaker.
The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) facilitated the meeting attended by the representatives and stakeholders of relevant commodities subject to the EUDR.
The co-chairs will seek common interests between producing and consuming countries with the JTF platform as a consultative mechanism to support coordination and promote mutual understanding between Indonesia, Malaysia and the European Union.
The ad hoc JTF aims to address concerns raised by Indonesia and Malaysia pertaining to the EUDR implementation and to identify practical solutions and approaches, a joint statement by both governments, CPOPC and the EU said.
Musdhalifah said an understanding was reached and Mad Zaidi stressed that cooperation is the way forward and solutions can be inspired by best practices across sectors.
Schomaker acknowledged the progress made by Indonesia and Malaysia on reducing deforestation, welcomed the sharing of information and further clarification of the regulation.
The JTF will work on issues like smallholders in the supply chain, national certification schemes (land legality and cut-off date for deforestation), producer to end-consumer traceability, scientific data on deforestation and forest degradation, and data protection. The Malaysian Reserve
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India-Oil Palm Cultivation, The Key To Tripura’s Economic Growth: Agriculture Minister – Ratan Lal Nath
Agartala, August 05, 2023: In a push towards self-reliance, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare minister Ratan Lal Nath on Friday stressed the importance of utilizing abandoned agricultural lands for cultivating coconut, betel nut, jackfruit, orange, pineapple, and other crops. He believes this approach will empower the youth of the state, making them ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) and ‘Swanirbhar’ (self-sufficient). Additionally, he highlighted the significant role oil palm cultivation will play in bolstering the state’s economy in the near future.
Launching the Oil-Palm Plantation Drive at Shantinagar VC of Belbari Block under Jirania Agri sub-division, Nath emphasized the importance of self-reliance among people living in the hills to achieve true development in the state. He highlighted the central government’s efforts to promote ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) and ‘Swanirbhar’ (self-sufficient) initiatives, which the Tripura government is also striving to implement under the leadership of Chief Minister Prof Dr Manik Saha.
Nath stressed the significance of focusing on villages and hills in Tripura, as they house all the agricultural lands and are essential for the state’s economic growth. He pointed out that agriculture is the main source of profit in the state due to a limited number of industries. To achieve success in becoming self-reliant, he emphasized increasing production efficiency, especially in the agriculture sector.
The minister discussed the potential of palm oil cultivation as a profitable alternative to rubber. While rubber production takes seven years to yield profit, palm oil can generate income after just four years. Moreover, a farmer can earn significantly higher income from palm oil cultivation compared to rubber, contributing to the state’s and the country’s self-reliance. Currently, India imports palm oil worth Rs 80,000 crore from other countries, and promoting domestic palm oil production can reduce this dependency. NET
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Malaysia-Indonesia task force to promote understanding of EU deforestation regulations
THE world’s largest palm oil producers, Malaysia and Indonesia, have agreed to set up an ad hoc joint task force (JTF) to establish dialogue and relevant workstreams to build mutual understanding on the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its core aspects, including benchmarking
This follows their recent joint mission to Brussels in May, with the first meeting yesterday (Aug 4) in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The meeting was co-chaired by Indonesia’s Food and Agribusiness Deputy Minister Dr Musdhalifah Machmud, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs (CMEA), Malaysia’s Plantation and Commodities Ministry (MPC) secretary-general Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli and the European Commission Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism director Astrid Schomaker.
The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) facilitated the meeting attended by the representatives and stakeholders of relevant commodities subject to the EUDR.
The co-chairs will seek common interests between producing and consuming countries with the JTF platform as a consultative mechanism to support coordination and promote mutual understanding between Indonesia, Malaysia and the European Union.
The ad hoc JTF aims to address concerns raised by Indonesia and Malaysia pertaining to the EUDR implementation and to identify practical solutions and approaches, a joint statement by both governments, CPOPC and the EU said.
Musdhalifah said an understanding was reached and Mad Zaidi stressed that cooperation is the way forward and solutions can be inspired by best practices across sectors.
Schomaker acknowledged the progress made by Indonesia and Malaysia on reducing deforestation, welcomed the sharing of information and further clarification of the regulation.
The JTF will work on issues like smallholders in the supply chain, national certification schemes (land legality and cut-off date for deforestation), producer to end-consumer traceability, scientific data on deforestation and forest degradation, and data protection. The Malaysian Reserve
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India-Oil Palm Cultivation, The Key To Tripura’s Economic Growth: Agriculture Minister – Ratan Lal Nath
Agartala, August 05, 2023: In a push towards self-reliance, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare minister Ratan Lal Nath on Friday stressed the importance of utilizing abandoned agricultural lands for cultivating coconut, betel nut, jackfruit, orange, pineapple, and other crops. He believes this approach will empower the youth of the state, making them ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) and ‘Swanirbhar’ (self-sufficient). Additionally, he highlighted the significant role oil palm cultivation will play in bolstering the state’s economy in the near future.
Launching the Oil-Palm Plantation Drive at Shantinagar VC of Belbari Block under Jirania Agri sub-division, Nath emphasized the importance of self-reliance among people living in the hills to achieve true development in the state. He highlighted the central government’s efforts to promote ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) and ‘Swanirbhar’ (self-sufficient) initiatives, which the Tripura government is also striving to implement under the leadership of Chief Minister Prof Dr Manik Saha.
Nath stressed the significance of focusing on villages and hills in Tripura, as they house all the agricultural lands and are essential for the state’s economic growth. He pointed out that agriculture is the main source of profit in the state due to a limited number of industries. To achieve success in becoming self-reliant, he emphasized increasing production efficiency, especially in the agriculture sector.
The minister discussed the potential of palm oil cultivation as a profitable alternative to rubber. While rubber production takes seven years to yield profit, palm oil can generate income after just four years. Moreover, a farmer can earn significantly higher income from palm oil cultivation compared to rubber, contributing to the state’s and the country’s self-reliance. Currently, India imports palm oil worth Rs 80,000 crore from other countries, and promoting domestic palm oil production can reduce this dependency. NET
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August 04, 2023
Indonesia’s Pertamina advances SAF development
Indonesian state-owned refiner Pertamina is proceeding to the next phase in its development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) after trialling the fuel in commercial aircraft engines.
The firm carried out static tests of SAF on jet engines, the first step in ensuring that SAF can be used in commercial aircraft, the firm said on 29 July. The next testing phase includes ground and flight tests. Further details on the timeline for testing and development were not provided.
Pertamina has previously used SAF in military aircraft in 2021 and carried out successful test flights using CN-235 aircraft in 2022, according to the firm.
Pertamina produces SAF through the co-processing method, which simultaneously processes vegetable oil feedstock and gasoline into green hydrocarbons, namely bio aviation fuel, said the firm's vice-president of corporate communications Fadjar Djoko Santoso. Argus Media
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Asian Palm Oil Association says oil palm cultivation can unlock Sri Lanka’s economic potential
Sri Lanka’s recent decision to either temporarily ban or restrict palm oil cultivation has attracted significant attention both domestically and internationally. As a result, the Asian Palm Oil Association (APOA), a multilateral body representing the industry across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, has expressed concerns about the significant negative impact of these policy decisions for Sri Lanka.
These concerns were raised formally by the APOA with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, recently. In this article, we examine some of the most important concerns and missed benefits of this golden crop, and explore the overwhelming positives for cultivating oil palms in Sri Lanka, which include economic benefits, potential for improving food security, and support for sustainable development goals.
Addressing the vegetable oil shortage
One of the primary reasons to support the cultivation of oil palms in Sri Lanka is the acute shortage of cooking oil in the country. Global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 crisis and the Russia-Ukraine war have severely affected vegetable oil supply chains. As a major consumer of cooking oil, Sri Lanka could address this shortage by fostering a strategic commodity like palm oil, thus reducing its dependence on imports.
Economic impact and food security. Financial TimesLK
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IFC accords $150m loan to Olam to boost palm oil production in Gabon
The World Bank’s private sector financing arm, International Finance Corporation (IFC), has provided a credit package of $150 to Olam Palm Gabon, the subsidiary of Singapore-based Olam International, to boost the company’s production of palm oil in the central African country.
The loan, Gabon Review reports, will be used in the construction of a biodiesel plant and a palm oil refinery at the port of Owendo.
In addition, the company plans to use a chunk of the financing to build a fourth plant in Mouila, southern Gabon, as well as a crude palm oil processing plant in Lambaréné. Another part will be used to maintain Olam’s existing facilities in Gabon, including palm oil plantations covering 63,330 hectares, three palm oil mills, kernel crushing plants and a crude palm oil refinery (CPO), as well as all ancillary facilities such as the Awala biogas cogeneration plant.
Olam Palm Gabon also argues that the credit also is accompanied by non-financial support to promote the sustainable management of biodiversity and forestry in Gabon.
The company is a joint venture between Olam International (60 per cent) and the Gabonese government (40 per cent).
The loan heralds the return of IFC in the palm oil industry. IFC suspended investments in palm oil businesses in 2009, Devdiscours reports, after review of its practices in the sector following complaints by small land-holder and indigenous groups in Indonesia about its investments in projects by major palm oil producer Wilmar International. North Africa Post
Indonesia’s Pertamina advances SAF development
Indonesian state-owned refiner Pertamina is proceeding to the next phase in its development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) after trialling the fuel in commercial aircraft engines.
The firm carried out static tests of SAF on jet engines, the first step in ensuring that SAF can be used in commercial aircraft, the firm said on 29 July. The next testing phase includes ground and flight tests. Further details on the timeline for testing and development were not provided.
Pertamina has previously used SAF in military aircraft in 2021 and carried out successful test flights using CN-235 aircraft in 2022, according to the firm.
Pertamina produces SAF through the co-processing method, which simultaneously processes vegetable oil feedstock and gasoline into green hydrocarbons, namely bio aviation fuel, said the firm's vice-president of corporate communications Fadjar Djoko Santoso. Argus Media
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Asian Palm Oil Association says oil palm cultivation can unlock Sri Lanka’s economic potential
Sri Lanka’s recent decision to either temporarily ban or restrict palm oil cultivation has attracted significant attention both domestically and internationally. As a result, the Asian Palm Oil Association (APOA), a multilateral body representing the industry across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, has expressed concerns about the significant negative impact of these policy decisions for Sri Lanka.
These concerns were raised formally by the APOA with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, recently. In this article, we examine some of the most important concerns and missed benefits of this golden crop, and explore the overwhelming positives for cultivating oil palms in Sri Lanka, which include economic benefits, potential for improving food security, and support for sustainable development goals.
Addressing the vegetable oil shortage
One of the primary reasons to support the cultivation of oil palms in Sri Lanka is the acute shortage of cooking oil in the country. Global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 crisis and the Russia-Ukraine war have severely affected vegetable oil supply chains. As a major consumer of cooking oil, Sri Lanka could address this shortage by fostering a strategic commodity like palm oil, thus reducing its dependence on imports.
Economic impact and food security. Financial TimesLK
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IFC accords $150m loan to Olam to boost palm oil production in Gabon
The World Bank’s private sector financing arm, International Finance Corporation (IFC), has provided a credit package of $150 to Olam Palm Gabon, the subsidiary of Singapore-based Olam International, to boost the company’s production of palm oil in the central African country.
The loan, Gabon Review reports, will be used in the construction of a biodiesel plant and a palm oil refinery at the port of Owendo.
In addition, the company plans to use a chunk of the financing to build a fourth plant in Mouila, southern Gabon, as well as a crude palm oil processing plant in Lambaréné. Another part will be used to maintain Olam’s existing facilities in Gabon, including palm oil plantations covering 63,330 hectares, three palm oil mills, kernel crushing plants and a crude palm oil refinery (CPO), as well as all ancillary facilities such as the Awala biogas cogeneration plant.
Olam Palm Gabon also argues that the credit also is accompanied by non-financial support to promote the sustainable management of biodiversity and forestry in Gabon.
The company is a joint venture between Olam International (60 per cent) and the Gabonese government (40 per cent).
The loan heralds the return of IFC in the palm oil industry. IFC suspended investments in palm oil businesses in 2009, Devdiscours reports, after review of its practices in the sector following complaints by small land-holder and indigenous groups in Indonesia about its investments in projects by major palm oil producer Wilmar International. North Africa Post
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August 03, 2023
Indonesia Wants EFTA to Recognize ISPO Palm Oil Certification
Jakarta. Indonesia on Wednesday persuaded Switzerland, a member of the European Free Trade Association or EFTA, to get the group into recognizing the country's sustainability certification scheme for palm oil called the ISPO.
The attempt was made when Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi hosted a meeting with her Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis in Jakarta. The discussions emphasized strengthening economic cooperation, and Indonesia’s trade pact with the EFTA was no exception.
The EFTA is a trade bloc comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Indonesia has a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with EFTA, which is set to open up market access. This trade deal entered into force in Nov. 2021.
According to government data, Indonesia-Switzerland trade rose from almost $2 billion in 2021 to $2.8 billion the following year.
During a joint press conference with Cassis, Retno attributed the robust trade growth to the Indonesia-EFTA CEPA. But there is still room for growth, particularly for Indonesia’s top commodity palm oil. Indonesia is hoping that EFTA would recognize the ISPO, which is short for Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil.
“To sustain our trade growth, we identified several initiatives. And I asked Councilor Cassis that Indonesia would like to see the recognition of the ISPO certification to facilitate Indonesia’s palm oil to enter the EFTA market,” Retno told the press briefing. Jakarta Globe
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PRESS STATEMENT BILATERAL MENLU RI DENGAN MENLU SWISS JAKARTA, 2 AGUSTUS 2023
Councilor Cassis, my good friend Ignazio, welcome to Jakarta.
And once again, congratulations on your National Day yesterday.
It is an honor for me to receive your first official visit to Indonesia.
As I mentioned earlier, Switzerland is one of Indonesia's important economic partners in Europe.
Switzerland is our largest partner in EFTA (European Free Trade Association), and also one of the largest European investors in Indonesia.
And Your visit today certainly provides more momentum to elevate our bilateral relations to greater heights.
Colleagues,
During the meeting with Councilor Cassis, we discussed several issues.
First, on trade cooperation.
Our bilateral trade managed to bounce back to USD 2,7 billion last year, a 38% increase from 2021.
The entry into force of the Indonesia-EFTA CEPA since November 2021 has contributed to this positive trend.
To sustain our trade growth, we identified several initiatives, including by:
Questions over NZ modern slavery law as cosmetics exploitation report released
As the Government starts the process towards a Modern Slavery Act, findings from a new report into child labour in the cosmetics industry suggests stronger measures are urgently needed
Two things have happened over the past five days around global labour exploitation. Last Friday our Government announced it was starting work on a supply chain register for big companies in an effort to crack down on modern slavery. Legislation should follow next year, Workplace Relations Minister Carmel Sepuloni said.
Then, on Monday, an international report from World Vision made it clear why eliminating exploitation in our supply chains is so critical.
The high price of beauty: Child labour in global cosmetics is a tough read.
It shows 160 million child labourers (5-17 years old), with numbers expected to reduce only fractionally – to 140 million – by 2025. It shows a growing cosmetics industry projected to be worth $US622 billion by 2028 contributing to the child labour problem through its reliance on ingredients coming from poor countries with lax labour laws, and through companies' failure to ensure their supply chains are clean, and to take action when they aren’t. NewsroomNZ
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Indonesia Wants EFTA to Recognize ISPO Palm Oil Certification
Jakarta. Indonesia on Wednesday persuaded Switzerland, a member of the European Free Trade Association or EFTA, to get the group into recognizing the country's sustainability certification scheme for palm oil called the ISPO.
The attempt was made when Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi hosted a meeting with her Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis in Jakarta. The discussions emphasized strengthening economic cooperation, and Indonesia’s trade pact with the EFTA was no exception.
The EFTA is a trade bloc comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Indonesia has a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with EFTA, which is set to open up market access. This trade deal entered into force in Nov. 2021.
According to government data, Indonesia-Switzerland trade rose from almost $2 billion in 2021 to $2.8 billion the following year.
During a joint press conference with Cassis, Retno attributed the robust trade growth to the Indonesia-EFTA CEPA. But there is still room for growth, particularly for Indonesia’s top commodity palm oil. Indonesia is hoping that EFTA would recognize the ISPO, which is short for Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil.
“To sustain our trade growth, we identified several initiatives. And I asked Councilor Cassis that Indonesia would like to see the recognition of the ISPO certification to facilitate Indonesia’s palm oil to enter the EFTA market,” Retno told the press briefing. Jakarta Globe
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PRESS STATEMENT BILATERAL MENLU RI DENGAN MENLU SWISS JAKARTA, 2 AGUSTUS 2023
Councilor Cassis, my good friend Ignazio, welcome to Jakarta.
And once again, congratulations on your National Day yesterday.
It is an honor for me to receive your first official visit to Indonesia.
As I mentioned earlier, Switzerland is one of Indonesia's important economic partners in Europe.
Switzerland is our largest partner in EFTA (European Free Trade Association), and also one of the largest European investors in Indonesia.
And Your visit today certainly provides more momentum to elevate our bilateral relations to greater heights.
Colleagues,
During the meeting with Councilor Cassis, we discussed several issues.
First, on trade cooperation.
Our bilateral trade managed to bounce back to USD 2,7 billion last year, a 38% increase from 2021.
The entry into force of the Indonesia-EFTA CEPA since November 2021 has contributed to this positive trend.
To sustain our trade growth, we identified several initiatives, including by:
- Engaging all business stakeholders to utilize the I-EFTA CEPA.
- Prioritizing capacity-building programs on Rules of Origin and SPS standards;
- And I asked Councilor Cassis that Indonesia would like to see the recognition of ISPO-certification to facilitate Indonesia's palm oil to enter the EFTA market. KEMLU
Questions over NZ modern slavery law as cosmetics exploitation report released
As the Government starts the process towards a Modern Slavery Act, findings from a new report into child labour in the cosmetics industry suggests stronger measures are urgently needed
Two things have happened over the past five days around global labour exploitation. Last Friday our Government announced it was starting work on a supply chain register for big companies in an effort to crack down on modern slavery. Legislation should follow next year, Workplace Relations Minister Carmel Sepuloni said.
Then, on Monday, an international report from World Vision made it clear why eliminating exploitation in our supply chains is so critical.
The high price of beauty: Child labour in global cosmetics is a tough read.
It shows 160 million child labourers (5-17 years old), with numbers expected to reduce only fractionally – to 140 million – by 2025. It shows a growing cosmetics industry projected to be worth $US622 billion by 2028 contributing to the child labour problem through its reliance on ingredients coming from poor countries with lax labour laws, and through companies' failure to ensure their supply chains are clean, and to take action when they aren’t. NewsroomNZ
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August 02, 2023
GAPKI Escalates Palm Oil Exports to China, India Following EU Deforestation Law
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) chairperson Eddy Martono stated that his side is eyeing China as its largest destination for palm oil exports.
Eddy recalled that before the COVID-19 pandemic, palm oil exports to China reached 8 million tons per year. The figure declined below 6 million tons per year during the pandemic.
“Last year (2022) it was 6.3 million tons. This year, we are after 7 million tons. And if possible, it will be above 8 million tons next year,” Eddy said when met at the Trade Ministry office on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.
In addition, Eddy said he would increase exports to India and non-traditional markets, such as Moscow, Russia, and Eastern Europe. “We are also going to Central Asia and Africa.”
Expansion to these countries will be maximized in a bid to prevent Indonesia from depending on the European Union, given the issuance of the European Union's Anti-Deforestation Law which obliges companies to ensure products exported to the EU have not led to deforestation. Tempo
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Malaysian palm oil rises on expectations of strong demand from India, China
August 02, 2023 (MLN): Malaysian palm oil rose significantly on Wednesday amid expectations that India and China will import a combined total of 16.5 million tonnes of palm oil by December 2023, up from 15 million tonnes in 2022.
The benchmark palm oil contract is up by 1.52% to 3,931 ringgit a tonne.
It is worth noting that the palm oil contract witnessed a significant decline of 2.35% in July to close at 3,878 ringgit a tonne.
Malaysia’s crude palm oil prices will trade at 3,700-4,200 ringgit a metric ton in the second half of 2023, and will remain supported in the long term, state agency Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) said on Tuesday, as Reuters reported.
Heading into 2024, there is a strong possibility that prices may rise above 4,300 ringgit ($952.38) a metric ton, MPOC deputy director Mohd Izham Hassan said in a webinar.
Production in the world’s second-largest producer during the first half of 2023 was nearly 3% lower than in the same period last year, Mohd Izham added.
Malaysia’s benchmark crude palm oil futures have declined 7% so far this year.
They traded around 3,882 ringgit ($859.80) on Tuesday, as traders weighed a decline in rival soft oil prices and supply concerns. Mettis Global
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Nigeria-Bill to establish Edo oil palm programme passes second reading
A bill seeking to establish the Edo State Oil Palm Programme, on Monday, passed through the second reading on the floor of the state House of Assembly.
Speaking during debate on the bill, the Majority leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, said the intention was to provide a legal framework for the development of the oil palm industry in the state.
”When passed, the bill will establish a roadmap for the state to harness the benefits in the oil palm industry.
”Oil palm has been the mainstay of the state economy long before crude oil was discovered. This bill will regulate oil palm production activities in the state.
”It is a billion-dollar industry that has the potential to boost the revenue of the state,” he said.
Aiguobarueghian said that Edo remained one of the leading states in oil palm cultivation and production in the country. Business DayNG
GAPKI Escalates Palm Oil Exports to China, India Following EU Deforestation Law
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) chairperson Eddy Martono stated that his side is eyeing China as its largest destination for palm oil exports.
Eddy recalled that before the COVID-19 pandemic, palm oil exports to China reached 8 million tons per year. The figure declined below 6 million tons per year during the pandemic.
“Last year (2022) it was 6.3 million tons. This year, we are after 7 million tons. And if possible, it will be above 8 million tons next year,” Eddy said when met at the Trade Ministry office on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.
In addition, Eddy said he would increase exports to India and non-traditional markets, such as Moscow, Russia, and Eastern Europe. “We are also going to Central Asia and Africa.”
Expansion to these countries will be maximized in a bid to prevent Indonesia from depending on the European Union, given the issuance of the European Union's Anti-Deforestation Law which obliges companies to ensure products exported to the EU have not led to deforestation. Tempo
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Malaysian palm oil rises on expectations of strong demand from India, China
August 02, 2023 (MLN): Malaysian palm oil rose significantly on Wednesday amid expectations that India and China will import a combined total of 16.5 million tonnes of palm oil by December 2023, up from 15 million tonnes in 2022.
The benchmark palm oil contract is up by 1.52% to 3,931 ringgit a tonne.
It is worth noting that the palm oil contract witnessed a significant decline of 2.35% in July to close at 3,878 ringgit a tonne.
Malaysia’s crude palm oil prices will trade at 3,700-4,200 ringgit a metric ton in the second half of 2023, and will remain supported in the long term, state agency Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) said on Tuesday, as Reuters reported.
Heading into 2024, there is a strong possibility that prices may rise above 4,300 ringgit ($952.38) a metric ton, MPOC deputy director Mohd Izham Hassan said in a webinar.
Production in the world’s second-largest producer during the first half of 2023 was nearly 3% lower than in the same period last year, Mohd Izham added.
Malaysia’s benchmark crude palm oil futures have declined 7% so far this year.
They traded around 3,882 ringgit ($859.80) on Tuesday, as traders weighed a decline in rival soft oil prices and supply concerns. Mettis Global
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Nigeria-Bill to establish Edo oil palm programme passes second reading
A bill seeking to establish the Edo State Oil Palm Programme, on Monday, passed through the second reading on the floor of the state House of Assembly.
Speaking during debate on the bill, the Majority leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, said the intention was to provide a legal framework for the development of the oil palm industry in the state.
”When passed, the bill will establish a roadmap for the state to harness the benefits in the oil palm industry.
”Oil palm has been the mainstay of the state economy long before crude oil was discovered. This bill will regulate oil palm production activities in the state.
”It is a billion-dollar industry that has the potential to boost the revenue of the state,” he said.
Aiguobarueghian said that Edo remained one of the leading states in oil palm cultivation and production in the country. Business DayNG
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August 01, 2023
Show us the criteria: Malaysian palm oil sector calls for ‘more transparency’ from EU on Deforestation Regulation amidst high-risk listing debate
The palm oil industry in Malaysia is calling for the European Union (EU) to provide more clarity over how it will define ‘high-risk’ countries under its recently-approved Deforestation Regulation, stressing that current scientific data has already demonstrated it should be omitted from this list. Food Navigator
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MPOC-EU's new forced labour rules should not be a bane
KUALA LUMPUR (July 31): The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) has expressed concern that the European Union’s (EU) new regulations on forced labour should not impose excessive burdens on operators in the palm oil supply chains.
The MPOC also hopes that these regulations will not create any obstacles to trade, it said in a statement on Monday (July 31).
Hence, the MPOC is requesting additional discussions with the EU regarding their proposed regulation on forced labour and to ensure that these regulations do not unfairly discriminate against the palm oil industry.
“Engagements should be made on the reliance on the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standards and on Malaysia’s laws and regulations in ensuring compliance with the EU’s future requirements regarding forced labour. The Edge Malaysia
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Indonesia Opposes EU's Anti-Deforestation Law, Trade Minister Says
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan stressed that the government opposed the EU's anti-Deforestation Law. "This regulation is potentially harmful to our farmers," said the minister in Food Agri Insight's "Opposing EU's Anti-Deforestation Law" forum at the ministry auditorium on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.
According to Zulkifli, the anti-deforestation law will hamper trade and has the potential to be discriminatory. Indonesia has always been the EU's exporter of oil palm, wood, rubbers, and live cattle. The export value cannot be undermined. "In 2022, Indonesia's export to the EU amounted to almost US$7,000,000 and consisted of nearly 8 million small farmers," he said. "We are aware this will be an uphill battle (to oppose the bill). But we are doing this to protect the state's interest."
Concerning the discrimination potential, the minister said that the bill provided criteria for countries, categorizing them based on risks. Indonesia could be blacklisted if the law categorized it as a high-risk country. Tempo
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Indonesia to Use Biodiesel 35 Starting August
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government will apply biodiesel 35 or B35 simultaneously nationwide starting Tuesday, August 1. B35 is a fuel with 35 percent biofuel (BBN) mixed into fuel oil (BBM). The B35 was first launched on February 1 this year.
"Since February 1, some places actually already have B35. But there are still several [business entities] terminals providing B30. By tomorrow, every one of them [will] provide B35," Fajar Wahyudi, head of distribution at the Agency Oil Palm Plantation Managers (BPDPKS), said in a discussion dubbed 'Pursuing Foreign Exchanges through the B35 Program' held at the Hotel Sultan, Monday, 31 July.
Fajar said that the use of the funds collected by the BPDPKS for biodiesel purposes was intended to cover the difference between the market price (HIP) of diesel fuel and the HIP of vegetable biodiesel. This is mandated in President Regulation (Perpres) No. 66 of 2018.
Fajar said that in 2022 the BPDPKS paid the difference in HIP to 23 biodegradable business entities. The amount was around Rp34.5 trillion. The volume of biodiesel paid for was almost 7 million kiloliters from distribution in that year, which was 10.36 million kiloliters. Tempo
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Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia tests palm oil-blended jet fuel
JAKARTA : Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia said on Tuesday it is testing jet fuel mixed with palm oil in the engines of one of its Boeing aircraft, amid efforts to cut emissions in the aviation sector.
Indonesia, the world' biggest producer of palm oil, is keen to expand use of the vegetable oil in fuels to slash imports of expensive fossil fuels. This year, it rolled out the use of biodiesel containing 35 per cent palm oil, the highest mandatory mix in the world, up from 30 per cent last year.
Garuda said in a statement the jet fuel, which contains 2.4 per cent palm oil, is being tested on CFM56-7B engines of a B737-800 NG aircraft. It added the test was launched last week.
"This initiation is our first step to support a green and sustainable economy, and make us a pioneer as the first commercial airline in Indonesia to carry out trials of renewable energy," Garuda chief executive Irfan Setiaputra said in the statement.
The engine test will be followed by ground and flight tests later in August, the energy ministry said. The country in 2021 ran a flight test with the same fuel on an aircraft made by state-owned Dirgantara Indonesia, which flew from the city Bandung in West Java to the capital Jakarta. Reuters
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Tocotrienols supplementation may reduce HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) is an important marker of long-term glycemic control with the ability to reflect the cumulative glycemic history of the preceding two to three months
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its associated complications are major global health issues due to the high rates of diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. Nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy are among the many consequences of T2DM that are often present upon diagnosis or develop during the course of the disease.
The correlation between T2DM and oxidative stress is well known. This is due to hyperinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia that increase the production of reactive oxygen species, hence contributing to the rise in oxidative stress. There have been several meta-analyses exploring the effects of vitamin E supplementation on inflammation and oxidative stress. However, these studies mainly focused on tocopherols (the regular vitamin E) rather than tocotrienols (the more potent form of vitamin E). There is growing in vitro and in vivo evidence of the beneficial effects of palm tocotrienols/tocopherol complex (Palm TRF) in T2DM.
HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) is an important marker of long-term glycemic control with the ability to reflect the cumulative glycemic history of the preceding two to three months. HbA1c is currently regarded as the test of choice for monitoring and chronic management of diabetes since it is a reliable marker of chronic glycemia and correlates well with the likelihood of long-term diabetic problems. Nutraceutical Review
Show us the criteria: Malaysian palm oil sector calls for ‘more transparency’ from EU on Deforestation Regulation amidst high-risk listing debate
The palm oil industry in Malaysia is calling for the European Union (EU) to provide more clarity over how it will define ‘high-risk’ countries under its recently-approved Deforestation Regulation, stressing that current scientific data has already demonstrated it should be omitted from this list. Food Navigator
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MPOC-EU's new forced labour rules should not be a bane
KUALA LUMPUR (July 31): The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) has expressed concern that the European Union’s (EU) new regulations on forced labour should not impose excessive burdens on operators in the palm oil supply chains.
The MPOC also hopes that these regulations will not create any obstacles to trade, it said in a statement on Monday (July 31).
Hence, the MPOC is requesting additional discussions with the EU regarding their proposed regulation on forced labour and to ensure that these regulations do not unfairly discriminate against the palm oil industry.
“Engagements should be made on the reliance on the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standards and on Malaysia’s laws and regulations in ensuring compliance with the EU’s future requirements regarding forced labour. The Edge Malaysia
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Indonesia Opposes EU's Anti-Deforestation Law, Trade Minister Says
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan stressed that the government opposed the EU's anti-Deforestation Law. "This regulation is potentially harmful to our farmers," said the minister in Food Agri Insight's "Opposing EU's Anti-Deforestation Law" forum at the ministry auditorium on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.
According to Zulkifli, the anti-deforestation law will hamper trade and has the potential to be discriminatory. Indonesia has always been the EU's exporter of oil palm, wood, rubbers, and live cattle. The export value cannot be undermined. "In 2022, Indonesia's export to the EU amounted to almost US$7,000,000 and consisted of nearly 8 million small farmers," he said. "We are aware this will be an uphill battle (to oppose the bill). But we are doing this to protect the state's interest."
Concerning the discrimination potential, the minister said that the bill provided criteria for countries, categorizing them based on risks. Indonesia could be blacklisted if the law categorized it as a high-risk country. Tempo
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Indonesia to Use Biodiesel 35 Starting August
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government will apply biodiesel 35 or B35 simultaneously nationwide starting Tuesday, August 1. B35 is a fuel with 35 percent biofuel (BBN) mixed into fuel oil (BBM). The B35 was first launched on February 1 this year.
"Since February 1, some places actually already have B35. But there are still several [business entities] terminals providing B30. By tomorrow, every one of them [will] provide B35," Fajar Wahyudi, head of distribution at the Agency Oil Palm Plantation Managers (BPDPKS), said in a discussion dubbed 'Pursuing Foreign Exchanges through the B35 Program' held at the Hotel Sultan, Monday, 31 July.
Fajar said that the use of the funds collected by the BPDPKS for biodiesel purposes was intended to cover the difference between the market price (HIP) of diesel fuel and the HIP of vegetable biodiesel. This is mandated in President Regulation (Perpres) No. 66 of 2018.
Fajar said that in 2022 the BPDPKS paid the difference in HIP to 23 biodegradable business entities. The amount was around Rp34.5 trillion. The volume of biodiesel paid for was almost 7 million kiloliters from distribution in that year, which was 10.36 million kiloliters. Tempo
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Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia tests palm oil-blended jet fuel
JAKARTA : Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia said on Tuesday it is testing jet fuel mixed with palm oil in the engines of one of its Boeing aircraft, amid efforts to cut emissions in the aviation sector.
Indonesia, the world' biggest producer of palm oil, is keen to expand use of the vegetable oil in fuels to slash imports of expensive fossil fuels. This year, it rolled out the use of biodiesel containing 35 per cent palm oil, the highest mandatory mix in the world, up from 30 per cent last year.
Garuda said in a statement the jet fuel, which contains 2.4 per cent palm oil, is being tested on CFM56-7B engines of a B737-800 NG aircraft. It added the test was launched last week.
"This initiation is our first step to support a green and sustainable economy, and make us a pioneer as the first commercial airline in Indonesia to carry out trials of renewable energy," Garuda chief executive Irfan Setiaputra said in the statement.
The engine test will be followed by ground and flight tests later in August, the energy ministry said. The country in 2021 ran a flight test with the same fuel on an aircraft made by state-owned Dirgantara Indonesia, which flew from the city Bandung in West Java to the capital Jakarta. Reuters
--------
Tocotrienols supplementation may reduce HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) is an important marker of long-term glycemic control with the ability to reflect the cumulative glycemic history of the preceding two to three months
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its associated complications are major global health issues due to the high rates of diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. Nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy are among the many consequences of T2DM that are often present upon diagnosis or develop during the course of the disease.
The correlation between T2DM and oxidative stress is well known. This is due to hyperinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia that increase the production of reactive oxygen species, hence contributing to the rise in oxidative stress. There have been several meta-analyses exploring the effects of vitamin E supplementation on inflammation and oxidative stress. However, these studies mainly focused on tocopherols (the regular vitamin E) rather than tocotrienols (the more potent form of vitamin E). There is growing in vitro and in vivo evidence of the beneficial effects of palm tocotrienols/tocopherol complex (Palm TRF) in T2DM.
HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) is an important marker of long-term glycemic control with the ability to reflect the cumulative glycemic history of the preceding two to three months. HbA1c is currently regarded as the test of choice for monitoring and chronic management of diabetes since it is a reliable marker of chronic glycemia and correlates well with the likelihood of long-term diabetic problems. Nutraceutical Review
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Palm oil news. August 2023. CSPO Watch