Palm oil news. July 2023
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July 31, 2023
India-State govts, oil palm firms launch mega drive till Aug 12 to increase oil palm cultivation
State governments along with oil palm processing firms have launched a mega drive till August 12 to increase the area under oil palm cultivation in the country, the Agriculture Ministry said on Sunday. The major oil palm growing states, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka, Goa, Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh will be participating in this initiative, it said.
The mega plantation drive commenced on July 25 and will continue till August. Economic Times
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India's Tit-for-tat on European Union carbon tax to hurt local firms
Some climate-related regulations could aid India’s exports.
Retaliation against the European Union on its string of laws like carbon tax would be counterproductive and end up raising costs for local manufacturers but the grouping’s five regulations on climate change and trade could in some ways result in increasing the attractiveness of India against its competitors, a senior official has said.
The carbon tax or Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism that seeks to subject to additional tariffs goods with higher than permissible carbon emission at production stage, whether imported or produced within the EU, cannot be replicated by India because even for local markets the producers will have to make products confirming to EU standards.
The EU Deforestation Regulation, one of the five recent measures announced by the EU to meet its net zero carbon emission goal by 2050, could aid India’s agriculture exports, the official said.
Under this regulation exporters to the EU must ensure that farm products have not been grown on land which has been deforested after December 2020. The new rules will apply to large firms from December 2024 and small firms from June 2025.
The products covered under the regulations include cattle, buffalo, meat of bovine animal, oil cake, soya beans, palm oil, cocoa bean, chocolate, coffee, leather, paper, wood and its articles. Financial Express
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India-State govts, oil palm firms launch mega drive till Aug 12 to increase oil palm cultivation
State governments along with oil palm processing firms have launched a mega drive till August 12 to increase the area under oil palm cultivation in the country, the Agriculture Ministry said on Sunday. The major oil palm growing states, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka, Goa, Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh will be participating in this initiative, it said.
The mega plantation drive commenced on July 25 and will continue till August. Economic Times
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India's Tit-for-tat on European Union carbon tax to hurt local firms
Some climate-related regulations could aid India’s exports.
Retaliation against the European Union on its string of laws like carbon tax would be counterproductive and end up raising costs for local manufacturers but the grouping’s five regulations on climate change and trade could in some ways result in increasing the attractiveness of India against its competitors, a senior official has said.
The carbon tax or Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism that seeks to subject to additional tariffs goods with higher than permissible carbon emission at production stage, whether imported or produced within the EU, cannot be replicated by India because even for local markets the producers will have to make products confirming to EU standards.
The EU Deforestation Regulation, one of the five recent measures announced by the EU to meet its net zero carbon emission goal by 2050, could aid India’s agriculture exports, the official said.
Under this regulation exporters to the EU must ensure that farm products have not been grown on land which has been deforested after December 2020. The new rules will apply to large firms from December 2024 and small firms from June 2025.
The products covered under the regulations include cattle, buffalo, meat of bovine animal, oil cake, soya beans, palm oil, cocoa bean, chocolate, coffee, leather, paper, wood and its articles. Financial Express
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July 29, 2023
Indonesian President, Jokowi bags $13bn in investment pledges after meeting with Chinese President, Xi
China's Xinyi to build glass, solar panel factories in Indonesia in $11.5bn plan
JAKARTA -- Indonesia has secured at least $13 billion in investment pledges from Chinese companies following a meeting between Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and President Xi Jinping in the Chinese city of Chengdu, Indonesian officials said on Friday.
Widodo arrived in Chengdu on Thursday and held a one-hour talk with Xi, followed by two and a half hours of dining. Widodo said he asked Xi to support the development of Nusantara, Indonesia's planned new capital city in East Kalimantan province, and a planned major green industrial park in neighboring North Kalimantan province -- both on the island of Borneo.
"President Xi said he's paying attention and will give encouragement to the directions that I was [seeking]," Widodo said while opening a meeting with top Chinese business executives in Chengdu on Friday. "He said [that is] special for Indonesia." Nikkei Asia
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Indonesia's Supreme Court orders PT Rafi Kamajaya Abadi (RKA) to pay Rp 920 fine for forest fires in its concession
The Supreme Court has ordered a palm oil company to pay Rp 920 billion (US$60.9 million) for failing to prevent or extinguish forest fires within its concession area in West Kalimantan, adding to a growing list of firms held responsible for environmental disasters in the country. The court’s justices upheld on July 3 a lower court’s ruling that oil palm plantation firm PT Rafi Kamajaya Abadi (RKA) was responsible for fires in its concession area in Melawi regency, West Kalimantan, between 2016 and 2019.
The Environment and Forestry Ministry filed the lawsuit against the company in December 2021 for the burning of 2,560 hectares of land within its concession. The ministry won the case in the Sintang District Court and the Pontianak High Court, both in West Kalimantan. The courts ordered the company to pay the Rp 920 billion fines, which included Rp 731 billion to restore the scorched land. The Jakarta Post
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Developing countries cannot preserve biodiversity without support from developed counterparts – Barbara Creecy
n an address to delegates of the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers Meeting, in India, on July 28, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy said ambitious targets to preserve the planet were meaningless unless they are backed with enabling means of implementation for developing countries.
She referred to the international community adopting the landmark Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in December last year as an example, noting that the framework contains a key ambition to preserve biodiversity, ecosystems and human life.
Creecy added that 17 of the major biodiverse countries in the world are developing countries. She emphasised further that developed countries need to assist with securing at-scale, predictable and appropriate funding streams for developing countries’ efforts to conserve and protect biodiversity.
Particularly, she said, the G20 countries can work together to protect biological diversity. Engineering NewsZA
Indonesian President, Jokowi bags $13bn in investment pledges after meeting with Chinese President, Xi
China's Xinyi to build glass, solar panel factories in Indonesia in $11.5bn plan
JAKARTA -- Indonesia has secured at least $13 billion in investment pledges from Chinese companies following a meeting between Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and President Xi Jinping in the Chinese city of Chengdu, Indonesian officials said on Friday.
Widodo arrived in Chengdu on Thursday and held a one-hour talk with Xi, followed by two and a half hours of dining. Widodo said he asked Xi to support the development of Nusantara, Indonesia's planned new capital city in East Kalimantan province, and a planned major green industrial park in neighboring North Kalimantan province -- both on the island of Borneo.
"President Xi said he's paying attention and will give encouragement to the directions that I was [seeking]," Widodo said while opening a meeting with top Chinese business executives in Chengdu on Friday. "He said [that is] special for Indonesia." Nikkei Asia
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Indonesia's Supreme Court orders PT Rafi Kamajaya Abadi (RKA) to pay Rp 920 fine for forest fires in its concession
The Supreme Court has ordered a palm oil company to pay Rp 920 billion (US$60.9 million) for failing to prevent or extinguish forest fires within its concession area in West Kalimantan, adding to a growing list of firms held responsible for environmental disasters in the country. The court’s justices upheld on July 3 a lower court’s ruling that oil palm plantation firm PT Rafi Kamajaya Abadi (RKA) was responsible for fires in its concession area in Melawi regency, West Kalimantan, between 2016 and 2019.
The Environment and Forestry Ministry filed the lawsuit against the company in December 2021 for the burning of 2,560 hectares of land within its concession. The ministry won the case in the Sintang District Court and the Pontianak High Court, both in West Kalimantan. The courts ordered the company to pay the Rp 920 billion fines, which included Rp 731 billion to restore the scorched land. The Jakarta Post
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Developing countries cannot preserve biodiversity without support from developed counterparts – Barbara Creecy
n an address to delegates of the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers Meeting, in India, on July 28, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy said ambitious targets to preserve the planet were meaningless unless they are backed with enabling means of implementation for developing countries.
She referred to the international community adopting the landmark Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in December last year as an example, noting that the framework contains a key ambition to preserve biodiversity, ecosystems and human life.
Creecy added that 17 of the major biodiverse countries in the world are developing countries. She emphasised further that developed countries need to assist with securing at-scale, predictable and appropriate funding streams for developing countries’ efforts to conserve and protect biodiversity.
Particularly, she said, the G20 countries can work together to protect biological diversity. Engineering NewsZA
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July 28, 2023
Calls mount for EU to level with Indonesia on spat
With the upcoming visit of the European Union’s envoy to Indonesia, expectations are high that the representative from Brussels will express a commitment to communicate on equal ground with Jakarta to improve relations currently complicated by a trade spat. Over the past few years, the two have been locked in negotiations about commodities, particularly nickel and palm oil, a marker of the economic gap between the Global North and the Global South.
On the one hand, the EU has taken a largely progressive but self-serving stance on environmental policy and industrialization in the midst of a climate crisis and the war in Ukraine. The Jakarta Post
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World Bank's IFC proposes return to palm oil financing in Gabon
WASHINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) - The World Bank Group’s private-sector lending arm is planning a return to palm oil financing after a 14-year suspension with a proposal for a syndicated loan of up to $350 million to develop palm oil plantations in Gabon under revised sustainability rules.
An International Finance Corp (IFC) spokesperson said on Thursday that the goals of the loan proposal for Olam Palm Gabon SA “include supporting rural employment and nurturing sustainable development of Gabon’s agriculture sector.”
In a project disclosure statement on its website, the IFC said it would provide $150 million from its own account to the project, with the remaining $200 million to be syndicated to other lenders.
IFC suspended investments in palm oil businesses in 2009 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.
An independent assessment at the time found that IFC had lacked a strategy for dealing with widespread social, environmental and governance problems in Indonesia’s palm oil sector and had failed to properly evaluate the projects. Reuters
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WITNESSES TELL OF INTIMIDATION AGAINST INDIGENOUS LANDOWNERS, REFUTE PALM OIL COMPANY CLAIMS IN WEST PAPUAN ENVIRONMENT LAWSUIT
Jayapura, 27 July 2023. Witnesses today gave evidence in a Jayapura courtroom during an environmental lawsuit taken by members of the Auyu People against a Malaysian-owned palm oil company’s plan to clear tens of thousands of hectares of their West Papuan forest homeland.
Kasimus Awe of the Auyu People explained to the Jayapura State Administrative Court what he described as intimidation directed towards opponents of the company plans. Meanwhile Arief Rossi Ramadhan, a participatory mapping expert from the Bentala Rakyat Heritage Foundation described the process carried out by the Woro clan of the Indigenous Auyu People to set down on paper the boundaries of their traditional land.
Legal representatives for the plaintiff, Hendrikus ‘Franky’ Woro, argued that the Woro clan had not been informed of the company plans, and that their land rights had not been recognised in maps drawn up by the palm oil company, PT Indo Asiana Lestari in its process of seeking government permits. While the company’s lawyers previously asserted that it had placed an advisory notice regarding its plans in the Harian Papua newspaper, representatives for the plaintiffs noted that the offices for the little-known newspaper have long been shuttered, and that in any case newspapers did not usually reach the Woro clan.
The Woro clan is based in the remote village of Yare, Fofi District, in the richly forested Boven Digoel regency, located in the remote southeastern-most corner of the Indonesian territory known internationally as West Papua. Pusaka
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Palm oil: The myth of corporate plantation efficiency is failing Indonesians and furthering inequality
Palm oil is found in half the products sold in supermarkets and in biofuels. Around 50 per cent of the world’s supply is grown in Indonesia, mostly on massive plantations.
Government land concessions granted to oil palm corporations now cover a third of Indonesia’s farmland, depriving many villagers of access to resources that once sustained them.
Indonesia’s governments have consistently supported plantation corporations at the expense of smallholder farms (defined as farms with less than 25 hectares). As the land minister stated in 2019, “if (the lands) aren’t productive in the hands of the people, then we will take away the lands…The fact is that the fastest machine to generate wealth is corporate.”
Officials assume that plantation corporations are efficient “machines” but our research indicates that corporate plantation efficiency is a dangerous myth. The Conversation
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Sustainability Concerns Drive Innovation in Palm Oil Alternatives
Sustainability concerns have prompted food companies to explore alternatives to palm oil, which is associated with deforestation. Researchers are currently investigating the use of oils produced from yeast or algae as alternatives to palm oil, but there are limited commercially available options at present. Other alternatives to palm oil include processing techniques like interesterification, and palm oil can also be certified as sustainable by organizations like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.
The global palm oil market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.1% from 2022-2028, reaching $67.6 billion. Palm oil yields are 5 to 10 times higher than other vegetable oil crops, and it also has a longer shelf life and lower cost compared to other oils.
Environmental sustainability is a significant consideration for consumers, with 34% of US adults stating that it highly influences their food and beverage purchasing decisions. The European Union has taken a stricter stance on sustainability issues such as deforestation, with the renewable energy directive requiring the phasing out of palm oil-based fuels by 2030. The EU attributes 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions to deforestation.
Innovation in palm oil alternatives is happening in the European Union. CSM Ingredients has opened an innovation center in Germany dedicated to researching alternatives to plant-based oils. They are exploring ways to produce microbial oils from yeast or algae using renewable feedstocks. However, the production of microbe oils is currently limited to lab or pilot scale. Energy Portal
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Idemitsu’s biomass project in Malaysia faces delays
Japanese refiner and energy firm Idemitsu has delayed the start-up of its Malaysian biomass production plant, as it announced the end of its partnership with Europe-based renewable energy venture TG2 GmbH in the project.
It is unclear if the two are linked. The plant was to begin producing black pellets from empty fruit bunches (EFB) in March. Idemitsu declined to disclose further details such as the plant's new start-up target or its reason for withdrawing from the partnership.
The company will continue to explore the production of biomass fuel using EFB, and the termination of the partnership will have limited impact. The company also mentioned the possibility of seeking a new partner. But further details including production volumes were undisclosed.
The utilisation of EFB and other agricultural residues, which are extensively discarded in southeast Asia, can significantly contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, said Idemitsu. Approximately 20mn t/yr of EFB is estimated to be disposed from plantations in Malaysia, the company said. Malaysia is the world's second-largest producer of palm oil.
Idemitsu targets to produce 3mn t of black pellets by 2030, sourcing EFB not only from Malaysia but also from Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia and the US. The refiner expects a further increase in biomass demand as Japan aims to generate 36-38pc of its power output from renewable energy sources during the April 2030-March 2031 fiscal year.
By Nanami Oki Argus Media
Calls mount for EU to level with Indonesia on spat
With the upcoming visit of the European Union’s envoy to Indonesia, expectations are high that the representative from Brussels will express a commitment to communicate on equal ground with Jakarta to improve relations currently complicated by a trade spat. Over the past few years, the two have been locked in negotiations about commodities, particularly nickel and palm oil, a marker of the economic gap between the Global North and the Global South.
On the one hand, the EU has taken a largely progressive but self-serving stance on environmental policy and industrialization in the midst of a climate crisis and the war in Ukraine. The Jakarta Post
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World Bank's IFC proposes return to palm oil financing in Gabon
WASHINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) - The World Bank Group’s private-sector lending arm is planning a return to palm oil financing after a 14-year suspension with a proposal for a syndicated loan of up to $350 million to develop palm oil plantations in Gabon under revised sustainability rules.
An International Finance Corp (IFC) spokesperson said on Thursday that the goals of the loan proposal for Olam Palm Gabon SA “include supporting rural employment and nurturing sustainable development of Gabon’s agriculture sector.”
In a project disclosure statement on its website, the IFC said it would provide $150 million from its own account to the project, with the remaining $200 million to be syndicated to other lenders.
IFC suspended investments in palm oil businesses in 2009 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.
An independent assessment at the time found that IFC had lacked a strategy for dealing with widespread social, environmental and governance problems in Indonesia’s palm oil sector and had failed to properly evaluate the projects. Reuters
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WITNESSES TELL OF INTIMIDATION AGAINST INDIGENOUS LANDOWNERS, REFUTE PALM OIL COMPANY CLAIMS IN WEST PAPUAN ENVIRONMENT LAWSUIT
Jayapura, 27 July 2023. Witnesses today gave evidence in a Jayapura courtroom during an environmental lawsuit taken by members of the Auyu People against a Malaysian-owned palm oil company’s plan to clear tens of thousands of hectares of their West Papuan forest homeland.
Kasimus Awe of the Auyu People explained to the Jayapura State Administrative Court what he described as intimidation directed towards opponents of the company plans. Meanwhile Arief Rossi Ramadhan, a participatory mapping expert from the Bentala Rakyat Heritage Foundation described the process carried out by the Woro clan of the Indigenous Auyu People to set down on paper the boundaries of their traditional land.
Legal representatives for the plaintiff, Hendrikus ‘Franky’ Woro, argued that the Woro clan had not been informed of the company plans, and that their land rights had not been recognised in maps drawn up by the palm oil company, PT Indo Asiana Lestari in its process of seeking government permits. While the company’s lawyers previously asserted that it had placed an advisory notice regarding its plans in the Harian Papua newspaper, representatives for the plaintiffs noted that the offices for the little-known newspaper have long been shuttered, and that in any case newspapers did not usually reach the Woro clan.
The Woro clan is based in the remote village of Yare, Fofi District, in the richly forested Boven Digoel regency, located in the remote southeastern-most corner of the Indonesian territory known internationally as West Papua. Pusaka
---------
Palm oil: The myth of corporate plantation efficiency is failing Indonesians and furthering inequality
Palm oil is found in half the products sold in supermarkets and in biofuels. Around 50 per cent of the world’s supply is grown in Indonesia, mostly on massive plantations.
Government land concessions granted to oil palm corporations now cover a third of Indonesia’s farmland, depriving many villagers of access to resources that once sustained them.
Indonesia’s governments have consistently supported plantation corporations at the expense of smallholder farms (defined as farms with less than 25 hectares). As the land minister stated in 2019, “if (the lands) aren’t productive in the hands of the people, then we will take away the lands…The fact is that the fastest machine to generate wealth is corporate.”
Officials assume that plantation corporations are efficient “machines” but our research indicates that corporate plantation efficiency is a dangerous myth. The Conversation
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Sustainability Concerns Drive Innovation in Palm Oil Alternatives
Sustainability concerns have prompted food companies to explore alternatives to palm oil, which is associated with deforestation. Researchers are currently investigating the use of oils produced from yeast or algae as alternatives to palm oil, but there are limited commercially available options at present. Other alternatives to palm oil include processing techniques like interesterification, and palm oil can also be certified as sustainable by organizations like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.
The global palm oil market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.1% from 2022-2028, reaching $67.6 billion. Palm oil yields are 5 to 10 times higher than other vegetable oil crops, and it also has a longer shelf life and lower cost compared to other oils.
Environmental sustainability is a significant consideration for consumers, with 34% of US adults stating that it highly influences their food and beverage purchasing decisions. The European Union has taken a stricter stance on sustainability issues such as deforestation, with the renewable energy directive requiring the phasing out of palm oil-based fuels by 2030. The EU attributes 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions to deforestation.
Innovation in palm oil alternatives is happening in the European Union. CSM Ingredients has opened an innovation center in Germany dedicated to researching alternatives to plant-based oils. They are exploring ways to produce microbial oils from yeast or algae using renewable feedstocks. However, the production of microbe oils is currently limited to lab or pilot scale. Energy Portal
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Idemitsu’s biomass project in Malaysia faces delays
Japanese refiner and energy firm Idemitsu has delayed the start-up of its Malaysian biomass production plant, as it announced the end of its partnership with Europe-based renewable energy venture TG2 GmbH in the project.
It is unclear if the two are linked. The plant was to begin producing black pellets from empty fruit bunches (EFB) in March. Idemitsu declined to disclose further details such as the plant's new start-up target or its reason for withdrawing from the partnership.
The company will continue to explore the production of biomass fuel using EFB, and the termination of the partnership will have limited impact. The company also mentioned the possibility of seeking a new partner. But further details including production volumes were undisclosed.
The utilisation of EFB and other agricultural residues, which are extensively discarded in southeast Asia, can significantly contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, said Idemitsu. Approximately 20mn t/yr of EFB is estimated to be disposed from plantations in Malaysia, the company said. Malaysia is the world's second-largest producer of palm oil.
Idemitsu targets to produce 3mn t of black pellets by 2030, sourcing EFB not only from Malaysia but also from Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia and the US. The refiner expects a further increase in biomass demand as Japan aims to generate 36-38pc of its power output from renewable energy sources during the April 2030-March 2031 fiscal year.
By Nanami Oki Argus Media
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July 27, 2023
The Intersection of Technology and Sustainability: Biofuel from Palm Oil Mill Effluent.
Exploring the Intersection of Technology and Sustainability: Biofuel from Palm Oil Mill Effluent
The intersection of technology and sustainability is a fascinating realm, teeming with innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. One such innovation is the production of biofuel from palm oil mill effluent (POME), a byproduct of the palm oil industry. This pioneering approach not only provides a renewable energy source but also addresses the environmental issue of waste management in the palm oil industry.
Palm oil, derived from the fruit of the oil palm tree, is a versatile commodity used in a myriad of products, from food to cosmetics. However, its production generates a significant amount of waste, particularly in the form of POME. This effluent is a viscous, water-based solution that poses a considerable environmental challenge due to its high organic content. Traditionally, POME is treated through anaerobic digestion and then discharged, a process that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the intersection of technology and sustainability has paved the way for a more environmentally friendly solution. Scientists and engineers have developed a method to convert POME into biofuel, a renewable energy source. This process involves harnessing the organic matter in the effluent and using it to produce biogas, a type of biofuel. The biogas can then be used as a source of renewable energy, powering everything from vehicles to power plants.
The process of converting POME into biofuel is a testament to the power of technological innovation in promoting sustainability. Firstly, it provides a renewable energy source, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and thereby mitigating the impact of climate change. Secondly, it offers a solution to the waste management issue in the palm oil industry, transforming a harmful byproduct into a valuable resource. Moreover, this process can also generate additional income for palm oil producers, creating a win-win situation for both the environment and the economy. Energy Portal
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P&G drops forest pledge, drawing ire of green groups, investors
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Global consumer products maker Procter & Gamble dropped its pledge from a corporate policy to not buy wood pulp from degraded forests, a company executive disclosed to investors in a previously-unreported July 18 briefing.
The change drew the ire of several P&G investors. One of the world’s major purchasers of pulp for consumer goods, the Cincinnati-based purveyor of Charmin toilet paper, Bounty paper towels and Puffs tissues, buys the wood product from suppliers in Latin America, Europe, Canada and the U.S., according to data on its website.
“In an era where companies are moving forward on climate risk,” the change marks a “step backward,” Leslie Samuelrich, the president of P&G investor Green Century Funds, told Reuters.
Green Century, with more than $1.1 billion in assets under management, counted P&G as among its largest holdings as of March 31, and led a shareholder proposal on the company’s forestry practices in 2020. WHBL
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Eight Ways the EUDR is Likely to Affect Coffee Supply Markets
Coffee production is estimated to drive around 100,000 hectares of deforestation globally every year.
This is significant — particularly for the montane forests of Latin America, Africa, and Asia — even if it is about one fifth the deforestation impact of palm oil production and about one twentieth of the impact of beef production.
Nevertheless, the impact of the EU deforestation free regulation (EUDR) on coffee farmers is likely to be many times bigger than it is on producers of palm or beef. That’s because coffee is largely produced by smallholders, meaning millions of small farms will have to be mapped, as opposed to merely thousands of plantations and large farms.
Because polygon mapping comes with costs, which are larger relative to production income for small farmers, the EUDR will likely favor larger farm sizes and better-organized small-holder production origins above those with small farm sizes and low access to verification and data services.
The EU imports around 50% of the world’s coffee beans, so about half of all smallholder farms — more than 6 million farms — will have to have their boundaries mapped in order to export to the EU. The GPS data from each of those farms then has to be aligned with maps that show forest cover on December 31, 2020, and verified as not connected to forest loss.
This is a gargantuan data collection and alignment exercise, and unsurprisingly no country or company is yet ready. However, there are many who are planning ahead for the deadline in 18 months, and it is already possible to predict several effects on production markets, as well as some of the likely solutions for the sector: Tran Quynh Chi and Tessa Meulensteen/ Daily Coffee News
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To better understand the ramifications of the tariff-free import of Malaysian palm oil to the UK due to the UK's ascension to CPTPP. Two downloadable reports are available from the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC)
In brief. OILS & FATS SITUATION IN UNITED KINGDOM 2022 Download here
In detail. MPOC report on UK Vegetable Imports and Exports 2022. Download here
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India-Industry experts comes together to kickstart Mega Oil Plantation Drive in Northeast
Bangalore, July 26, 2023: The Government of India under National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) has initiated a Mega Oil Plantation Drive from July 25 to August 5, 2023. To commemorate this initiative, a roundtable was organized in Guwahati. It witnessed participation from Godrej Agrovet Ltd, Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India and Solidaridad Network. The discussion revolved around the importance of oil palm cultivation for the Northeast and how it can uplift the farmers in the region.
In August 2021, the Government of India launched the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). With a focus on increasing edible oil production from Oil Palm, NMEO-OP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, and the cost will be shared as 60:40 between the Central and the State Government for General states and 90:10 for NE states and 100% for UTs and for central agencies. Amidst everything, ownership of the land continues to be with the farmer and not any corporate who has been allocated region for the oil palm cultivation.
“The NMEO-OP is a step in the right direction for the country. We thank the government for putting this in place and also taking special care of the Northeast States,” said Balram Singh Yadav, Managing Director, Godrej Agrovet Ltd, a leading diversified, Research & Development focused food and agri-business conglomerate. Involved in oil palm plantation in the region since 2006, it is the only company to have an operational mill in Mizoram since 2014. The company also has signed MoUs with Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura State governments for development and promotion of oil palm cultivation in the region under the NMEO-OP scheme. Passionateinmarketing
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India-Oil palm farmers in Andhra Pradesh complain to State BJP chief over low remuneration
They submit a memorandum urging her to take their problem to the notice of the Central govt.
A delegation of Andhra Pradesh State Oil Palm Farmers’ Welfare Association submitted a memorandum to BJP State president Daggubati Purandeswari on Wednesday, requesting her to take their problems, mainly the lack of a remunerative price, to the Central government’s notice.
Association president B. Veeraraghava Rao and National Oil Palm Farmers’ Association general secretary K. Kranthi Kumar Reddy stated in their representation that the duty-free import of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) was adversely affecting oil palm and other oilseed farmers and that the price of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) plunged from ₹23,635 per tonne in May 2022 to ₹13,000 per tonne by September that year due to the price of CPO falling from ₹1,45,000 per tonne to ₹74,000 per tonne.
The import duty which was at 49% has been reduced to zero by April 2022, causing huge loss to the farmers. Keeping in view the need for edible oil self-sufficiency and the livelihood concerns of edible oil farmers, the Central government should evolve a dynamic import duty mechanism and re-impose import duties to protect the livelihood of oil palm and other oilseed farmers from undue foreign competition, they said.
Besides, the CPO price should be maintained at ₹1,20,000 per tonne to cover the cost of cultivation of oil palm and other oilseed crops. The association representatives further said the viability price formula of the Government of India was far short of covering the cost of cultivation and that it does not include the value of by-products (nuts). The Hindu
The Intersection of Technology and Sustainability: Biofuel from Palm Oil Mill Effluent.
Exploring the Intersection of Technology and Sustainability: Biofuel from Palm Oil Mill Effluent
The intersection of technology and sustainability is a fascinating realm, teeming with innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. One such innovation is the production of biofuel from palm oil mill effluent (POME), a byproduct of the palm oil industry. This pioneering approach not only provides a renewable energy source but also addresses the environmental issue of waste management in the palm oil industry.
Palm oil, derived from the fruit of the oil palm tree, is a versatile commodity used in a myriad of products, from food to cosmetics. However, its production generates a significant amount of waste, particularly in the form of POME. This effluent is a viscous, water-based solution that poses a considerable environmental challenge due to its high organic content. Traditionally, POME is treated through anaerobic digestion and then discharged, a process that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the intersection of technology and sustainability has paved the way for a more environmentally friendly solution. Scientists and engineers have developed a method to convert POME into biofuel, a renewable energy source. This process involves harnessing the organic matter in the effluent and using it to produce biogas, a type of biofuel. The biogas can then be used as a source of renewable energy, powering everything from vehicles to power plants.
The process of converting POME into biofuel is a testament to the power of technological innovation in promoting sustainability. Firstly, it provides a renewable energy source, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and thereby mitigating the impact of climate change. Secondly, it offers a solution to the waste management issue in the palm oil industry, transforming a harmful byproduct into a valuable resource. Moreover, this process can also generate additional income for palm oil producers, creating a win-win situation for both the environment and the economy. Energy Portal
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P&G drops forest pledge, drawing ire of green groups, investors
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Global consumer products maker Procter & Gamble dropped its pledge from a corporate policy to not buy wood pulp from degraded forests, a company executive disclosed to investors in a previously-unreported July 18 briefing.
The change drew the ire of several P&G investors. One of the world’s major purchasers of pulp for consumer goods, the Cincinnati-based purveyor of Charmin toilet paper, Bounty paper towels and Puffs tissues, buys the wood product from suppliers in Latin America, Europe, Canada and the U.S., according to data on its website.
“In an era where companies are moving forward on climate risk,” the change marks a “step backward,” Leslie Samuelrich, the president of P&G investor Green Century Funds, told Reuters.
Green Century, with more than $1.1 billion in assets under management, counted P&G as among its largest holdings as of March 31, and led a shareholder proposal on the company’s forestry practices in 2020. WHBL
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Eight Ways the EUDR is Likely to Affect Coffee Supply Markets
Coffee production is estimated to drive around 100,000 hectares of deforestation globally every year.
This is significant — particularly for the montane forests of Latin America, Africa, and Asia — even if it is about one fifth the deforestation impact of palm oil production and about one twentieth of the impact of beef production.
Nevertheless, the impact of the EU deforestation free regulation (EUDR) on coffee farmers is likely to be many times bigger than it is on producers of palm or beef. That’s because coffee is largely produced by smallholders, meaning millions of small farms will have to be mapped, as opposed to merely thousands of plantations and large farms.
Because polygon mapping comes with costs, which are larger relative to production income for small farmers, the EUDR will likely favor larger farm sizes and better-organized small-holder production origins above those with small farm sizes and low access to verification and data services.
The EU imports around 50% of the world’s coffee beans, so about half of all smallholder farms — more than 6 million farms — will have to have their boundaries mapped in order to export to the EU. The GPS data from each of those farms then has to be aligned with maps that show forest cover on December 31, 2020, and verified as not connected to forest loss.
This is a gargantuan data collection and alignment exercise, and unsurprisingly no country or company is yet ready. However, there are many who are planning ahead for the deadline in 18 months, and it is already possible to predict several effects on production markets, as well as some of the likely solutions for the sector: Tran Quynh Chi and Tessa Meulensteen/ Daily Coffee News
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To better understand the ramifications of the tariff-free import of Malaysian palm oil to the UK due to the UK's ascension to CPTPP. Two downloadable reports are available from the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC)
In brief. OILS & FATS SITUATION IN UNITED KINGDOM 2022 Download here
In detail. MPOC report on UK Vegetable Imports and Exports 2022. Download here
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India-Industry experts comes together to kickstart Mega Oil Plantation Drive in Northeast
Bangalore, July 26, 2023: The Government of India under National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) has initiated a Mega Oil Plantation Drive from July 25 to August 5, 2023. To commemorate this initiative, a roundtable was organized in Guwahati. It witnessed participation from Godrej Agrovet Ltd, Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India and Solidaridad Network. The discussion revolved around the importance of oil palm cultivation for the Northeast and how it can uplift the farmers in the region.
In August 2021, the Government of India launched the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). With a focus on increasing edible oil production from Oil Palm, NMEO-OP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, and the cost will be shared as 60:40 between the Central and the State Government for General states and 90:10 for NE states and 100% for UTs and for central agencies. Amidst everything, ownership of the land continues to be with the farmer and not any corporate who has been allocated region for the oil palm cultivation.
“The NMEO-OP is a step in the right direction for the country. We thank the government for putting this in place and also taking special care of the Northeast States,” said Balram Singh Yadav, Managing Director, Godrej Agrovet Ltd, a leading diversified, Research & Development focused food and agri-business conglomerate. Involved in oil palm plantation in the region since 2006, it is the only company to have an operational mill in Mizoram since 2014. The company also has signed MoUs with Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura State governments for development and promotion of oil palm cultivation in the region under the NMEO-OP scheme. Passionateinmarketing
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India-Oil palm farmers in Andhra Pradesh complain to State BJP chief over low remuneration
They submit a memorandum urging her to take their problem to the notice of the Central govt.
A delegation of Andhra Pradesh State Oil Palm Farmers’ Welfare Association submitted a memorandum to BJP State president Daggubati Purandeswari on Wednesday, requesting her to take their problems, mainly the lack of a remunerative price, to the Central government’s notice.
Association president B. Veeraraghava Rao and National Oil Palm Farmers’ Association general secretary K. Kranthi Kumar Reddy stated in their representation that the duty-free import of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) was adversely affecting oil palm and other oilseed farmers and that the price of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) plunged from ₹23,635 per tonne in May 2022 to ₹13,000 per tonne by September that year due to the price of CPO falling from ₹1,45,000 per tonne to ₹74,000 per tonne.
The import duty which was at 49% has been reduced to zero by April 2022, causing huge loss to the farmers. Keeping in view the need for edible oil self-sufficiency and the livelihood concerns of edible oil farmers, the Central government should evolve a dynamic import duty mechanism and re-impose import duties to protect the livelihood of oil palm and other oilseed farmers from undue foreign competition, they said.
Besides, the CPO price should be maintained at ₹1,20,000 per tonne to cover the cost of cultivation of oil palm and other oilseed crops. The association representatives further said the viability price formula of the Government of India was far short of covering the cost of cultivation and that it does not include the value of by-products (nuts). The Hindu
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July 26 2023
Indonesia, Portugal strengthen renewable energy cooperation
Marking the first high-level diplomatic visit to Indonesia in over a decade, Portuguese Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho on Monday met with his counterpart Retno LP Marsudi in Central Jakarta, where the two diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to boosting the Jakarta-Lisbon trade relationship and plans to explore non-traditional economic cooperation. Despite enormous opportunities for cooperation in certain areas, the Indonesia-Portugal relationship has so far not been effectively pursued, said Cravinho, adding that intensifying cooperation would prove beneficial for the two countries. Investment, palm oil cooperation, energy cooperation and maritime cooperation were discussed, Retno explained. The Jakarta Post
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Indonesia's Pertamina launches sales of gasoline with 5% ethanol mix
JAKARTA, July 25 (Reuters) - Indonesian state-owned energy company Pertamina has launched sales of gasoline containing 5% of bioethanol made from sugar molasses in two cities, as the country aims to expand the availability of renewable fuels.
Pertamina said it has started selling Pertamax Green 95, its 95-octane gasoline mixed with 5% bioethanol, in 15 petrol stations in the capital Jakarta and the city of Surabaya in East Java, the company said in a statement late on Monday.
The 95-octane fuel is one of Pertamina's premium gasoline products, while the majority of Indonesians consume 90-octane gasoline.
Indonesia, the world's biggest palm oil producer, has already implemented a 35% mandatory blend of palm oil in its biodiesel, but has faced delays in implementation of a biofuel mix in gasoline because of a limited supply of ethanol.
"Pertamax Green 95 is a milestone for Pertamina in development and distribution of gasoline biofuel," said Pertamina CEO Nicke Widyawati. Reuters
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Research Collaboration Advances Climate Prediction for Thailand's Palm Oil Industry
Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand, has partnered with Utah State University in a study recently published in Environmental Research Letters that aims to advance climate prediction capabilities to support Thailand's thriving palm oil industry.
Led by Parichart Promchote from Kasetsart University's Department of Agronomy, the research sheds new light on the crucial role of climatic conditions in oil palm productivity, highlighting the need for reliable prediction methods.
Authors of the study point out that palm oil is an important global commodity and Thailand's palm oil industry is a major economic force in the country. The industry has experienced average annual growth of 5% in recent years, driving economic development, job creation and increased government revenue. However, the industry faces challenges due to the influence of climatic factors, especially precipitation patterns. The research conducted by Promchote and her team aims to address these challenges and optimize palm oil yield through accurate seasonal predictions. USU
Indonesia, Portugal strengthen renewable energy cooperation
Marking the first high-level diplomatic visit to Indonesia in over a decade, Portuguese Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho on Monday met with his counterpart Retno LP Marsudi in Central Jakarta, where the two diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to boosting the Jakarta-Lisbon trade relationship and plans to explore non-traditional economic cooperation. Despite enormous opportunities for cooperation in certain areas, the Indonesia-Portugal relationship has so far not been effectively pursued, said Cravinho, adding that intensifying cooperation would prove beneficial for the two countries. Investment, palm oil cooperation, energy cooperation and maritime cooperation were discussed, Retno explained. The Jakarta Post
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Indonesia's Pertamina launches sales of gasoline with 5% ethanol mix
JAKARTA, July 25 (Reuters) - Indonesian state-owned energy company Pertamina has launched sales of gasoline containing 5% of bioethanol made from sugar molasses in two cities, as the country aims to expand the availability of renewable fuels.
Pertamina said it has started selling Pertamax Green 95, its 95-octane gasoline mixed with 5% bioethanol, in 15 petrol stations in the capital Jakarta and the city of Surabaya in East Java, the company said in a statement late on Monday.
The 95-octane fuel is one of Pertamina's premium gasoline products, while the majority of Indonesians consume 90-octane gasoline.
Indonesia, the world's biggest palm oil producer, has already implemented a 35% mandatory blend of palm oil in its biodiesel, but has faced delays in implementation of a biofuel mix in gasoline because of a limited supply of ethanol.
"Pertamax Green 95 is a milestone for Pertamina in development and distribution of gasoline biofuel," said Pertamina CEO Nicke Widyawati. Reuters
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Research Collaboration Advances Climate Prediction for Thailand's Palm Oil Industry
Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand, has partnered with Utah State University in a study recently published in Environmental Research Letters that aims to advance climate prediction capabilities to support Thailand's thriving palm oil industry.
Led by Parichart Promchote from Kasetsart University's Department of Agronomy, the research sheds new light on the crucial role of climatic conditions in oil palm productivity, highlighting the need for reliable prediction methods.
Authors of the study point out that palm oil is an important global commodity and Thailand's palm oil industry is a major economic force in the country. The industry has experienced average annual growth of 5% in recent years, driving economic development, job creation and increased government revenue. However, the industry faces challenges due to the influence of climatic factors, especially precipitation patterns. The research conducted by Promchote and her team aims to address these challenges and optimize palm oil yield through accurate seasonal predictions. USU
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July 25, 2023
10 key things to know about the new EU Deforestation Regulation
The EU's new Deforestation Regulation requires companies trading in cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood, as well as products derived from these commodities, to conduct extensive diligence on the value chain to ensure the goods do not result from recent (post 31 December 2020) deforestation, forest degradation or breaches of local environmental and social laws. Companies should consider now the impact of the EUDR on their supply chain due diligence to prepare for the new obligations that apply from 30 December 2024.
On 29 June 2023, the European Union's new regulation to curb the EU market's impact on global deforestation and forest degradation (the "EU Deforestation Regulation" or "EUDR") came into force.1
Here are 10 key things that companies need to know: JD Supra
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From an NGO's POV: WHAT IS THE EU DEFORESTATION REGULATION?
In December 2022, the EU agreed to adopt the Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) which aims to tackle the global deforestation and forest degradation that is driven by EU consumption and production of forest risk commodities.
The EUDR, which entered into force on 29 June 2023, will prohibit companies from putting products on the EU market unless they are deforestation-free, degradation-free and legally produced. It will also be illegal to export such products from the EU. The Regulation focusses on seven high-risk commodities, wood, soy, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, beef and rubber and the products derived from it like chocolate, leather and paper.
Why is the EU Regulation on deforestation-free products important? FERN
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Dramatic fall in palm oil imports into the EU
EU member states imported significantly less palm oil in the marketing year 2022/23 than the previous year.
The decline in imports was especially strong in the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium.
From July 2022 through to the end of June this year, the EU-27 imported just under 4 million tonnes of palm oil.
This was around 934,000 tonnes or 19% less than the year before.
The main importing country in the EU was Spain, receiving 1.2 million tonnes, which was up around 4% on the 2021/22 marketing season. It was followed by the Netherlands as second most important importer with 1.2 million tonnes.
However, the country's imports were just less than 19% short of the previous year's volume of 1.4 million tonnes.
Ports such as Rotterdam and Amsterdam are central destinations for overseas imports and serve as ports of entry into the EU from where palm oil is shipped on to other EU member states. Biofuels News
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Only 20% of Indonesian Palm Oil Companies Comply with Smallholder Land Allocation Obligations
According to official data, only a fifth of Indonesian palm oil companies have fulfilled their legal obligations to allocate land for smallholder farmers under the plasma scheme. The plasma scheme, which has been mandatory since 2007, requires plantation firms to allocate 20% of their concessions to communities. The scheme aims to ensure that rural communities benefit from the plantations near them by providing training, seedlings, fertilizer, buyers for their oil palm fruit, and eventual ownership of the land.
However, reports have found that the implementation of the scheme has been lacking. A recent investigation discovered that companies had failed to provide hundreds of thousands of hectares of plasma land to communities, resulting in a loss of potential income for rural Indonesians. The lack of compliance has been attributed to fragmented and inconsistent government data on oil palm plantations.
To address the issue, the government has established a task force, which will also tackle other problems in the plantation industry, such as tax avoidance. The task force includes members from various government agencies, including the audit agency, BPKP. The BPKP has conducted audits to address data inconsistency and found that only 21% of plantation companies have fulfilled their plasma obligations.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s 2022 data shows that only 8% of the total oil palm estate planted by private companies has established plasma land. This indicates a shortfall of approximately 965,000 hectares, an area six times the size of London. However, larger palm oil groups have performed better in terms of compliance, with 21% of their planted areas allocated for smallholders.
Efforts are being made to ensure the authenticity of plasma plantations and address other issues, such as tax evasion. The task force aims to improve the overall management of palm oil, from upstream to downstream, including the plasma scheme. Energy Portal
10 key things to know about the new EU Deforestation Regulation
The EU's new Deforestation Regulation requires companies trading in cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood, as well as products derived from these commodities, to conduct extensive diligence on the value chain to ensure the goods do not result from recent (post 31 December 2020) deforestation, forest degradation or breaches of local environmental and social laws. Companies should consider now the impact of the EUDR on their supply chain due diligence to prepare for the new obligations that apply from 30 December 2024.
On 29 June 2023, the European Union's new regulation to curb the EU market's impact on global deforestation and forest degradation (the "EU Deforestation Regulation" or "EUDR") came into force.1
Here are 10 key things that companies need to know: JD Supra
---------
From an NGO's POV: WHAT IS THE EU DEFORESTATION REGULATION?
In December 2022, the EU agreed to adopt the Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) which aims to tackle the global deforestation and forest degradation that is driven by EU consumption and production of forest risk commodities.
The EUDR, which entered into force on 29 June 2023, will prohibit companies from putting products on the EU market unless they are deforestation-free, degradation-free and legally produced. It will also be illegal to export such products from the EU. The Regulation focusses on seven high-risk commodities, wood, soy, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, beef and rubber and the products derived from it like chocolate, leather and paper.
Why is the EU Regulation on deforestation-free products important? FERN
---------
Dramatic fall in palm oil imports into the EU
EU member states imported significantly less palm oil in the marketing year 2022/23 than the previous year.
The decline in imports was especially strong in the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium.
From July 2022 through to the end of June this year, the EU-27 imported just under 4 million tonnes of palm oil.
This was around 934,000 tonnes or 19% less than the year before.
The main importing country in the EU was Spain, receiving 1.2 million tonnes, which was up around 4% on the 2021/22 marketing season. It was followed by the Netherlands as second most important importer with 1.2 million tonnes.
However, the country's imports were just less than 19% short of the previous year's volume of 1.4 million tonnes.
Ports such as Rotterdam and Amsterdam are central destinations for overseas imports and serve as ports of entry into the EU from where palm oil is shipped on to other EU member states. Biofuels News
---------
Only 20% of Indonesian Palm Oil Companies Comply with Smallholder Land Allocation Obligations
According to official data, only a fifth of Indonesian palm oil companies have fulfilled their legal obligations to allocate land for smallholder farmers under the plasma scheme. The plasma scheme, which has been mandatory since 2007, requires plantation firms to allocate 20% of their concessions to communities. The scheme aims to ensure that rural communities benefit from the plantations near them by providing training, seedlings, fertilizer, buyers for their oil palm fruit, and eventual ownership of the land.
However, reports have found that the implementation of the scheme has been lacking. A recent investigation discovered that companies had failed to provide hundreds of thousands of hectares of plasma land to communities, resulting in a loss of potential income for rural Indonesians. The lack of compliance has been attributed to fragmented and inconsistent government data on oil palm plantations.
To address the issue, the government has established a task force, which will also tackle other problems in the plantation industry, such as tax avoidance. The task force includes members from various government agencies, including the audit agency, BPKP. The BPKP has conducted audits to address data inconsistency and found that only 21% of plantation companies have fulfilled their plasma obligations.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s 2022 data shows that only 8% of the total oil palm estate planted by private companies has established plasma land. This indicates a shortfall of approximately 965,000 hectares, an area six times the size of London. However, larger palm oil groups have performed better in terms of compliance, with 21% of their planted areas allocated for smallholders.
Efforts are being made to ensure the authenticity of plasma plantations and address other issues, such as tax evasion. The task force aims to improve the overall management of palm oil, from upstream to downstream, including the plasma scheme. Energy Portal
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July 24, 2023
Portugal Sees Huge Rise in Palm Oil Imports form Indonesia
Jakarta. Portugal -- a member of the European Union -- was shipping in more and more palm oil products from Indonesia despite the regional grouping’s tough stance on the commodity, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on Monday.
Her remarks came after she met with her Portuguese counterpart Joao Gomes Cravinho in Jakarta. In a joint press conference, Retno brought Portugal’s attention to its growing palm oil imports from Indonesia, which even booked a double-digit growth.
“I appreciated Portugal’s trust in palm oil from Indonesia. Portugal’s import of palm oil from Indonesia increased by 77 percent from 2019 to 2022. The rise resulted from incentives from importing palm oil derivatives as biodiesel feedstock,” Retno told reporters.
In front of Cavinho, Retno even called the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) “discriminatory”. This policy requires traders and operators to prove their products do not come from lands that are subject to deforestation after the cut-off date of Dec. 31, 2020. Rubber and palm oil are among the commodities that are within the scope of the new rules.
“I reiterated during the conversation my concern on the number of discriminatory policies taken by the EU including the EUDR,” Retno said.
Cravinho did not say anything about Portugal’s Indonesian palm oil imports during the joint press briefing. The Portuguese diplomat, however, chose to talk more about other matters such as the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which is still under negotiations. Jakarta Globe
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Nigeria-Edo to enact law for sustainable oil palm estate devt, others
The Edo State Government said it is considering bills to ensure adherence to sustainable practices in the development of oil palm estates.
The bill, being considered at the Edo State House of Assembly, is coming on the heels of an elaborate initiative to develop oil palm estates across the state in collaboration with Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) giants, De United Foods Limited (DuFil) and Flour Mills of Nigeria, among others, who are investing in the agricultural sector and building food processing plants in the State.
Acting Team Lead, Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), Mr. Churchill Oboh, in an interview with journalists, said the state is transitioning to sustainable oil palm practices, which is embedded in the ESOPP scheme.
According to him, “Today, through the sustainable programme, all oil palm companies are mandated to comply with the Round-Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Standard, which includes, preserving biodiversity, protecting forests and peatlands, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, respect for workers’ rights and safe working conditions and land rights among others.
“As we speak, there is a bill before the House of Assembly, which will legally back these sustainable practices in the sector. Additionally, the state has fully adopted the Free Prior and Informed Consent in engaging stakeholders prior to any activity or investment in the state. Guardian NG
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India-(Opinion) Time to adapt regenerative farming system in oil palm
It can help increase crop yield through high-yielding seedlings, recycling crop residue, re-using mill waste, and reducing cultivation costs
About 2.7 million hectares (ha) of potential area in India have been identified by the government agency for oil palm cultivation through farmers. Special focus is given to bring more area under Oil Palm in a short span of time, under the “National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm ( NMEO-OP)” launched on 18 August 2021 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare( MoA & FW), Government of India.
There is a shift in cropping pattern in Indian agriculture, like conventional crops to cash crops or commercial crops. This is crop diversity. Oil palm is one of the best examples. Among various commercial crops, Oil palm cultivation in various parts of India is getting priority, and area expansion under oil palm through small, medium & large farmers are taking place.
Assured return and income Security: Oil palm provides assured return to the farmers throughout the year since there is a buyback guarantee of their produce by the processor under the control of the Government. With the increase in age of the crop, commercial yields start and increase from the fourth year onwards and the maximum yield of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs)-20 tonnes or more per hectare per year gets stabilised in the 9th year and continues. This helps in increasing farmers’ income. The economic life of the crop is around 30 years.
The author is former CEO-Oil Palm Plantation, Godrej Agrovet Ltd. Views are personal. The Hindu Businessline
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Portugal Sees Huge Rise in Palm Oil Imports form Indonesia
Jakarta. Portugal -- a member of the European Union -- was shipping in more and more palm oil products from Indonesia despite the regional grouping’s tough stance on the commodity, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on Monday.
Her remarks came after she met with her Portuguese counterpart Joao Gomes Cravinho in Jakarta. In a joint press conference, Retno brought Portugal’s attention to its growing palm oil imports from Indonesia, which even booked a double-digit growth.
“I appreciated Portugal’s trust in palm oil from Indonesia. Portugal’s import of palm oil from Indonesia increased by 77 percent from 2019 to 2022. The rise resulted from incentives from importing palm oil derivatives as biodiesel feedstock,” Retno told reporters.
In front of Cavinho, Retno even called the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) “discriminatory”. This policy requires traders and operators to prove their products do not come from lands that are subject to deforestation after the cut-off date of Dec. 31, 2020. Rubber and palm oil are among the commodities that are within the scope of the new rules.
“I reiterated during the conversation my concern on the number of discriminatory policies taken by the EU including the EUDR,” Retno said.
Cravinho did not say anything about Portugal’s Indonesian palm oil imports during the joint press briefing. The Portuguese diplomat, however, chose to talk more about other matters such as the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which is still under negotiations. Jakarta Globe
---------
Nigeria-Edo to enact law for sustainable oil palm estate devt, others
The Edo State Government said it is considering bills to ensure adherence to sustainable practices in the development of oil palm estates.
The bill, being considered at the Edo State House of Assembly, is coming on the heels of an elaborate initiative to develop oil palm estates across the state in collaboration with Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) giants, De United Foods Limited (DuFil) and Flour Mills of Nigeria, among others, who are investing in the agricultural sector and building food processing plants in the State.
Acting Team Lead, Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), Mr. Churchill Oboh, in an interview with journalists, said the state is transitioning to sustainable oil palm practices, which is embedded in the ESOPP scheme.
According to him, “Today, through the sustainable programme, all oil palm companies are mandated to comply with the Round-Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Standard, which includes, preserving biodiversity, protecting forests and peatlands, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, respect for workers’ rights and safe working conditions and land rights among others.
“As we speak, there is a bill before the House of Assembly, which will legally back these sustainable practices in the sector. Additionally, the state has fully adopted the Free Prior and Informed Consent in engaging stakeholders prior to any activity or investment in the state. Guardian NG
---------
India-(Opinion) Time to adapt regenerative farming system in oil palm
It can help increase crop yield through high-yielding seedlings, recycling crop residue, re-using mill waste, and reducing cultivation costs
About 2.7 million hectares (ha) of potential area in India have been identified by the government agency for oil palm cultivation through farmers. Special focus is given to bring more area under Oil Palm in a short span of time, under the “National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm ( NMEO-OP)” launched on 18 August 2021 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare( MoA & FW), Government of India.
There is a shift in cropping pattern in Indian agriculture, like conventional crops to cash crops or commercial crops. This is crop diversity. Oil palm is one of the best examples. Among various commercial crops, Oil palm cultivation in various parts of India is getting priority, and area expansion under oil palm through small, medium & large farmers are taking place.
Assured return and income Security: Oil palm provides assured return to the farmers throughout the year since there is a buyback guarantee of their produce by the processor under the control of the Government. With the increase in age of the crop, commercial yields start and increase from the fourth year onwards and the maximum yield of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs)-20 tonnes or more per hectare per year gets stabilised in the 9th year and continues. This helps in increasing farmers’ income. The economic life of the crop is around 30 years.
The author is former CEO-Oil Palm Plantation, Godrej Agrovet Ltd. Views are personal. The Hindu Businessline
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July 23, 2023
Palm oil plantations and deforestation in Guatemala: Certifying products as ‘sustainable’ is no panacea
Cheap, versatile and easy to grow, palm oil is the world’s most consumed vegetable oil and is found in roughly half of all packaged supermarket products, from bread and margarine to shampoo and toothpaste.
But producing palm oil has caused deforestation and biodiversity loss across Southeast Asia and elsewhere, including Central America. Efforts to curtail the damage have largely focused on voluntary environmental certification programs that label qualifying palm-oil sources as “sustainable.”
However, those certification programs have been criticized by environmental groups as greenwashing tools that enable multinational corporations to claim fully sustainable palm oil while continuing to sell products that fall far short of the deforestation-free goal.
Findings from a new University of Michigan-led study, published online in the Journal of Environmental Management, support some of the critics’ claims—and go much further.
The U-M case study focuses on Guatemala, which is projected to become the world’s third-largest palm-oil producer by 2030 after Indonesia and Malaysia, and an influential environmental certification system called the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, or RSPO. University of Michigan
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“Sustainability Transitions in the Palm Oil Sector”
Helena Varkkey
Department of International and Strategic Studies
Universiti Malaya
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world. Indonesia and Malaysia are the world's largest producers of palm oil, and the commodity is viewed as an important engine of growth and modernization for these countries. However, this crop has been linked to various socio-environmental problems. This talk traces the sustainability transitions in the Southeast Asian palm oil sector, comparing the influence of global (deforestation, human rights) as opposed to localized (regional haze, land grabs) socio-environmental concerns on this trajectory. It argues that market access has been an important determinant of this sector's sustainability transition, clashing with historical narratives of natural resource-based development in the face of ecological imperialism.
7: 30 pm
Thursday, September 28
Online Only; Virtual via Zoom—Registration Required: https://niu-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvceCspzkoEtXwMCS1_uqrIbPWyhvyLlL9)
Contact the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at [email protected]
Co-sponsored by NIU's Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability and Energy/Environmental Studies. NorthernPublicRadio
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Palm oil plantations and deforestation in Guatemala: Certifying products as ‘sustainable’ is no panacea
Cheap, versatile and easy to grow, palm oil is the world’s most consumed vegetable oil and is found in roughly half of all packaged supermarket products, from bread and margarine to shampoo and toothpaste.
But producing palm oil has caused deforestation and biodiversity loss across Southeast Asia and elsewhere, including Central America. Efforts to curtail the damage have largely focused on voluntary environmental certification programs that label qualifying palm-oil sources as “sustainable.”
However, those certification programs have been criticized by environmental groups as greenwashing tools that enable multinational corporations to claim fully sustainable palm oil while continuing to sell products that fall far short of the deforestation-free goal.
Findings from a new University of Michigan-led study, published online in the Journal of Environmental Management, support some of the critics’ claims—and go much further.
The U-M case study focuses on Guatemala, which is projected to become the world’s third-largest palm-oil producer by 2030 after Indonesia and Malaysia, and an influential environmental certification system called the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, or RSPO. University of Michigan
---------
“Sustainability Transitions in the Palm Oil Sector”
Helena Varkkey
Department of International and Strategic Studies
Universiti Malaya
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world. Indonesia and Malaysia are the world's largest producers of palm oil, and the commodity is viewed as an important engine of growth and modernization for these countries. However, this crop has been linked to various socio-environmental problems. This talk traces the sustainability transitions in the Southeast Asian palm oil sector, comparing the influence of global (deforestation, human rights) as opposed to localized (regional haze, land grabs) socio-environmental concerns on this trajectory. It argues that market access has been an important determinant of this sector's sustainability transition, clashing with historical narratives of natural resource-based development in the face of ecological imperialism.
7: 30 pm
Thursday, September 28
Online Only; Virtual via Zoom—Registration Required: https://niu-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvceCspzkoEtXwMCS1_uqrIbPWyhvyLlL9)
Contact the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at [email protected]
Co-sponsored by NIU's Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability and Energy/Environmental Studies. NorthernPublicRadio
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July 20, 2023
Mapping a more sustainable palm oil future in Indonesia
Palm oil roadmap to navigate the climate crisis for people and planet.
The versatile and edible palm oil can be found in everything from pizza dough to instant noodles and bread. And Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of the oil, is ramping up production to meet global demand.
The palm oil sector has become vital to the country’s economy. However, some palm oil production has been associated with deforestation and the loss of biodiversity-rich forest, leading to greenhouse gasses emissions that drive global climate change.
In May 2023, CIFOR-ICRAF conducted a national roundtable to map out a sustainable palm oil plan in Indonesia to establish sustainable palm oil value-chains and ensure that the trade benefits the environment while generating economic benefits for people.
The challenge is to maximize the development and economic benefits of this pivotal national commodity sector, while minimizing its adverse social and environmental effects. Experts discussed perspectives and a pathway forward around challenges, such as the implementation of new regulations imposed by the European Union, to stop commodities including palm oil, produced on land subject to deforestation after 2020 from entering EU markets.
Better planning CIFOR
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Sustainable palm oil certification to be expanded to downstream sector
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification will be expanded to the downstream sector, the Industry Ministry said.
The certification is based on the Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 44 of 2020 on the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Certification System.
So far, ISPO certification only covered the upstream sector, namely plantation and plantation processing results, Director General of Agro Industry at the Ministry Putu Juli Ardika informed during the "Food and Beverage Industry's Industry 4.0 Assistance Kick-Off" event here on Tuesday.
However, at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs' recommendation, the scope of the ISPO certification has been expanded to the downstream sector to boost the competitiveness of palm derivative products, including energy or fuel.
"Perpres 44/2020 on ISPO revision is being completed. We already had several PAK or interministerial committee meetings. Therefore, there are so many things that we have agreed upon, thus, it can hopefully be completed soon," he said.
"This is how we anticipate existing global policies," he added. Antara News
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India-Godrej Agrovet stock surges by over 5% after Telangana govt allots 47,000 acres for its palm oil business
In an exchange filing, the company said that the department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of Telangana, has allotted the land, which will be utilised to expand cultivation of oil palm and set up oil palm processing units.
Godrej Agrovet stock on Tuesday surged by more than 5 per cent after the company announced that it has been allotted a potential area of 47,000 acres in Sangareddy district of Telangana for its oil palm business. At 3.30 PM, the agribusiness company shares were trading at Rs 498.20, up by 5.42 per cent.
In an exchange filing, the company said that the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of Telangana, has allotted the land, which will be utilised to expand the cultivation of oil palm and set up oil palm processing units.
“We are delighted to receive additional district in the fresh allotment released by the Government of Telangana. It is a testimony of GAVL’s commitment and efforts to boost oil palm plantation and promote farmer prosperity in the region. We would like to thank Government of Telangana for their support and commitment to this initiative which will benefit the farmers,” said Balram Singh Yadav, Managing Director, GAVL.
Recently, GAVL inaugurated an edible oil refinery at Chintalapudi, Eluru district in Andhra Pradesh, which is its first downstream project for value-added products in oil and fats segment. The refinery, the company said, will help it cater to captive needs originating from the company’s oil palm work in the southern states along with demand from other crude palm oil players in the region. Business TodayIN
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Malaysia-Govt, Petronas partner to collect used cooking oil to make sustainable aviation fuel
Said liquid can be sold at participating petrol stations, with each sale paid in credit points through Setel app
PUTRAJAYA – The Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry together with Petronas have implemented an initiative to collect used cooking oil as a main source of raw material to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that, for a start, the programme will be implemented at Petronas station 1, Precinct 9 here, Petronas Subang Bestari and Petronas Kota Kemuning 1 in Shah Alam.
“The collection centres will be expanded nationwide in stages to include selected Petronas stations,” said Fadillah, who is also plantation and commodities minister, when launching the programme.
Waste cooking oil can be taken and sold at the participating petrol stations, with each sale paid in credit points entered through the Setel application, and the points can be redeemed at any Petronas station or Kedai Mesra.
Fadillah said the move was a proactive measure by Petronas in preparation to meet the demands of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (Corsia), which was developed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao) to reduce the carbon footprint and meet the carbon neutral growth target for the international aviation sector. The Vibes
Mapping a more sustainable palm oil future in Indonesia
Palm oil roadmap to navigate the climate crisis for people and planet.
The versatile and edible palm oil can be found in everything from pizza dough to instant noodles and bread. And Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of the oil, is ramping up production to meet global demand.
The palm oil sector has become vital to the country’s economy. However, some palm oil production has been associated with deforestation and the loss of biodiversity-rich forest, leading to greenhouse gasses emissions that drive global climate change.
In May 2023, CIFOR-ICRAF conducted a national roundtable to map out a sustainable palm oil plan in Indonesia to establish sustainable palm oil value-chains and ensure that the trade benefits the environment while generating economic benefits for people.
The challenge is to maximize the development and economic benefits of this pivotal national commodity sector, while minimizing its adverse social and environmental effects. Experts discussed perspectives and a pathway forward around challenges, such as the implementation of new regulations imposed by the European Union, to stop commodities including palm oil, produced on land subject to deforestation after 2020 from entering EU markets.
Better planning CIFOR
---------
Sustainable palm oil certification to be expanded to downstream sector
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification will be expanded to the downstream sector, the Industry Ministry said.
The certification is based on the Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 44 of 2020 on the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Certification System.
So far, ISPO certification only covered the upstream sector, namely plantation and plantation processing results, Director General of Agro Industry at the Ministry Putu Juli Ardika informed during the "Food and Beverage Industry's Industry 4.0 Assistance Kick-Off" event here on Tuesday.
However, at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs' recommendation, the scope of the ISPO certification has been expanded to the downstream sector to boost the competitiveness of palm derivative products, including energy or fuel.
"Perpres 44/2020 on ISPO revision is being completed. We already had several PAK or interministerial committee meetings. Therefore, there are so many things that we have agreed upon, thus, it can hopefully be completed soon," he said.
"This is how we anticipate existing global policies," he added. Antara News
---------
India-Godrej Agrovet stock surges by over 5% after Telangana govt allots 47,000 acres for its palm oil business
In an exchange filing, the company said that the department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of Telangana, has allotted the land, which will be utilised to expand cultivation of oil palm and set up oil palm processing units.
Godrej Agrovet stock on Tuesday surged by more than 5 per cent after the company announced that it has been allotted a potential area of 47,000 acres in Sangareddy district of Telangana for its oil palm business. At 3.30 PM, the agribusiness company shares were trading at Rs 498.20, up by 5.42 per cent.
In an exchange filing, the company said that the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of Telangana, has allotted the land, which will be utilised to expand the cultivation of oil palm and set up oil palm processing units.
“We are delighted to receive additional district in the fresh allotment released by the Government of Telangana. It is a testimony of GAVL’s commitment and efforts to boost oil palm plantation and promote farmer prosperity in the region. We would like to thank Government of Telangana for their support and commitment to this initiative which will benefit the farmers,” said Balram Singh Yadav, Managing Director, GAVL.
Recently, GAVL inaugurated an edible oil refinery at Chintalapudi, Eluru district in Andhra Pradesh, which is its first downstream project for value-added products in oil and fats segment. The refinery, the company said, will help it cater to captive needs originating from the company’s oil palm work in the southern states along with demand from other crude palm oil players in the region. Business TodayIN
----------
Malaysia-Govt, Petronas partner to collect used cooking oil to make sustainable aviation fuel
Said liquid can be sold at participating petrol stations, with each sale paid in credit points through Setel app
PUTRAJAYA – The Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry together with Petronas have implemented an initiative to collect used cooking oil as a main source of raw material to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that, for a start, the programme will be implemented at Petronas station 1, Precinct 9 here, Petronas Subang Bestari and Petronas Kota Kemuning 1 in Shah Alam.
“The collection centres will be expanded nationwide in stages to include selected Petronas stations,” said Fadillah, who is also plantation and commodities minister, when launching the programme.
Waste cooking oil can be taken and sold at the participating petrol stations, with each sale paid in credit points entered through the Setel application, and the points can be redeemed at any Petronas station or Kedai Mesra.
Fadillah said the move was a proactive measure by Petronas in preparation to meet the demands of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (Corsia), which was developed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao) to reduce the carbon footprint and meet the carbon neutral growth target for the international aviation sector. The Vibes
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July 18, 2023
Indonesia-Complete permit formalities before Nov, palm oil producers told
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has urged all palm oil companies who are based in forest areas to fulfill all licensing requirements before November 2, 2023.
"We all hope that the fulfillment of the requirements can be completed before the deadline, which is November 2, 2023," secretary general of the ministry, Bambang Hendroyono, said at the "Socialization of Palm Oil Settlement in Forest Areas" event in Jakarta on Monday.
November 2 has been set as the deadline referring to Law Number 11 of 2020 or the Job Creation Law, he added.
The Job Creation Law, he said, which has now become Law Number 6 of 2023, states that the settlement of oil palm plantations in forest areas will be divided into two typological clusters, in accordance with Articles 110A and 110B.
Oil palm plantations that have already been set up, own a business permit, and have followed the spatial layout provided at the time of permit issuance, but are currently located in a production forest area, protected forest area, and conservation forest area will fall under the Article 110A cluster, he informed.
"This happened because there was a spatial dispute before Law 26 of 2007 with forest areas," he said. Antara News
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Apical Oleochemical starts up large facility in China
In China, Apical Oleochemical (Taixing) Co., Ltd. has started up the first phase of its Oleochemical Industry Integration Project at Taixing, Jiangsu.
At 600,000 tons of capacity, the Apical plant is the largest such project in China. It will mainly produce
fatty acids, hydrogenated oil, oleic acid, glycerine, and related products for chemical, pharmaceutical, health and beauty industries.
The project “[solidifies] Apical’s position as one of the world’s leading palm oil manufacturers” and providers of sustainable vegetable oils and value-added products, Apical said in a press statement. Biofuels Digest
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AAK to showcase plant-based fat and oil ingredients in plant-based meat and dessert samples: IFT FIRST 2023 Preview
AAK (Edison, NJ) will demonstrate the versatility of its portfolio of plant-based fat and oil ingredients at the 2023 IFT FIRST Food Expo taking place in Chicago on July 16-19, 2023, at booth S1123. The company will distribute product samples demonstrating how its plant-based fats and oils benefit food formulation.
Samples will include a plant-based chicken nugget that “eats like chicken with realistic taste, texture, and succulence,” made with AAK’s AkoVeg 117-14 palm-free ingredient. Also offered will be a plant-based chipotle mayo that can serve as a dressing, dip, or spread and that “features the taste and texture of real chipotle mayonnaise.” This mayo is also dairy- and egg-free and kosher.
The company will also offer a flaky biscuit made with its specialty fats and oils that sidesteps “a hardening issue with flaked shortening as a replacement.”
On the dessert side, the company will showcase a cocoa hazelnut spread featuring its EsSence 86-33 blend of palm, palm kernel, and canola oils. This blend contains less saturated fat than comparable fats and also “significantly reduces oil seepage to provide higher-quality products with longer shelf life,” the firm’s press release states. Nutritional Outlook
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Indonesia-Complete permit formalities before Nov, palm oil producers told
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has urged all palm oil companies who are based in forest areas to fulfill all licensing requirements before November 2, 2023.
"We all hope that the fulfillment of the requirements can be completed before the deadline, which is November 2, 2023," secretary general of the ministry, Bambang Hendroyono, said at the "Socialization of Palm Oil Settlement in Forest Areas" event in Jakarta on Monday.
November 2 has been set as the deadline referring to Law Number 11 of 2020 or the Job Creation Law, he added.
The Job Creation Law, he said, which has now become Law Number 6 of 2023, states that the settlement of oil palm plantations in forest areas will be divided into two typological clusters, in accordance with Articles 110A and 110B.
Oil palm plantations that have already been set up, own a business permit, and have followed the spatial layout provided at the time of permit issuance, but are currently located in a production forest area, protected forest area, and conservation forest area will fall under the Article 110A cluster, he informed.
"This happened because there was a spatial dispute before Law 26 of 2007 with forest areas," he said. Antara News
---------
Apical Oleochemical starts up large facility in China
In China, Apical Oleochemical (Taixing) Co., Ltd. has started up the first phase of its Oleochemical Industry Integration Project at Taixing, Jiangsu.
At 600,000 tons of capacity, the Apical plant is the largest such project in China. It will mainly produce
fatty acids, hydrogenated oil, oleic acid, glycerine, and related products for chemical, pharmaceutical, health and beauty industries.
The project “[solidifies] Apical’s position as one of the world’s leading palm oil manufacturers” and providers of sustainable vegetable oils and value-added products, Apical said in a press statement. Biofuels Digest
---------
AAK to showcase plant-based fat and oil ingredients in plant-based meat and dessert samples: IFT FIRST 2023 Preview
AAK (Edison, NJ) will demonstrate the versatility of its portfolio of plant-based fat and oil ingredients at the 2023 IFT FIRST Food Expo taking place in Chicago on July 16-19, 2023, at booth S1123. The company will distribute product samples demonstrating how its plant-based fats and oils benefit food formulation.
Samples will include a plant-based chicken nugget that “eats like chicken with realistic taste, texture, and succulence,” made with AAK’s AkoVeg 117-14 palm-free ingredient. Also offered will be a plant-based chipotle mayo that can serve as a dressing, dip, or spread and that “features the taste and texture of real chipotle mayonnaise.” This mayo is also dairy- and egg-free and kosher.
The company will also offer a flaky biscuit made with its specialty fats and oils that sidesteps “a hardening issue with flaked shortening as a replacement.”
On the dessert side, the company will showcase a cocoa hazelnut spread featuring its EsSence 86-33 blend of palm, palm kernel, and canola oils. This blend contains less saturated fat than comparable fats and also “significantly reduces oil seepage to provide higher-quality products with longer shelf life,” the firm’s press release states. Nutritional Outlook
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July 17, 2023
Indonesia, EU conclude 15th round of IEU-CEPA negotiations
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and the European Union (EU) have completed the 15th round of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) negotiations.
The Indonesian negotiation team is headed by Trade Ministry's Bilateral Negotiation Director, Johni Martha, while the EU team is led by the European Commission's Deputy Head of Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand Unit, Filip Deraedt.
"The two negotiating teams have exerted their best efforts in seeking creative solutions to issues on the IEU-CEPA negotiations. After the last round in Brussels, we are optimistic that substantial progress in the negotiation will be achieved," Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, Trade Ministry's Director General of International Trade Negotiation, stated.
As per the statement received here on Sunday (July 16), the two parties have concurred on Economic Cooperation and Capacity Building (ECCB), making it the seventh section of IEU-CEPA completed so far. Antara News
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With untapped potential, EU is never too ‘far away’ for ASEAN
Ahead of his appearance at the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy spoke to The Jakarta Post to address some burning questions on its approach to the region.
Q: There has been a number of disagreements between the EU and Indonesia about trade recently, including nickel exports and the EUDR policy. How far is the EU willing to compromise to bridge these differences? What can we expect from the joint task force recently established?
To start with and most importantly: there is a huge untapped potential for trade and investment between the EU and Indonesia. Right now, Indonesia is only our fifth trade and outbound investment partner in ASEAN despite being a key country and a very large economy in South-East Asia. This has to change.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement we are currently negotiating can play an important role in achieving this and in boosting our bilateral trade and investment. This week, the 15th negotiation round is taking place and we work on making significant progress.
Regarding Indonesia’s export ban on nickel, the WTO panel has issued a ruling upholding the EU claims and I am sure that Indonesia will choose to engage constructively. As I always say: trade disputes, even between closest partners, are normal. What is important is that they are resolved.
The Joint Task Force on deforestation between Indonesia, Malaysia and the EU is a good example of such constructive cooperation. When it comes to the implementation of the EU’s Deforestation Regulation, it will provide an additional instrument facilitating our ongoing dialogue. As partners, we respect each other’s concerns and jointly discuss the best way forward. We want to enable producers, especially smallholders, to ensure that their supply chains are deforestation-free. And we will work together to ensure European consumption of the relevant commodities are not a deforestation driver in Indonesia or elsewhere. The EU is a very steady customer of Indonesian palm oil and timber, we have every interest in maintaining the trade. EEAS Europa
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Now, India plans currency, UPI deal with Indonesia
GANDHINAGAR: After the United Arab Emirates, India is looking to seal a deal for bilateral trade in domestic currency, real-time card recognition and digital payments, a move that will promote the use of UPI and similar tools.
The issue came up for discussion during FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s meeting with her Indonesian counterpart Sri Mulyani Indrawatias the two countries announced the launch of ‘Economic and Financial Dialogue’, focused on intensifying trade and investment relationship. Times of India
Indonesia, EU conclude 15th round of IEU-CEPA negotiations
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and the European Union (EU) have completed the 15th round of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) negotiations.
The Indonesian negotiation team is headed by Trade Ministry's Bilateral Negotiation Director, Johni Martha, while the EU team is led by the European Commission's Deputy Head of Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand Unit, Filip Deraedt.
"The two negotiating teams have exerted their best efforts in seeking creative solutions to issues on the IEU-CEPA negotiations. After the last round in Brussels, we are optimistic that substantial progress in the negotiation will be achieved," Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, Trade Ministry's Director General of International Trade Negotiation, stated.
As per the statement received here on Sunday (July 16), the two parties have concurred on Economic Cooperation and Capacity Building (ECCB), making it the seventh section of IEU-CEPA completed so far. Antara News
---------
With untapped potential, EU is never too ‘far away’ for ASEAN
Ahead of his appearance at the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy spoke to The Jakarta Post to address some burning questions on its approach to the region.
Q: There has been a number of disagreements between the EU and Indonesia about trade recently, including nickel exports and the EUDR policy. How far is the EU willing to compromise to bridge these differences? What can we expect from the joint task force recently established?
To start with and most importantly: there is a huge untapped potential for trade and investment between the EU and Indonesia. Right now, Indonesia is only our fifth trade and outbound investment partner in ASEAN despite being a key country and a very large economy in South-East Asia. This has to change.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement we are currently negotiating can play an important role in achieving this and in boosting our bilateral trade and investment. This week, the 15th negotiation round is taking place and we work on making significant progress.
Regarding Indonesia’s export ban on nickel, the WTO panel has issued a ruling upholding the EU claims and I am sure that Indonesia will choose to engage constructively. As I always say: trade disputes, even between closest partners, are normal. What is important is that they are resolved.
The Joint Task Force on deforestation between Indonesia, Malaysia and the EU is a good example of such constructive cooperation. When it comes to the implementation of the EU’s Deforestation Regulation, it will provide an additional instrument facilitating our ongoing dialogue. As partners, we respect each other’s concerns and jointly discuss the best way forward. We want to enable producers, especially smallholders, to ensure that their supply chains are deforestation-free. And we will work together to ensure European consumption of the relevant commodities are not a deforestation driver in Indonesia or elsewhere. The EU is a very steady customer of Indonesian palm oil and timber, we have every interest in maintaining the trade. EEAS Europa
---------
Now, India plans currency, UPI deal with Indonesia
GANDHINAGAR: After the United Arab Emirates, India is looking to seal a deal for bilateral trade in domestic currency, real-time card recognition and digital payments, a move that will promote the use of UPI and similar tools.
The issue came up for discussion during FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s meeting with her Indonesian counterpart Sri Mulyani Indrawatias the two countries announced the launch of ‘Economic and Financial Dialogue’, focused on intensifying trade and investment relationship. Times of India
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July 16, 2023
The need for enhanced EU cooperation with the CPTPP
EU economic integration with like-minded partners in the Asia-Pacific is crucial to diversify trade relations and improve competitiveness. This article presents concrete proposals on how this can be achieved without negotiating entirely new trade agreements.
To achieve its priorities with respect to security, resilience, competitiveness and prosperity, the EU needs a plan for deeper economic integration with reliable partners. WTO negotiations are unlikely to advance fast and the US is unwilling to pursue deep trade integration with the EU. The best option in this case is the one indicated by the European Commission in its 2021 Trade Policy Review communication.
The communication states that “the EU will need to diversify its relations and build alliances with like-minded partners, including through its broad network of trade agreements…The EU’s free trade agreements (FTAs) are platforms for enhanced cooperation pursuing our values and interests. They are the basis for engagement with important markets and countries around the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Despite this, the 2021 EU Indo-Pacific Strategy contained only modest ambitions for enhanced cooperation based on existing EU FTAs. Most notably, it had no references to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trading block that currently has ten members, nine of which the EU has or is negotiating trade agreements with. Unlike the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that includes China, the CPTPP is made up of countries that the EU already has close trade relations with. In our view, the CPTPP therefore represents the EU’s best option to pursue enhanced cooperation with like-minded partners. National Board of Trade, Sweden
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U.K. formally joins CPTPP to little fanfare and low expectations
Malaysia stands to gain from free palm oil exports but few other benefits seen
LONDON -- The U.K. on Sunday signed an agreement to join the CPTPP in Auckland, New Zealand, formalizing its accession as the first new member to the 11-nation trading bloc, although analysts see little economic impact from the deal.
The main obvious beneficiary is Malaysia, which stands to gain tariff-free palm oil exports into the U.K., from up to 12% now, once the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership enters into force.
The agreement is expected to give the U.K. economy a marginal boost of 1.8 billion pounds ($2.36 billion), or 0.08%, over 15 years, based on London's own assessment in April 2021.
"The impact appears mainly cosmetic, for the U.K. to show it made a trade deal after Brexit," said Chris Devonshire-Ellis, chairman of Dezan Shira & Associates, an advisory firm that works with investors across Asia. "No one in Asia is taking the pact very seriously." Nikkei Asia
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The UK officially joins CPTPP, marks the first Malaysia-UK FTA
The United Kingdom (UK) today officially joined Malaysia and 11 other founding countries in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), marking the first free trade agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and the UK.
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz represented Malaysia at the Accession Protocol signing ceremony that took place in Auckland, New Zealand during the seventh CPTPP Ministerial Commission Meeting.
In a statement, he said Malaysia look forward to the eventual benefits for the country’s exporters and businesses as upon entry into force, Malaysian exports would immediately enjoy preferential duty-free treatment on 94 per cent of tariff lines, including exports of particular significance, notably palm oil, cocoa, rubber, electrical and electronics and chemicals.
“The signing of the UK Accession Protocol is also timely as it sends a strong signal to the world on the advantages of the CPTPP membership including the parties’ commitment towards an open, rules-based and liberal multilateral trading system. The Malaysian Reserve
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Papuan development is exclusively for Papuan natives: VP Amin
Manokwari, West Papua (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin emphasized that development in Papua is exclusively for Papuan natives, and so, it should not be hindered by conflicts and other disturbances.
"The ones who can feel the benefits of development in Papua are the Papuan natives, so the development here must not be disturbed," Amin stated during his visit to Papua on Saturday.
The vice president made the statement to respond to conflicts that often emerge along with Papua's development that is being intensified by the government.
On Saturday, the vice president visited the rejuvenation of a palm oil plantation, with an area spanning 2,044 hectares, in Manokwari, West Papua.
He reaffirmed that the development of Papua is not for other people of other regions while emphasizing that infrastructure in Papua stays there and would not be moved.
"Papua's development is not for Jakartans. This is for Papuan natives," he noted.
He reminded that conflicts can disrupt Papua's development.
"That is why I say that we must build Papua together," he stated. Antara News
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Nigeria-NEPC pushes to boost palm oil production in Rivers
...as farmers demand dialogue with governor
Rivers State is said to have done nothing to boost oil palm economy in over a decade apart from handing its palm oil scheme over to a foreign company to manage.
Now, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) office in the South-South has taken up the task of pushing for the revival of the oil palm production in the state, especially in the small-holder sector.
Palm oil is Rivers One-State-One-Product (OSOP) number one product in addition to cassava, but the federal agency says nothing seems to have been done to boost export of palm oil by small-holder farmers who hold 70 percent of land under oil palm cultivation.
The NEPC has thus started by mounting a one-day training for oil palm farmers in the state.
The regional coordinator, Ahmid Ganiyu said the workshop was to help push for it because it has been discovered that for Nigeria to move forward and get away from oil dependency economy other products must be developed. Business Day
The need for enhanced EU cooperation with the CPTPP
EU economic integration with like-minded partners in the Asia-Pacific is crucial to diversify trade relations and improve competitiveness. This article presents concrete proposals on how this can be achieved without negotiating entirely new trade agreements.
To achieve its priorities with respect to security, resilience, competitiveness and prosperity, the EU needs a plan for deeper economic integration with reliable partners. WTO negotiations are unlikely to advance fast and the US is unwilling to pursue deep trade integration with the EU. The best option in this case is the one indicated by the European Commission in its 2021 Trade Policy Review communication.
The communication states that “the EU will need to diversify its relations and build alliances with like-minded partners, including through its broad network of trade agreements…The EU’s free trade agreements (FTAs) are platforms for enhanced cooperation pursuing our values and interests. They are the basis for engagement with important markets and countries around the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Despite this, the 2021 EU Indo-Pacific Strategy contained only modest ambitions for enhanced cooperation based on existing EU FTAs. Most notably, it had no references to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trading block that currently has ten members, nine of which the EU has or is negotiating trade agreements with. Unlike the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that includes China, the CPTPP is made up of countries that the EU already has close trade relations with. In our view, the CPTPP therefore represents the EU’s best option to pursue enhanced cooperation with like-minded partners. National Board of Trade, Sweden
---------
U.K. formally joins CPTPP to little fanfare and low expectations
Malaysia stands to gain from free palm oil exports but few other benefits seen
LONDON -- The U.K. on Sunday signed an agreement to join the CPTPP in Auckland, New Zealand, formalizing its accession as the first new member to the 11-nation trading bloc, although analysts see little economic impact from the deal.
The main obvious beneficiary is Malaysia, which stands to gain tariff-free palm oil exports into the U.K., from up to 12% now, once the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership enters into force.
The agreement is expected to give the U.K. economy a marginal boost of 1.8 billion pounds ($2.36 billion), or 0.08%, over 15 years, based on London's own assessment in April 2021.
"The impact appears mainly cosmetic, for the U.K. to show it made a trade deal after Brexit," said Chris Devonshire-Ellis, chairman of Dezan Shira & Associates, an advisory firm that works with investors across Asia. "No one in Asia is taking the pact very seriously." Nikkei Asia
---------
The UK officially joins CPTPP, marks the first Malaysia-UK FTA
The United Kingdom (UK) today officially joined Malaysia and 11 other founding countries in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), marking the first free trade agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and the UK.
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz represented Malaysia at the Accession Protocol signing ceremony that took place in Auckland, New Zealand during the seventh CPTPP Ministerial Commission Meeting.
In a statement, he said Malaysia look forward to the eventual benefits for the country’s exporters and businesses as upon entry into force, Malaysian exports would immediately enjoy preferential duty-free treatment on 94 per cent of tariff lines, including exports of particular significance, notably palm oil, cocoa, rubber, electrical and electronics and chemicals.
“The signing of the UK Accession Protocol is also timely as it sends a strong signal to the world on the advantages of the CPTPP membership including the parties’ commitment towards an open, rules-based and liberal multilateral trading system. The Malaysian Reserve
---------
Papuan development is exclusively for Papuan natives: VP Amin
Manokwari, West Papua (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin emphasized that development in Papua is exclusively for Papuan natives, and so, it should not be hindered by conflicts and other disturbances.
"The ones who can feel the benefits of development in Papua are the Papuan natives, so the development here must not be disturbed," Amin stated during his visit to Papua on Saturday.
The vice president made the statement to respond to conflicts that often emerge along with Papua's development that is being intensified by the government.
On Saturday, the vice president visited the rejuvenation of a palm oil plantation, with an area spanning 2,044 hectares, in Manokwari, West Papua.
He reaffirmed that the development of Papua is not for other people of other regions while emphasizing that infrastructure in Papua stays there and would not be moved.
"Papua's development is not for Jakartans. This is for Papuan natives," he noted.
He reminded that conflicts can disrupt Papua's development.
"That is why I say that we must build Papua together," he stated. Antara News
---------
Nigeria-NEPC pushes to boost palm oil production in Rivers
...as farmers demand dialogue with governor
Rivers State is said to have done nothing to boost oil palm economy in over a decade apart from handing its palm oil scheme over to a foreign company to manage.
Now, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) office in the South-South has taken up the task of pushing for the revival of the oil palm production in the state, especially in the small-holder sector.
Palm oil is Rivers One-State-One-Product (OSOP) number one product in addition to cassava, but the federal agency says nothing seems to have been done to boost export of palm oil by small-holder farmers who hold 70 percent of land under oil palm cultivation.
The NEPC has thus started by mounting a one-day training for oil palm farmers in the state.
The regional coordinator, Ahmid Ganiyu said the workshop was to help push for it because it has been discovered that for Nigeria to move forward and get away from oil dependency economy other products must be developed. Business Day
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July 15, 2023
Palm oil stakeholders say more details needed on planned EUDR regulation, implications
More detailed information must be provided on the application and implications of proposed new European Union (EU) legislation on palm oil production – particularly, impacts on and incentives for small producers, stakeholders said during a roundtable organized by the Center for International Forestry Research-World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF).
Specifics of the EU’s proposed regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) must be clarified, because “people don’t know what will be their required actions or what will be the possible consequences of this legislation,” Agus Purnomo, senior advisor on sustainability with Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food (PT SMART Tbk), said during the 8 December 2022 roundtable held in Jakarta and online.
Some 79 participants including producers, representatives from NGOs, government and embassy officials, the private sector, scientists, researchers and civil society groups, registered at the event focused particularly on the EUDR, which stipulates that commodities placed on the European market should not contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU or elsewhere in the world. To comply with the upcoming Regulation, companies will have to conduct strict due diligence if they place on the EU market, or export from it, key commodities associated with deforestation globally, including palm oil, cattle, soy, coffee, cocoa, timber and rubber as well as derived products (such as beef, furniture, or chocolate). CIFOR
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New African Group WTO paper proposes 12 principles on Trade-related Environmental Measures.
Says: "If WTO is to play a supportive role in addressing the climate change challenge, it can only do so if trade responses are multilaterally agreed + underpinned by principle of CBDR."
PRINCIPLES GUIDING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TRADE-RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES COMMUNICATION FROM THE AFRICAN GROUP (ANGOLA; BENIN; BOTSWANA; BURKINA FASO; BURUNDI; CABO VERDE; CAMEROON; CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC; CHAD; CONGO; CÔTE D'IVOIRE; DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO; DJIBOUTI; EGYPT; ESWATINI; GABON; THE GAMBIA; GHANA; GUINEA; GUINEA-BISSAU; KENYA; LESOTHO; LIBERIA; MADAGASCAR; MALAWI; MALI; MAURITANIA; MAURITIUS; MOROCCO; MOZAMBIQUE; NAMIBIA; NIGER; NIGERIA; RWANDA; SENEGAL; SEYCHELLES; SIERRA LEONE; SOUTH AFRICA; TANZANIA; TOGO; TUNISIA; UGANDA; ZAMBIA AND ZIMBABWE) The following communication, dated 13 July 2023, is being circulated at the request of the African Group.
1 INTRODUCTION 1.1. With growing awareness of the linkage between trade and environment, the African Group (AG) notes the unrelenting efforts being made at various levels, as well as by individual countries at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to integrate trade and environment policies. 1.2. The AG acknowledges the importance of the climate agenda, but equally acknowledges that issues on trade and environment that are currently being debated and likely to be pursued in the short-and medium-term in the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) could have far-reaching implications for developing countries. WTO
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Rising Demand Fuels India's Edible Oil Imports, With Palm Oil Leading The Surge
Furthermore, the import of soybean oil from Brazil has been steadily rising, reaching 1.65 lakh tonnes in June 2023.
India witnessed a significant increase in its import of edible oils in June, with a growth of 39.31 per cent compared to the same month last year, reaching 13.11 lakh tonnes, according to a statement by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA). The surge in imports can be attributed to the heightened demand in the country. In June 2022, India imported 9.41 lakh tonnes of edible oil, as reported by the SEA.
The overall imports of vegetable oils, including both edible and non-edible varieties, experienced a notable rise of 49 per cent, reaching 13.14 tonnes in June compared to 9.91 lakh tonnes in the corresponding month last year. Among these imports, non-edible oils accounted for 2,900 tonnes, primarily acquired by the soap and oleo-chemical industries. Republic World
Palm oil stakeholders say more details needed on planned EUDR regulation, implications
More detailed information must be provided on the application and implications of proposed new European Union (EU) legislation on palm oil production – particularly, impacts on and incentives for small producers, stakeholders said during a roundtable organized by the Center for International Forestry Research-World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF).
Specifics of the EU’s proposed regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) must be clarified, because “people don’t know what will be their required actions or what will be the possible consequences of this legislation,” Agus Purnomo, senior advisor on sustainability with Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food (PT SMART Tbk), said during the 8 December 2022 roundtable held in Jakarta and online.
Some 79 participants including producers, representatives from NGOs, government and embassy officials, the private sector, scientists, researchers and civil society groups, registered at the event focused particularly on the EUDR, which stipulates that commodities placed on the European market should not contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU or elsewhere in the world. To comply with the upcoming Regulation, companies will have to conduct strict due diligence if they place on the EU market, or export from it, key commodities associated with deforestation globally, including palm oil, cattle, soy, coffee, cocoa, timber and rubber as well as derived products (such as beef, furniture, or chocolate). CIFOR
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New African Group WTO paper proposes 12 principles on Trade-related Environmental Measures.
Says: "If WTO is to play a supportive role in addressing the climate change challenge, it can only do so if trade responses are multilaterally agreed + underpinned by principle of CBDR."
PRINCIPLES GUIDING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TRADE-RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES COMMUNICATION FROM THE AFRICAN GROUP (ANGOLA; BENIN; BOTSWANA; BURKINA FASO; BURUNDI; CABO VERDE; CAMEROON; CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC; CHAD; CONGO; CÔTE D'IVOIRE; DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO; DJIBOUTI; EGYPT; ESWATINI; GABON; THE GAMBIA; GHANA; GUINEA; GUINEA-BISSAU; KENYA; LESOTHO; LIBERIA; MADAGASCAR; MALAWI; MALI; MAURITANIA; MAURITIUS; MOROCCO; MOZAMBIQUE; NAMIBIA; NIGER; NIGERIA; RWANDA; SENEGAL; SEYCHELLES; SIERRA LEONE; SOUTH AFRICA; TANZANIA; TOGO; TUNISIA; UGANDA; ZAMBIA AND ZIMBABWE) The following communication, dated 13 July 2023, is being circulated at the request of the African Group.
1 INTRODUCTION 1.1. With growing awareness of the linkage between trade and environment, the African Group (AG) notes the unrelenting efforts being made at various levels, as well as by individual countries at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to integrate trade and environment policies. 1.2. The AG acknowledges the importance of the climate agenda, but equally acknowledges that issues on trade and environment that are currently being debated and likely to be pursued in the short-and medium-term in the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) could have far-reaching implications for developing countries. WTO
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Rising Demand Fuels India's Edible Oil Imports, With Palm Oil Leading The Surge
Furthermore, the import of soybean oil from Brazil has been steadily rising, reaching 1.65 lakh tonnes in June 2023.
India witnessed a significant increase in its import of edible oils in June, with a growth of 39.31 per cent compared to the same month last year, reaching 13.11 lakh tonnes, according to a statement by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA). The surge in imports can be attributed to the heightened demand in the country. In June 2022, India imported 9.41 lakh tonnes of edible oil, as reported by the SEA.
The overall imports of vegetable oils, including both edible and non-edible varieties, experienced a notable rise of 49 per cent, reaching 13.14 tonnes in June compared to 9.91 lakh tonnes in the corresponding month last year. Among these imports, non-edible oils accounted for 2,900 tonnes, primarily acquired by the soap and oleo-chemical industries. Republic World
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July 14, 2023
Indonesia-EU: Five issues must be resolved to complete IEU-CEPA negotiations
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has listed five strategic issues that need to be resolved promptly to complete the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) negotiations by the end of 2023.
"If those five issues are resolved by the end of this year, the IEU-CEPA can be completed. It is only one more negotiation," he said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday.
According to him, the five strategic issues are the focus of the ongoing 15th round of IEU-CEPA negotiations in Yogyakarta.
The first issue is related to government spending or purchases.
According to him, the European Union (EU) has asked Indonesia to conduct government spending openly. The Indonesian Government will follow up on the request by preparing a positive list regarding the procurement of goods that can be given international access.
Hartarto said that the second issue is related to state-owned enterprises (SOEs), which are being considered to have commercial access in the IEU-CEPA.
"We want some of our SOEs to have a special assignment. They can accept that. While those who do not have the special assignment will not be discriminated and we will be using the business-to-business method for our commercial SOEs," he explained.
The third issue is related to export duties. Hartarto said that Indonesia still wants to develop its domestic industry, therefore the country cannot release export duties.
The fourth issue is the standardization of environmentally friendly products, and the fifth issue is Indonesia's request to solve all investment disputes via the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the minister said.
Fifteen rounds of IEU-CEPA negotiations have taken place, both in person and virtually, since they were launched on July 18, 2016.
The total trade between Indonesia and the EU was recorded at US$33.2 billion in 2022. For the same period, Indonesia's exports to the EU were pegged at US$21.5 billion, while its imports from the EU reached US$11.7 billion. Antara News
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Indonesia to launch much awaited IPOs for PalmCo, PHE in coming months
JAKARTA, July 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia is planning to launch much-anticipated initial public offerings (IPOs) for its state palm oil planter and upstream oil and gas company in coming months, a deputy cabinet minister said on Friday.
IPO activity in the resource-rich country has been one of the world's hottest this year with geothermal power firms and nickel and copper miners making major listings.
PalmCo, which controls the state palm oil estates, is planning to register for an IPO in September or October, while Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), the upstream unit of Pertamina (PERTM.UL) is expected to launch a share sale in August or September, said Pahala Mansury, deputy minister overseeing the firms.Pahala declined to disclose the size of the planned share sales but sources said PalmCo could raise about $500 million while PHE may raise at least $1.3 billion.
PalmCo will use the IPO proceeds to increase productivity and expand refining capacity to produce cooking oil and other derivatives, Pahala said in an interview with Reuters.
"Our expectation is to increase its processing capacity, which is now only 1 million tonnes, to 3.7 million tonnes in three to four years, using proceeds from the IPO," he said. Reuters
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Sime Darby-Stepping Up to the ESG Challenge
The evolving role of auditors
Petaling Jaya, 13 July 2023 - The traditional role of internal auditors is expanding to encompass Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices and disclosures, particularly as companies integrate ESG into their operations.
“The increasing scrutiny on how ESG requirements are managed and the integrity of disclosures provides an opportunity for internal auditors to carve their position in their respective organisations,” said Suhailah Mohamed Abdulla, Sime Darby Plantation Berhad’s (SDP) Chief Integrity and Assurance Officer. “It is therefore important for internal auditors to equip themselves with the necessary skills and knowledge in this space to add credibility to the internal audit function and create a bigger impact.”
Suhailah was speaking at a Breakfast Talk organised by SDP and the Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance (MICG) yesterday on: “Stepping up to the role: Objective Assurance & Advisory on ESG”. Devanesan Evanson, Chief Executive Officer of Minority Shareholders Watch Group moderated the discussion. Other panellists were MICG’s Governor, Marina Yong Poh Nyuk, and Permodalan Nasional Berhad’s Senior Vice President & Head of Investment Stewardship, Muazzam Mohamad.
Panellists discussed the role of objective and independent assurance to establish trust and credibility in companies’ Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) practices and disclosures. They also highlighted emerging trends and common challenges faced in ESG assurance and advisory, and the best practices to address them. Sime Darby Plantation
Indonesia-EU: Five issues must be resolved to complete IEU-CEPA negotiations
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has listed five strategic issues that need to be resolved promptly to complete the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) negotiations by the end of 2023.
"If those five issues are resolved by the end of this year, the IEU-CEPA can be completed. It is only one more negotiation," he said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday.
According to him, the five strategic issues are the focus of the ongoing 15th round of IEU-CEPA negotiations in Yogyakarta.
The first issue is related to government spending or purchases.
According to him, the European Union (EU) has asked Indonesia to conduct government spending openly. The Indonesian Government will follow up on the request by preparing a positive list regarding the procurement of goods that can be given international access.
Hartarto said that the second issue is related to state-owned enterprises (SOEs), which are being considered to have commercial access in the IEU-CEPA.
"We want some of our SOEs to have a special assignment. They can accept that. While those who do not have the special assignment will not be discriminated and we will be using the business-to-business method for our commercial SOEs," he explained.
The third issue is related to export duties. Hartarto said that Indonesia still wants to develop its domestic industry, therefore the country cannot release export duties.
The fourth issue is the standardization of environmentally friendly products, and the fifth issue is Indonesia's request to solve all investment disputes via the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the minister said.
Fifteen rounds of IEU-CEPA negotiations have taken place, both in person and virtually, since they were launched on July 18, 2016.
The total trade between Indonesia and the EU was recorded at US$33.2 billion in 2022. For the same period, Indonesia's exports to the EU were pegged at US$21.5 billion, while its imports from the EU reached US$11.7 billion. Antara News
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Indonesia to launch much awaited IPOs for PalmCo, PHE in coming months
JAKARTA, July 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia is planning to launch much-anticipated initial public offerings (IPOs) for its state palm oil planter and upstream oil and gas company in coming months, a deputy cabinet minister said on Friday.
IPO activity in the resource-rich country has been one of the world's hottest this year with geothermal power firms and nickel and copper miners making major listings.
PalmCo, which controls the state palm oil estates, is planning to register for an IPO in September or October, while Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), the upstream unit of Pertamina (PERTM.UL) is expected to launch a share sale in August or September, said Pahala Mansury, deputy minister overseeing the firms.Pahala declined to disclose the size of the planned share sales but sources said PalmCo could raise about $500 million while PHE may raise at least $1.3 billion.
PalmCo will use the IPO proceeds to increase productivity and expand refining capacity to produce cooking oil and other derivatives, Pahala said in an interview with Reuters.
"Our expectation is to increase its processing capacity, which is now only 1 million tonnes, to 3.7 million tonnes in three to four years, using proceeds from the IPO," he said. Reuters
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Sime Darby-Stepping Up to the ESG Challenge
The evolving role of auditors
Petaling Jaya, 13 July 2023 - The traditional role of internal auditors is expanding to encompass Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices and disclosures, particularly as companies integrate ESG into their operations.
“The increasing scrutiny on how ESG requirements are managed and the integrity of disclosures provides an opportunity for internal auditors to carve their position in their respective organisations,” said Suhailah Mohamed Abdulla, Sime Darby Plantation Berhad’s (SDP) Chief Integrity and Assurance Officer. “It is therefore important for internal auditors to equip themselves with the necessary skills and knowledge in this space to add credibility to the internal audit function and create a bigger impact.”
Suhailah was speaking at a Breakfast Talk organised by SDP and the Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance (MICG) yesterday on: “Stepping up to the role: Objective Assurance & Advisory on ESG”. Devanesan Evanson, Chief Executive Officer of Minority Shareholders Watch Group moderated the discussion. Other panellists were MICG’s Governor, Marina Yong Poh Nyuk, and Permodalan Nasional Berhad’s Senior Vice President & Head of Investment Stewardship, Muazzam Mohamad.
Panellists discussed the role of objective and independent assurance to establish trust and credibility in companies’ Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) practices and disclosures. They also highlighted emerging trends and common challenges faced in ESG assurance and advisory, and the best practices to address them. Sime Darby Plantation
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July 13, 2023
Minister of Trade Says Indonesia-EU CEPA Negotiations are Still Impeded by TKDN
Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said negotiations on the 15th Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA between Indonesia and the European Union were taking place in Yogyakarta. However, Zulkifli predicts that the trade negotiations will not be completed at this meeting.
Zulkifli said that CEPA negotiations had only reached 60% of the total 20 chapters. While the discussion of the other 40% of the CEPA will be discussed in Europe in the 16th round.
"We want to finish the EU-CEPA negotiations which have been discussed for 8 years," said Zulkifli at the Presidential Palace, Thursday (13/7).
Zulkifli noted that there were at least two important points that had not been agreed upon at the 15th negotiation. First, the agreement related to government spending. Neither Indonesia nor the European Union have reached an agreement regarding trade by the government which has been closed so far.
As is known, the European Union has issued regulations that make it difficult for several Indonesian commodities to Europe, one of which is palm oil and its derivatives. The regulation in question is the European Union Law on Deforestation or EUDR.
Zulkifli believes that the Indonesia-EU CEPA can solve problems related to palm oil in Europe. In addition to the EUDR, the government is suing the European Union over restrictions on one of the national palm products, namely biodiesel.
"Through this EU-CEPA, palm products from Indonesia can be excluded or we will sue again," said Zulkifli. KataData
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Foreign Minister Retno: ASEAN and EU Must Cooperate for Mutual Benefit
Jakarta, Indonesia - Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi has called on ASEAN and the European Union to continue fostering inclusive cooperation in various fields. The statement was made at the ASEAN-European Union Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) meeting on Thursday (13/7) in Jakarta.
Foreign Minister Retno said that ASEAN - EU cooperation is being tested by the global situation which is facing enormous challenges. To navigate these dynamics, ASEAN and the EU must continue to enhance inclusive cooperation.
In this regard, Foreign Minister Retno conveyed two important aspects. First, maintaining an inclusive regional architecture. Retno emphasised that ASEAN has invested heavily in constructing an inclusive regional architecture. She hoped the European Union would share the same view on the inclusive collaboration paradigm.
"We hope the European Union can apply the paradigm of inclusive collaboration. This is the only way to maintain peace, stability, and prosperity," Retno said.
The second issue discussed was enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation. Retno said that ASEAN and the European Union have great potential aplenty. Both organisations are each other’s third largest trading partner. Both organisations also have integrated economies with 450 million consumers in the EU and 650 million consumers in ASEAN. She emphasised that this potential should not be limited by trade barrier policies.
"This potential should not be limited by trade barrier policies such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the European Union Enforcement Regulation (EUER)," Retno said. Kemlu ID
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Indonesia invites affected countries to oppose EUDR policy: Minister
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan stated that the Indonesian government invited several countries that were also affected by the implementation of the anti-deforestation law, the European Union Deforestation-Free Regulations (EUDR), to oppose this policy.
According to Hasan, the policy was discriminatory in nature, as it targeted products exported from Indonesia that should be guaranteed to be free from deforestation, especially for plantation commodities.
"That is very discriminative. Therefore, we will negotiate and fight. We will also invite countries in common, such as Malaysia," the minister stated at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta, Thursday.
The minister remarked that the regulation hampers the export of Indonesian products since several plantation commodities, such as coffee, pepper, cocoa, palm oil, rubber, and cloves, are required to pass verification that guarantees that these products do not come from areas resulting from deforestation.
Hence, exporters should improve the governance of the Indonesian plantation industry.
According to Hasan, if violations are found, exporters can be fined up to four percent of the EU-earned revenue. Antara News
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British High Commissioner to Malaysia: Effective diplomacy key to bridge differences on palm oil, human rights
KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 — Effective diplomacy between Malaysia and the United Kingdom (UK) plays a vital role in understanding differing perspectives on issues such as palm oil and human rights, said British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Charles Hay.
Palm oil, a contentious issue between Malaysia, the UK, and the European Union, has prompted discussions aimed at deepening understanding, he said on Bernama TV’s The Nation today.
“The UK has taken the opportunity to comprehend Malaysia’s perspective, recognising the significance of the palm oil industry to the country’s economy.
“Through these exchanges, the UK has gained insights into Malaysia’s efforts to enhance sustainability and productivity in the industry, including comparisons with other oil crops,” said Hay.
He also said that Malaysia and the UK have shared a profound and intricate relationship deeply intertwined by a rich tapestry of cultural, historical, and diplomatic connections.
“The UK government’s tilt towards the Indo-Pacific has become more entrenched, strengthening the post-Brexit relationship with Malaysia.
“The UK has become a dialogue partner with Asean, the first new dialogue partner in 25 years, and also signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) with Malaysia,” he said. Malay Mail
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Palm oil resurges on Indian demand
KUALA LUMPUR: Palm oil has bounced back to track gains in soybean oil and energy prices, with a recovery in demand from top buyer India further underpinning the tropical oil.
Futures closed 1% higher, after dropping 0.8% on Tuesday. Soybean oil, palm’s closest substitute for food and fuel, advanced 1.8% in Chicago ahead of a US government report that’s likely to show a cut in the country’s soybean production estimate for this year. Brent oil extended its rally, boosting palm’s biofuel appeal.
Stronger crude oil prices and a recovery in soybean oil are supporting palm, according to Rajesh Modi, a trader at Sprint Exim Pte in Singapore. Demand is firm from India, but still weak from other destinations, he said.
Malaysian exports to India surged 70% during the first 10 days of July from a month earlier. — Bloomberg/ The StarMY
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Godrej Agrovet's first downstream project in AP to supplement oil palm plantation in the state
MUMBAI, India, July 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated Godrej Agrovet's (GAVL) edible oil refinery at Chintalapudi, Eluru district. Set up at an estimated investment of INR 100 Crore and with a capacity of 400 tonnes per day, this is GAVL's first downstream project for value-added products in oil and fats. The facility near to the company's Crude Palm Oil Mills will help cater captive needs originating from the company's oil palm work in the southern states along with demand from other crude palm oil players in the region.
"The inauguration is a testimony to our endeavour to provide businesses prompt and necessary support as committed during the Andhra Pradesh Global Investors Summit (APGIS) 2023. In our quest to uplift the state and generate employment, we are confident that the state's unique geographic and climatic advantage coupled with robust infrastructure and skilled youth will attract more businesses," said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The company has 45,000 hectares of oil palm plantation area in Andhra Pradesh, and this new plant will have an extraction capacity of 400 tonnes per day. PR Newswire
Minister of Trade Says Indonesia-EU CEPA Negotiations are Still Impeded by TKDN
Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said negotiations on the 15th Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA between Indonesia and the European Union were taking place in Yogyakarta. However, Zulkifli predicts that the trade negotiations will not be completed at this meeting.
Zulkifli said that CEPA negotiations had only reached 60% of the total 20 chapters. While the discussion of the other 40% of the CEPA will be discussed in Europe in the 16th round.
"We want to finish the EU-CEPA negotiations which have been discussed for 8 years," said Zulkifli at the Presidential Palace, Thursday (13/7).
Zulkifli noted that there were at least two important points that had not been agreed upon at the 15th negotiation. First, the agreement related to government spending. Neither Indonesia nor the European Union have reached an agreement regarding trade by the government which has been closed so far.
As is known, the European Union has issued regulations that make it difficult for several Indonesian commodities to Europe, one of which is palm oil and its derivatives. The regulation in question is the European Union Law on Deforestation or EUDR.
Zulkifli believes that the Indonesia-EU CEPA can solve problems related to palm oil in Europe. In addition to the EUDR, the government is suing the European Union over restrictions on one of the national palm products, namely biodiesel.
"Through this EU-CEPA, palm products from Indonesia can be excluded or we will sue again," said Zulkifli. KataData
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Foreign Minister Retno: ASEAN and EU Must Cooperate for Mutual Benefit
Jakarta, Indonesia - Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi has called on ASEAN and the European Union to continue fostering inclusive cooperation in various fields. The statement was made at the ASEAN-European Union Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) meeting on Thursday (13/7) in Jakarta.
Foreign Minister Retno said that ASEAN - EU cooperation is being tested by the global situation which is facing enormous challenges. To navigate these dynamics, ASEAN and the EU must continue to enhance inclusive cooperation.
In this regard, Foreign Minister Retno conveyed two important aspects. First, maintaining an inclusive regional architecture. Retno emphasised that ASEAN has invested heavily in constructing an inclusive regional architecture. She hoped the European Union would share the same view on the inclusive collaboration paradigm.
"We hope the European Union can apply the paradigm of inclusive collaboration. This is the only way to maintain peace, stability, and prosperity," Retno said.
The second issue discussed was enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation. Retno said that ASEAN and the European Union have great potential aplenty. Both organisations are each other’s third largest trading partner. Both organisations also have integrated economies with 450 million consumers in the EU and 650 million consumers in ASEAN. She emphasised that this potential should not be limited by trade barrier policies.
"This potential should not be limited by trade barrier policies such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the European Union Enforcement Regulation (EUER)," Retno said. Kemlu ID
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Indonesia invites affected countries to oppose EUDR policy: Minister
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan stated that the Indonesian government invited several countries that were also affected by the implementation of the anti-deforestation law, the European Union Deforestation-Free Regulations (EUDR), to oppose this policy.
According to Hasan, the policy was discriminatory in nature, as it targeted products exported from Indonesia that should be guaranteed to be free from deforestation, especially for plantation commodities.
"That is very discriminative. Therefore, we will negotiate and fight. We will also invite countries in common, such as Malaysia," the minister stated at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta, Thursday.
The minister remarked that the regulation hampers the export of Indonesian products since several plantation commodities, such as coffee, pepper, cocoa, palm oil, rubber, and cloves, are required to pass verification that guarantees that these products do not come from areas resulting from deforestation.
Hence, exporters should improve the governance of the Indonesian plantation industry.
According to Hasan, if violations are found, exporters can be fined up to four percent of the EU-earned revenue. Antara News
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British High Commissioner to Malaysia: Effective diplomacy key to bridge differences on palm oil, human rights
KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 — Effective diplomacy between Malaysia and the United Kingdom (UK) plays a vital role in understanding differing perspectives on issues such as palm oil and human rights, said British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Charles Hay.
Palm oil, a contentious issue between Malaysia, the UK, and the European Union, has prompted discussions aimed at deepening understanding, he said on Bernama TV’s The Nation today.
“The UK has taken the opportunity to comprehend Malaysia’s perspective, recognising the significance of the palm oil industry to the country’s economy.
“Through these exchanges, the UK has gained insights into Malaysia’s efforts to enhance sustainability and productivity in the industry, including comparisons with other oil crops,” said Hay.
He also said that Malaysia and the UK have shared a profound and intricate relationship deeply intertwined by a rich tapestry of cultural, historical, and diplomatic connections.
“The UK government’s tilt towards the Indo-Pacific has become more entrenched, strengthening the post-Brexit relationship with Malaysia.
“The UK has become a dialogue partner with Asean, the first new dialogue partner in 25 years, and also signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) with Malaysia,” he said. Malay Mail
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Palm oil resurges on Indian demand
KUALA LUMPUR: Palm oil has bounced back to track gains in soybean oil and energy prices, with a recovery in demand from top buyer India further underpinning the tropical oil.
Futures closed 1% higher, after dropping 0.8% on Tuesday. Soybean oil, palm’s closest substitute for food and fuel, advanced 1.8% in Chicago ahead of a US government report that’s likely to show a cut in the country’s soybean production estimate for this year. Brent oil extended its rally, boosting palm’s biofuel appeal.
Stronger crude oil prices and a recovery in soybean oil are supporting palm, according to Rajesh Modi, a trader at Sprint Exim Pte in Singapore. Demand is firm from India, but still weak from other destinations, he said.
Malaysian exports to India surged 70% during the first 10 days of July from a month earlier. — Bloomberg/ The StarMY
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Godrej Agrovet's first downstream project in AP to supplement oil palm plantation in the state
MUMBAI, India, July 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated Godrej Agrovet's (GAVL) edible oil refinery at Chintalapudi, Eluru district. Set up at an estimated investment of INR 100 Crore and with a capacity of 400 tonnes per day, this is GAVL's first downstream project for value-added products in oil and fats. The facility near to the company's Crude Palm Oil Mills will help cater captive needs originating from the company's oil palm work in the southern states along with demand from other crude palm oil players in the region.
"The inauguration is a testimony to our endeavour to provide businesses prompt and necessary support as committed during the Andhra Pradesh Global Investors Summit (APGIS) 2023. In our quest to uplift the state and generate employment, we are confident that the state's unique geographic and climatic advantage coupled with robust infrastructure and skilled youth will attract more businesses," said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The company has 45,000 hectares of oil palm plantation area in Andhra Pradesh, and this new plant will have an extraction capacity of 400 tonnes per day. PR Newswire
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July 12, 2023
Malaysia-Switch from Rubber to Oil Palm can increase income of settlers
KUALA LUMPUR: The government's willingness to consider drastic measures to help rubber settlers switch to other commodity crops such as oil palm will help provide them with a better income in the future.
A second-generation settler in Felda Chuping, Perlis, Rosmadi Setu, 55, said the current unstable rubber price, dropping to as low as RM2.70 per kilogramme, had forced him to find another job.
"At the moment, I'm working as a tractor driver. the RM100 I got as a rubber tapper is not enough to cover the household expenses, especially with me having to raise four children.
"Alhamdulillah, this switch to other crops is much awaited by the settlers and we want to go back to work on our farm," he told Bernama.
His views are shared by Musa Mat, 75, a first-generation Felda Chuping settler, who said it is better to have oil palm plantations than rubber plantations.
The rubber yield is low compared to its operational costs such as for pesticides, fertiliser and payment to the rubber tappers, he added. NST/ Bernama
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Nigeria-NIFOR, OCP Africa Introduce Special Fertilizer For Palm Oil Production
The Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), the Institute of Agricultural Research and Technology (IAR&T), in collaboration with OCP Africa, introduced the fertilizer blend on Tuesday in Benin.
The Executive Director of NIFOR, Celestine Ikuenobe, and other development partners introduced the special fertilizer at a one-day farmers field day on oil Palm fertilizer validation exercise held at NIFOR.
The blend was developed under the soil survey, soil fertility mapping for oil palm special fertilizer development project under the management of the IAR&T and NIFOR.
Speaking at NIFOR’s Demonstration oil palm field 31, Ikuenobe said the programme was organised for farmers to validate the special fertilizer blend for oil palm production.
He noted that the development of the special fertilizer started in 2019 by way of proposals, adding that the actual research started in 2020 with the first trial carried out in 2021.
According to him, samples were carried out in about 1,500 oil palm farms across 15 states in southern Nigeria after which about 33 farms were selected for the trials due to budget limitation.
NIFOR and IAR&T went into research funded by OCP Africa when farmers were complaining of low yield from their farms. VONNG
Malaysia-Switch from Rubber to Oil Palm can increase income of settlers
KUALA LUMPUR: The government's willingness to consider drastic measures to help rubber settlers switch to other commodity crops such as oil palm will help provide them with a better income in the future.
A second-generation settler in Felda Chuping, Perlis, Rosmadi Setu, 55, said the current unstable rubber price, dropping to as low as RM2.70 per kilogramme, had forced him to find another job.
"At the moment, I'm working as a tractor driver. the RM100 I got as a rubber tapper is not enough to cover the household expenses, especially with me having to raise four children.
"Alhamdulillah, this switch to other crops is much awaited by the settlers and we want to go back to work on our farm," he told Bernama.
His views are shared by Musa Mat, 75, a first-generation Felda Chuping settler, who said it is better to have oil palm plantations than rubber plantations.
The rubber yield is low compared to its operational costs such as for pesticides, fertiliser and payment to the rubber tappers, he added. NST/ Bernama
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Nigeria-NIFOR, OCP Africa Introduce Special Fertilizer For Palm Oil Production
The Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), the Institute of Agricultural Research and Technology (IAR&T), in collaboration with OCP Africa, introduced the fertilizer blend on Tuesday in Benin.
The Executive Director of NIFOR, Celestine Ikuenobe, and other development partners introduced the special fertilizer at a one-day farmers field day on oil Palm fertilizer validation exercise held at NIFOR.
The blend was developed under the soil survey, soil fertility mapping for oil palm special fertilizer development project under the management of the IAR&T and NIFOR.
Speaking at NIFOR’s Demonstration oil palm field 31, Ikuenobe said the programme was organised for farmers to validate the special fertilizer blend for oil palm production.
He noted that the development of the special fertilizer started in 2019 by way of proposals, adding that the actual research started in 2020 with the first trial carried out in 2021.
According to him, samples were carried out in about 1,500 oil palm farms across 15 states in southern Nigeria after which about 33 farms were selected for the trials due to budget limitation.
NIFOR and IAR&T went into research funded by OCP Africa when farmers were complaining of low yield from their farms. VONNG
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July 11, 2023
Indonesian Ministry, RSPO agree to boost capacity of oil palm farmers
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen small farmers' capacity to accelerate the implementation of sustainable palm oil in Indonesia.
During the MoU signing event on Monday, Cooperatives and SMEs Minister Teten Masduki highlighted two main areas of cooperation: the green economy and its socio-economic impact on palm farmers.
The minister emphasized that the collaboration with RSPO aims to mitigate the negative impacts of the palm oil industry on tropical rainforests, biodiversity, and the rights of local residents.
Cooperative efforts will focus on promoting transparency, accountability, and active participation to transition towards more sustainable palm oil production and enhance the economic value for palm farmers through cooperatives. Antara News
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RSPO-ISPO collaboration key to smallholder inclusion in sustainable palm oil ecosystem
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), in collaboration with the Jambi Provincial and District Government and local organizations, have launched a memorandum of understanding (MoU) program aiming to scale up oil palm smallholder inclusion in the sustainability ecosystem through ISPO certification. “This is the first RSPO pilot scheme that leverages government policy in order to support sustainable practices in smallholder oil palm production, and we hope to instill genuine and effective engagement,” said Guntur Cahyo Prabowo, Senior Manager, RSPO Smallholder Programme Indonesia, at Media Gathering held virtually in conjunction with the launch of the MoU Program on Wednesday.
He went on to say, “By working with governments and other actors – including national schemes, standards or initiatives – we can address structural barriers for smallholders and ensure consistent enforcement of policies to enable change at scale. Jakarta Post
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ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil) certification is far from expectations. The number of certificate recipients is not significant, especially among farmers.
During the 11 year journey of Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO), there are still a few smallholders who have obtained this sustainable palm oil certificate. In fact, in two years, the obligation to certify oil palm for smallholders will be enforced.
"The number of ISPO smallholders to date has only reached around 21 thousand hectares or there are only 32 ISPO certificates owned by farmer groups. Currently, the total area of smallholder oil palm plantations reaches 6.7 million hectares," said Director of Processing and Marketing of Plantation Products (PPHP), Directorate General of Plantations, Ministry of Agriculture Prayudi Syamsuri.
Chairman of DPP APKASINDO, Dr. Ir. Gulat ME Manurung, MP, C.APO, C.IMA, said that farmers really support ISPO because it contains three dimensions, namely social, economic and environmental.
"Palm oil has reached Europe, its benefits have gone global, if palm fruit has no price, then ISPO is also useless," said Gulat while chanting which was greeted with applause from the participants in the Focus Group Discussion of the Association of Indonesian Palm Oil Growers (APKASINDO) Riau Province with the theme "Improving Productivity and Profitability of Oil Palm Smallholders in a Sustainable Way Through Acceleration of ISPO Implementation”, in Pekanbaru, Riau, Thursday (21 June 2023).
"Therefore, I instruct all APKASINDO officials in 164 DPD City Districts from 22 DPW of APKASINDO Province to reject ISPO if the economic dimension (FFB price) and social dimension are ignored.
If the ISPO is of no benefit to the smallholders, don't expect the ISPO to reach 100% by 2025, it's impossible," said Gulat. Sawit Indonesia
Indonesian Ministry, RSPO agree to boost capacity of oil palm farmers
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen small farmers' capacity to accelerate the implementation of sustainable palm oil in Indonesia.
During the MoU signing event on Monday, Cooperatives and SMEs Minister Teten Masduki highlighted two main areas of cooperation: the green economy and its socio-economic impact on palm farmers.
The minister emphasized that the collaboration with RSPO aims to mitigate the negative impacts of the palm oil industry on tropical rainforests, biodiversity, and the rights of local residents.
Cooperative efforts will focus on promoting transparency, accountability, and active participation to transition towards more sustainable palm oil production and enhance the economic value for palm farmers through cooperatives. Antara News
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RSPO-ISPO collaboration key to smallholder inclusion in sustainable palm oil ecosystem
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), in collaboration with the Jambi Provincial and District Government and local organizations, have launched a memorandum of understanding (MoU) program aiming to scale up oil palm smallholder inclusion in the sustainability ecosystem through ISPO certification. “This is the first RSPO pilot scheme that leverages government policy in order to support sustainable practices in smallholder oil palm production, and we hope to instill genuine and effective engagement,” said Guntur Cahyo Prabowo, Senior Manager, RSPO Smallholder Programme Indonesia, at Media Gathering held virtually in conjunction with the launch of the MoU Program on Wednesday.
He went on to say, “By working with governments and other actors – including national schemes, standards or initiatives – we can address structural barriers for smallholders and ensure consistent enforcement of policies to enable change at scale. Jakarta Post
---------
ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil) certification is far from expectations. The number of certificate recipients is not significant, especially among farmers.
During the 11 year journey of Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO), there are still a few smallholders who have obtained this sustainable palm oil certificate. In fact, in two years, the obligation to certify oil palm for smallholders will be enforced.
"The number of ISPO smallholders to date has only reached around 21 thousand hectares or there are only 32 ISPO certificates owned by farmer groups. Currently, the total area of smallholder oil palm plantations reaches 6.7 million hectares," said Director of Processing and Marketing of Plantation Products (PPHP), Directorate General of Plantations, Ministry of Agriculture Prayudi Syamsuri.
Chairman of DPP APKASINDO, Dr. Ir. Gulat ME Manurung, MP, C.APO, C.IMA, said that farmers really support ISPO because it contains three dimensions, namely social, economic and environmental.
"Palm oil has reached Europe, its benefits have gone global, if palm fruit has no price, then ISPO is also useless," said Gulat while chanting which was greeted with applause from the participants in the Focus Group Discussion of the Association of Indonesian Palm Oil Growers (APKASINDO) Riau Province with the theme "Improving Productivity and Profitability of Oil Palm Smallholders in a Sustainable Way Through Acceleration of ISPO Implementation”, in Pekanbaru, Riau, Thursday (21 June 2023).
"Therefore, I instruct all APKASINDO officials in 164 DPD City Districts from 22 DPW of APKASINDO Province to reject ISPO if the economic dimension (FFB price) and social dimension are ignored.
If the ISPO is of no benefit to the smallholders, don't expect the ISPO to reach 100% by 2025, it's impossible," said Gulat. Sawit Indonesia
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July 10, 2023
Malaysia's commitment to deforestation heading positive direction, global study show
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's current efforts and commitment to deforestation are heading towards a positive direction, according to a study released by Washington-based Global Forest Watch.
The report indicated that Malaysia and neighbouring Indonesia have been showing noted a sharp reduction in forest loss.
Most importantly, the study's findings also support arguments that Europe and anti-palm oil lobbyists are unfairly discriminating against Malaysia and Indonesia's palm oil industry despite the data and facts painting a different picture.
While the two countries are the world's largest suppliers of palm oil, numerous Malaysian and Indonesian governments have long pushed for a more sustainable palm oil industry.
Since 2017, forest loss in both countries has been on a downward trend, with the expansion of palm oil plantations taking place on land previously used for other crops.
One of the key reasons for the declining trend of forest loss is that oil palm corporations in Malaysia and Indonesia are committed to a 'No Deforestation, Peat and Exploitation' or NDPE policy. New Straits Times
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Praising President Jokowi’s Downstream Policy, Prabowo: This is Our Direction
General Chairperson of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, made his commitment related to efforts to encourage downstream as a weapon to advance the economy of Indonesia.
He praised the firm policies undertaken by President Joko Widodo alias Jokowi. According to him, this must be continued so that people can enjoy the benefits of this country’s natural resources optimally.
“Indonesia has been given extraordinary wealth, with that wealth if we can process it, downstream it, we will become a prosperous country,” he said, quoted Monday (10/7/2023).
Prabowo views that the implementation of this downstream policy can increase added value for the people. He also gave an example of downstreaming a number of commodities, particularly nickel and palm oil. Ruetir
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Kenya’s plan to substitute palm oil import bill faces headwinds
A Malaysian-based edible oil dealer owning a manufacturing plant in Kenya says inadequate land may slow down the country’s plan for large-scale palm farming aimed at gradually substituting a Sh100 billion annual import bill.
Pacific Inter-Link (PIL) Group, which deals in bulk palm oil operations such as sourcing, refining and trading, says land around the lake region in western Kenya has been fragmented to levels that put into question the viability of large-scale farming of oil palm trees.
The Kuala Lumpur-headquartered firm whose presence in Africa includes operations in Ghana, Senegal, Angola and Algeria owns Golden Africa Kenya Ltd, the makers of Avena and Pika vegetable oil and bar soap brands Zenta and Saba.
“Oil palm tree plantations need big acreage. You can’t just have a garden and call it a plantation,” Fouad Hayel Saeed, the chairman of PIL Group, said in Nairobi.
“You need tens of thousands of acres of special quality soil with good rainfalls. You cannot expect that this tree will grow by itself. It needs a lot of watering.” Business Daily Africa
Malaysia's commitment to deforestation heading positive direction, global study show
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's current efforts and commitment to deforestation are heading towards a positive direction, according to a study released by Washington-based Global Forest Watch.
The report indicated that Malaysia and neighbouring Indonesia have been showing noted a sharp reduction in forest loss.
Most importantly, the study's findings also support arguments that Europe and anti-palm oil lobbyists are unfairly discriminating against Malaysia and Indonesia's palm oil industry despite the data and facts painting a different picture.
While the two countries are the world's largest suppliers of palm oil, numerous Malaysian and Indonesian governments have long pushed for a more sustainable palm oil industry.
Since 2017, forest loss in both countries has been on a downward trend, with the expansion of palm oil plantations taking place on land previously used for other crops.
One of the key reasons for the declining trend of forest loss is that oil palm corporations in Malaysia and Indonesia are committed to a 'No Deforestation, Peat and Exploitation' or NDPE policy. New Straits Times
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Praising President Jokowi’s Downstream Policy, Prabowo: This is Our Direction
General Chairperson of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, made his commitment related to efforts to encourage downstream as a weapon to advance the economy of Indonesia.
He praised the firm policies undertaken by President Joko Widodo alias Jokowi. According to him, this must be continued so that people can enjoy the benefits of this country’s natural resources optimally.
“Indonesia has been given extraordinary wealth, with that wealth if we can process it, downstream it, we will become a prosperous country,” he said, quoted Monday (10/7/2023).
Prabowo views that the implementation of this downstream policy can increase added value for the people. He also gave an example of downstreaming a number of commodities, particularly nickel and palm oil. Ruetir
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Kenya’s plan to substitute palm oil import bill faces headwinds
A Malaysian-based edible oil dealer owning a manufacturing plant in Kenya says inadequate land may slow down the country’s plan for large-scale palm farming aimed at gradually substituting a Sh100 billion annual import bill.
Pacific Inter-Link (PIL) Group, which deals in bulk palm oil operations such as sourcing, refining and trading, says land around the lake region in western Kenya has been fragmented to levels that put into question the viability of large-scale farming of oil palm trees.
The Kuala Lumpur-headquartered firm whose presence in Africa includes operations in Ghana, Senegal, Angola and Algeria owns Golden Africa Kenya Ltd, the makers of Avena and Pika vegetable oil and bar soap brands Zenta and Saba.
“Oil palm tree plantations need big acreage. You can’t just have a garden and call it a plantation,” Fouad Hayel Saeed, the chairman of PIL Group, said in Nairobi.
“You need tens of thousands of acres of special quality soil with good rainfalls. You cannot expect that this tree will grow by itself. It needs a lot of watering.” Business Daily Africa
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July 08, 2023
Only one in ten companies surveyed are taking enough action on deforestation, flags CDP
A record 1,043 companies have disclosed deforestation-linked risks, but are still not acting to mitigate them effectively, according to an assessment by the environmental non-profit CDP. On average, companies face losses of US$330 million due to risk exposure, while the cost of dealing with this risk is just a fraction, at US$17.4 million.
When added up, the total risk amounts to nearly US$80 billion in total. Meanwhile, the complete cost of responding to all identified risks is only US$5.9 billion (reported by 342 of the companies).
Keeping on this current timeline would lead to “catastrophic” economic and environmental costs, warns CDP. Only one in ten companies disclosed that they were near to eradicating deforestation from their operations and supply chains.
The findings come a week after the World Resource Institute (WRI) announced that an area the size of Switzerland was cleared from Earth’s most pristine rainforests in 2022.
Over 1,000 companies – many from the F&B sector, which continues to be tied with deforestation activity – disclosed their progress on managing deforestation through CDP in 2022. This figure is an increase of 300% since 2017. Food Ingredients First
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EU industry demands answers as ‘fraudulent’ Chinese biofuels continue to flow
European biofuel companies have reiterated calls for the European Commission to dampen the flood of Chinese biofuels entering the EU market, arguing that Chinese manufacturers are fraudulently exporting biodiesel made from restricted feedstocks.
The massive increase in biofuels exports from China has caused biodiesel prices in the EU to collapse, threatening the future of advanced biodiesel production in Europe.
“Market conditions for EU waste-based and advanced biodiesel producers and indeed the biodiesel industry at large continue being extremely negative with plants closed and non-existent profitability,” stated Angel Alvarez Alberdi, the secretary general of the European Waste-based & Advanced Biofuels Association (EWABA).
Compared with the same months in 2022, January and February 2023 saw an increase in Chinese biodiesel imports of 80%, to 300,000 tonnes, according to an analysis by S&P Global Commodity Insights.
The EU has incentivised the use of advanced biofuels in a bid to reduce the quantity of fossil fuels in the transport system, allowing them to be double counted towards renewable energy targets compared to biofuels made from energy crops. Euractiv
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MPOC: Malaysia’s palm oil exports to EU-27 to surpass 1.5 million tonnes
Malaysia’s palm oil exports to the European Union 27 member states (EU-27) is projected to surpass 1.5 million tonnes in 2023, said the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC).
In its Palm Pulse July 2023 report, the MPOC also said the total export of Malaysian palm oil products to the EU-27 is expected to exceed three million tonnes.
From January to May 2023, export of Malaysian palm oil products to the EU declined 14 per cent or 144,065 tonnes, while total exports for this period decreased to 1.04 million tonnes from 1.19 million tonnes in the same period last year.
“The decrease in imports of total palm oil into the EU-27, compared to two years ago, attributed to the reduced consumption due to high prices, inflation, subdued demand for energy and food, and an expected improvement in local production.
“The relatively low purchases from the food sector, along with ample supplies of rapeseed oil and sunflower oil on the EU market, have contributed to the decline in palm oil imports. The accumulation of burdensome stocks of sunflower oil from the previous year and record-high imports primarily from Ukraine have further magnified the downtrend of palm oil imports,” said the report. Malay Mail
Only one in ten companies surveyed are taking enough action on deforestation, flags CDP
A record 1,043 companies have disclosed deforestation-linked risks, but are still not acting to mitigate them effectively, according to an assessment by the environmental non-profit CDP. On average, companies face losses of US$330 million due to risk exposure, while the cost of dealing with this risk is just a fraction, at US$17.4 million.
When added up, the total risk amounts to nearly US$80 billion in total. Meanwhile, the complete cost of responding to all identified risks is only US$5.9 billion (reported by 342 of the companies).
Keeping on this current timeline would lead to “catastrophic” economic and environmental costs, warns CDP. Only one in ten companies disclosed that they were near to eradicating deforestation from their operations and supply chains.
The findings come a week after the World Resource Institute (WRI) announced that an area the size of Switzerland was cleared from Earth’s most pristine rainforests in 2022.
Over 1,000 companies – many from the F&B sector, which continues to be tied with deforestation activity – disclosed their progress on managing deforestation through CDP in 2022. This figure is an increase of 300% since 2017. Food Ingredients First
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EU industry demands answers as ‘fraudulent’ Chinese biofuels continue to flow
European biofuel companies have reiterated calls for the European Commission to dampen the flood of Chinese biofuels entering the EU market, arguing that Chinese manufacturers are fraudulently exporting biodiesel made from restricted feedstocks.
The massive increase in biofuels exports from China has caused biodiesel prices in the EU to collapse, threatening the future of advanced biodiesel production in Europe.
“Market conditions for EU waste-based and advanced biodiesel producers and indeed the biodiesel industry at large continue being extremely negative with plants closed and non-existent profitability,” stated Angel Alvarez Alberdi, the secretary general of the European Waste-based & Advanced Biofuels Association (EWABA).
Compared with the same months in 2022, January and February 2023 saw an increase in Chinese biodiesel imports of 80%, to 300,000 tonnes, according to an analysis by S&P Global Commodity Insights.
The EU has incentivised the use of advanced biofuels in a bid to reduce the quantity of fossil fuels in the transport system, allowing them to be double counted towards renewable energy targets compared to biofuels made from energy crops. Euractiv
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MPOC: Malaysia’s palm oil exports to EU-27 to surpass 1.5 million tonnes
Malaysia’s palm oil exports to the European Union 27 member states (EU-27) is projected to surpass 1.5 million tonnes in 2023, said the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC).
In its Palm Pulse July 2023 report, the MPOC also said the total export of Malaysian palm oil products to the EU-27 is expected to exceed three million tonnes.
From January to May 2023, export of Malaysian palm oil products to the EU declined 14 per cent or 144,065 tonnes, while total exports for this period decreased to 1.04 million tonnes from 1.19 million tonnes in the same period last year.
“The decrease in imports of total palm oil into the EU-27, compared to two years ago, attributed to the reduced consumption due to high prices, inflation, subdued demand for energy and food, and an expected improvement in local production.
“The relatively low purchases from the food sector, along with ample supplies of rapeseed oil and sunflower oil on the EU market, have contributed to the decline in palm oil imports. The accumulation of burdensome stocks of sunflower oil from the previous year and record-high imports primarily from Ukraine have further magnified the downtrend of palm oil imports,” said the report. Malay Mail
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July 06, 2023
Clear climate targets can help clean up palm oil’s image: Malaysian plantation giant KLK sustainability chief
The group will soon announce commitments to decarbonise across the entire value chain, and improve its traceability and human rights policies, says Ku Kok Peng, who took up the CSO role in March last year.
The story of palm oil is changing – seemingly for the better – but there is more that needs to be done.
At least that is what Ku Kok Peng, chief sustainability officer of Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) Bhd, thinks. The Malaysian plantation conglomerate has been looking at how else it can improve its sustainability efforts, to take climate action beyond certification and compliance, since Ku stepped into the CSO role in March last year.
Speaking with Eco-Business when he was in Singapore recently to join a panel discussion organised by a local think tank, Ku revealed that the group will “very soon” announce new commitments, including clearer carbon reduction targets across its entire value chain, as well as revised traceability and human rights policies.
“We realised that having certification alone is not sufficient. Taking up the new role meant that I had to take KLK’s sustainability efforts to a higher strategic level, and there are a few areas in which we want to accelerate our work.” Eco Business
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MPOB unveils new technologies to produce better palms, use palm oil as substitute for milk fat
BANGI: The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has launched two new technologies from the biotechnology and food clusters for commercialisation at the Transfer of Technology (TOT) MPOB 2023 here today.
The new technologies are True-to Type Version 2 - High Resolution Genotyping Platform for Parental Identification and palm-based Mozzarella cheese analogue.
MPOB chairman Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said it has so far offered 712 technologies and 194 related services in the oil palm industry.
A total of 233 technologies or 32.7 per cent have been commercialised by the oil palm industry players and entrepreneurs.
"I am confident that the cooperation of industry players and local companies in the commercialisation of oil palm technologies invested by the MPOB researchers will drive the progress of the oil palm industry and the prosperity of the country's economy," he told at the Transfer of Technology (TOT) MPOB 2023 here today. New Straits Times
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Malaysian Minister vows to scrutinise palm oil project affecting peat swamp forest in Pahang
KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said today he is probing the allegation that the Department of Environment had greenlit a project that had encroached into a peat swamp forest in Pahang.
RimbaWatch, a deforestation watchdog, said yesterday it had received reports that a company has been clearing peat swamp forests near Kampung Orang Asli Air Hitam and Tanjung Keruing in Pekan, Pahang, believed to be for palm oil planting.
Citing Global Forest Watch satellite data, the group said the project involves some 310 hectares of clearance so far, and it includes the loss of peat swamp forests. The clearing had also encroached into the native customary land that destroyed crops and graves of the Kampung Orang Asli Air Hitam and Tanjung Keruing communities.
“I am waiting for the report, and I am aware of it. I have asked for a full status report to be compiled,” the minister said briefly at a press conference held this morning. Malay Mail
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Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Fadillah reiterates commitment to palm oil sustainability
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is committed to driving the oil palm industry’s sustainability and capping the size of oil palm cultivation areas in the country, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (pix).
Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said that the oil palm sector’s sustainability is a global issue that must be collectively addressed to ensure that there is a balance between economic prosperity and environmental conservation.
“In line with the Malaysia Madani concept that emphasises sustainability as a core value, I urge all stakeholders in the oil palm industry to strongly hold on to the principle of sustainability in their efforts to strengthen the economy without compromising the environment or the people’s welfare,” he said.
Fadillah said this in a speech text read by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha during the launch of the Oil Palm Technology Transfer programme at the MPOB headquarters here today. The Sun Daily
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Belvinder Sron CEO Malaysian Palm Oil Council talks about opportunities, collaborations with KTN News
Clear climate targets can help clean up palm oil’s image: Malaysian plantation giant KLK sustainability chief
The group will soon announce commitments to decarbonise across the entire value chain, and improve its traceability and human rights policies, says Ku Kok Peng, who took up the CSO role in March last year.
The story of palm oil is changing – seemingly for the better – but there is more that needs to be done.
At least that is what Ku Kok Peng, chief sustainability officer of Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) Bhd, thinks. The Malaysian plantation conglomerate has been looking at how else it can improve its sustainability efforts, to take climate action beyond certification and compliance, since Ku stepped into the CSO role in March last year.
Speaking with Eco-Business when he was in Singapore recently to join a panel discussion organised by a local think tank, Ku revealed that the group will “very soon” announce new commitments, including clearer carbon reduction targets across its entire value chain, as well as revised traceability and human rights policies.
“We realised that having certification alone is not sufficient. Taking up the new role meant that I had to take KLK’s sustainability efforts to a higher strategic level, and there are a few areas in which we want to accelerate our work.” Eco Business
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MPOB unveils new technologies to produce better palms, use palm oil as substitute for milk fat
BANGI: The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has launched two new technologies from the biotechnology and food clusters for commercialisation at the Transfer of Technology (TOT) MPOB 2023 here today.
The new technologies are True-to Type Version 2 - High Resolution Genotyping Platform for Parental Identification and palm-based Mozzarella cheese analogue.
MPOB chairman Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said it has so far offered 712 technologies and 194 related services in the oil palm industry.
A total of 233 technologies or 32.7 per cent have been commercialised by the oil palm industry players and entrepreneurs.
"I am confident that the cooperation of industry players and local companies in the commercialisation of oil palm technologies invested by the MPOB researchers will drive the progress of the oil palm industry and the prosperity of the country's economy," he told at the Transfer of Technology (TOT) MPOB 2023 here today. New Straits Times
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Malaysian Minister vows to scrutinise palm oil project affecting peat swamp forest in Pahang
KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said today he is probing the allegation that the Department of Environment had greenlit a project that had encroached into a peat swamp forest in Pahang.
RimbaWatch, a deforestation watchdog, said yesterday it had received reports that a company has been clearing peat swamp forests near Kampung Orang Asli Air Hitam and Tanjung Keruing in Pekan, Pahang, believed to be for palm oil planting.
Citing Global Forest Watch satellite data, the group said the project involves some 310 hectares of clearance so far, and it includes the loss of peat swamp forests. The clearing had also encroached into the native customary land that destroyed crops and graves of the Kampung Orang Asli Air Hitam and Tanjung Keruing communities.
“I am waiting for the report, and I am aware of it. I have asked for a full status report to be compiled,” the minister said briefly at a press conference held this morning. Malay Mail
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Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Fadillah reiterates commitment to palm oil sustainability
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is committed to driving the oil palm industry’s sustainability and capping the size of oil palm cultivation areas in the country, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (pix).
Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said that the oil palm sector’s sustainability is a global issue that must be collectively addressed to ensure that there is a balance between economic prosperity and environmental conservation.
“In line with the Malaysia Madani concept that emphasises sustainability as a core value, I urge all stakeholders in the oil palm industry to strongly hold on to the principle of sustainability in their efforts to strengthen the economy without compromising the environment or the people’s welfare,” he said.
Fadillah said this in a speech text read by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha during the launch of the Oil Palm Technology Transfer programme at the MPOB headquarters here today. The Sun Daily
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Belvinder Sron CEO Malaysian Palm Oil Council talks about opportunities, collaborations with KTN News
Indonesia offers to help Kenya boost palm oil production
A delegation is expected in the country next week for the discussions
Indonesia has offered to assist Kenya to improve the production of palm and sunflower oil, the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry has announced.
A delegation from the Asian nation, the world’s largest producer of palm oil, is expected in Nairobi next week for discussions with President William Ruto and Cabinet Secretaries Moses Kuria (Investments, Trade and Industry) and Mithika Linturi (Agriculture).
An agreement for end-to-end development of the edible oil industry will be signed during the meetings.
“The talks will be centred around supporting farmers in selected counties of Lamu, Kwale, Tana River, Taita Taveta, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu and Busia through an out-grower scheme as well large-scale farming,” the ministry said.
The Indonesian delegation will be led by Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan who coordinates seven ministries in President Joko Widodo’s government. The Star Kenya
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A’Ibom to revamp global oil palm plantation
The Akwa Ibom government has announced plans to revamp its palm oil plantation known as Dakkada Global Oil Palm Limited, formerly known as Akwa Palms Estate to boost the drive towards industrialisation.
The palm farm is located in six communities in Esit Eket, Urueffong Oruko and Mbo Local Government Areas of the state.
Governor Umo Eno made this known during a fact-finding mission to monitor the progress recorded at the farm, saying the state government was interested in revamping the plantation.
He lauded former Governor Udom Emmanuel for the investment and his foresight in resuscitating the oil palm farm.
“We want to ensure that we continue with the work on this facility, to inspect and know what has happened so far. Business Day
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July 05, 2023
Explainer: Why deforestation has hit a historic low in Indonesia
Experts attribute Indonesia's impressive track record in slowing forest loss to stricter clearance permits, unusually wet weather and declining palm oil prices.
Indonesia, home to a third of the world’s rainforests, has seen its annual deforestation drop by 8.4 per cent, its environment ministry said on Monday (26 June).
Indonesia recorded 104,000 hectares of forest loss from July 2021 to June 2022, down from 113,500 hectares in the year prior, according to government figures.
A study by Global Forest Watch, a forest monitoring platform from nonprofit World Resources Institute, finds that no tropical country has reduced primary forest loss as much as Indonesia in recent years.
Experts attribute the fall to better control of fires and stricter permitting for forest clearance.
One of the most significant measures is limiting new (clearance) permits on primary forest and peatland,” environment ministry official Belinda A Margono told reporters. Eco Business
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Hero: How journalists exposed cracks in global forestry certifications
Best known for the Panama Papers, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists takes aim at programs purporting to combat deforestation and illegal logging
Sadly, business can seldom be relied on to police its own behaviour. We thus have little choice but to fall back on governments, NGOs and, not least, activists and the media to do the job. Yet the record of these outside watchdogs is also decidedly mixed.
At the “hero” end of the spectrum, we tip our hats to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), a non-profit network of 280 journalists in more than 100 countries who collaborate on cross-border investigative projects. The ICIJ’s mission, as its website puts it, is to convince reporters around the world “to set aside traditional rivalries to uncover corruption, abuses of power and grave harms inflicted on the world’s most vulnerable people.”
Best known for exposing the offshore holdings of scores of politicians and public officials via the Panama Papers, its latest investigations reveal the flaws in environmental auditing and certification programs (including the Forest Stewardship Council) supposedly designed to promote sustainable forestry and combat illegal logging. A team of 140 reporters from 27 countries uncovered forest failures from Canada to Taiwan, the U.S. to Turkey.
One branch of the Deforestation Inc. investigation highlighted the failure of European governments to halt imports of Myanmar teak, a richly coloured wood prized for its resistance to sunlight and salt water. Demand from luxury yacht makers has ravaged the teak forests, and the trade has been infiltrated by organized crime and is now riddled with corruption. As a result, several countries have imposed supposedly tight bans on imports of teak from Myanmar. In 2021, as part of a broader crackdown against the military junta in Yangon, the EU also sanctioned Myanma Timber Enterprise, which has a monopoly on the country’s teak trade.
Yet the ICIJ investigation revealed that more than 3,000 tonnes of wood entered Europe from Myanmar in 2021, often routed through countries with lax border controls, such as Italy, Greece, Croatia and Poland. To make matters worse, customs authorities and timber industry associations have turned a blind eye to the illegal trade. None of this bodes well for the historic EU law passed in March that bars imports of coffee, wood, beef, cocoa, palm oil and soy tied to deforestation, says the ICIJ: “[analysis of] enforcement data raises questions on authorities’ ability to comply with the new requirements.” Corporate Knights
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Indonesia-Bold reform imperative after amnesty for shady palm oil plantations
Coordinating Maritime and Investment Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan in his capacity as the chair of the Task Force for Palm Oil Governance Improvement and State Revenue Optimization revealed late last month the government’s plan to grant amnesties and legalize 3.3 million hectares of oil palm plantations, which a comprehensive investigative audit revealed as having been developed in forest areas. Luhut argued that legalizing the “illegal” plantations and putting them into the tax system and under the supervision of the relevant ministry and government agencies, while punishing them with heavy administrative penalties, would be the least-cost correction in terms of employment and state revenues. This economic and social impact of the legal-washing measure is far less devastating than the risks of moral hazard as the estates also involve a large number of smallholders. The Jakarta Post
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Malaysia, Kenya seeking areas of cooperation on palm imports
95% of Kenya’s crude palm imports comes from Asia.
•Kenya continues to be a major importer of MPO in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with a volume of 255,253 metric tonnes.
•In 2021, Kenya imported $1.26 billion (Sh177billion) worth of palm oil, becoming the 9th largest importer of palm oil in the world.
Players in Kenya’s edible oil subsector are seeking for areas of collaboration with the Malaysian authorities in developing local palm oil plantations.
The Asian nation is in the meantime looking to export more palm oil to Kenya, at a time that mutual business relationship between Malaysia and Kenya, hit $1.19 billion (Sh167 billion) in 2022.
Kenya has been among the leading importers of palm oil from Malaysia in the region with plans at an initial stage to grow local production.
Kenya sees this a cushion to external shocks that impact prices of the commodity in the local market.
This comes at a time that the prices of palm oil have skyrocketed due to disruptions in the global supply chain.
In an effort to showcase Malaysian expertise in palm oil production, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council is holding an East African summit in Nairobi.
Speaking during the summit, Malaysian deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof underscored the importance of the Malaysia-Kenya trade relationship, observing that Kenya is a vital market for Malaysian palm oil in the East Africa region. The StarKE
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MPOC Europe Alert No. 36
5 July 2023
The EU’s Renewable Energy Directive:
Opportunities and Concerns with Respect to Waste-Based Biofuels
In June 2023, a spokesperson of Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection announced that the Government of Germany had requested the European Commission to investigate the flow of allegedly fraudulent biofuels into the EU. Germany suspected that the EU’s sustainability criteria and requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions were not being met by fuels imported from China.
In accordance with the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II), advanced liquid of gaseous biofuels that are produced from certain feedstocks may currently count double towards EU Member States’ greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets for transport fuels.
Suppliers of biodiesel to Germany had highlighted that they were seeing offers for advanced biodiesel made from feedstocks such as sludge from food production waste, acid oils from soap stocks, and palm oil mill effluent (POME), and claimed that such biodiesel was being wrongly labelled as ‘advanced biofuel’. It was claimed that the amount being shipped in bulk from China was reportedly “far in excess of what can reasonably be available for export”, leading to multiple effects on supply-demand balances and prices, as well as plant closures.
On 27 June 2023, the Government of Germany announced that the investigations by the Government of German and the European Commission did not confirm any case of fraud in mislabelled biodiesel imports from Asia. However, the European Commission indicated that it remained committed to step up its oversight of this trade, with a plan to launch a database of supply chains by the end of 2023.
Possible actions: Currently, palm oil is still the only biofuel feedstock that meets the criteria to be deemed a high indirect land-use change (ILUC)-risk feedstock, which is already discouraging or completely deterring the use of palm oil as a biofuel feedstock in the EU market of biofuels used in the transport sector. However, POME and palm oil-based Used Cooking Oils (UCOs) have remained an important part of the energy mix in the EU, thanks to their double-counting towards individual EU Member States’ GHG reduction targets for transport fuels.
While this double-counting will no longer be available under the forthcoming revision of the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive, known as the RED III, which will apply from mid-2024, Malaysia should continue taking advantage of this opportunity while it is available and its operators should observe due diligence and supply chain traceability in order to be able to defend their practices in case of further investigations. MPOC EU
Explainer: Why deforestation has hit a historic low in Indonesia
Experts attribute Indonesia's impressive track record in slowing forest loss to stricter clearance permits, unusually wet weather and declining palm oil prices.
Indonesia, home to a third of the world’s rainforests, has seen its annual deforestation drop by 8.4 per cent, its environment ministry said on Monday (26 June).
Indonesia recorded 104,000 hectares of forest loss from July 2021 to June 2022, down from 113,500 hectares in the year prior, according to government figures.
A study by Global Forest Watch, a forest monitoring platform from nonprofit World Resources Institute, finds that no tropical country has reduced primary forest loss as much as Indonesia in recent years.
Experts attribute the fall to better control of fires and stricter permitting for forest clearance.
One of the most significant measures is limiting new (clearance) permits on primary forest and peatland,” environment ministry official Belinda A Margono told reporters. Eco Business
---------
Hero: How journalists exposed cracks in global forestry certifications
Best known for the Panama Papers, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists takes aim at programs purporting to combat deforestation and illegal logging
Sadly, business can seldom be relied on to police its own behaviour. We thus have little choice but to fall back on governments, NGOs and, not least, activists and the media to do the job. Yet the record of these outside watchdogs is also decidedly mixed.
At the “hero” end of the spectrum, we tip our hats to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), a non-profit network of 280 journalists in more than 100 countries who collaborate on cross-border investigative projects. The ICIJ’s mission, as its website puts it, is to convince reporters around the world “to set aside traditional rivalries to uncover corruption, abuses of power and grave harms inflicted on the world’s most vulnerable people.”
Best known for exposing the offshore holdings of scores of politicians and public officials via the Panama Papers, its latest investigations reveal the flaws in environmental auditing and certification programs (including the Forest Stewardship Council) supposedly designed to promote sustainable forestry and combat illegal logging. A team of 140 reporters from 27 countries uncovered forest failures from Canada to Taiwan, the U.S. to Turkey.
One branch of the Deforestation Inc. investigation highlighted the failure of European governments to halt imports of Myanmar teak, a richly coloured wood prized for its resistance to sunlight and salt water. Demand from luxury yacht makers has ravaged the teak forests, and the trade has been infiltrated by organized crime and is now riddled with corruption. As a result, several countries have imposed supposedly tight bans on imports of teak from Myanmar. In 2021, as part of a broader crackdown against the military junta in Yangon, the EU also sanctioned Myanma Timber Enterprise, which has a monopoly on the country’s teak trade.
Yet the ICIJ investigation revealed that more than 3,000 tonnes of wood entered Europe from Myanmar in 2021, often routed through countries with lax border controls, such as Italy, Greece, Croatia and Poland. To make matters worse, customs authorities and timber industry associations have turned a blind eye to the illegal trade. None of this bodes well for the historic EU law passed in March that bars imports of coffee, wood, beef, cocoa, palm oil and soy tied to deforestation, says the ICIJ: “[analysis of] enforcement data raises questions on authorities’ ability to comply with the new requirements.” Corporate Knights
---------
Indonesia-Bold reform imperative after amnesty for shady palm oil plantations
Coordinating Maritime and Investment Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan in his capacity as the chair of the Task Force for Palm Oil Governance Improvement and State Revenue Optimization revealed late last month the government’s plan to grant amnesties and legalize 3.3 million hectares of oil palm plantations, which a comprehensive investigative audit revealed as having been developed in forest areas. Luhut argued that legalizing the “illegal” plantations and putting them into the tax system and under the supervision of the relevant ministry and government agencies, while punishing them with heavy administrative penalties, would be the least-cost correction in terms of employment and state revenues. This economic and social impact of the legal-washing measure is far less devastating than the risks of moral hazard as the estates also involve a large number of smallholders. The Jakarta Post
---------
Malaysia, Kenya seeking areas of cooperation on palm imports
95% of Kenya’s crude palm imports comes from Asia.
•Kenya continues to be a major importer of MPO in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with a volume of 255,253 metric tonnes.
•In 2021, Kenya imported $1.26 billion (Sh177billion) worth of palm oil, becoming the 9th largest importer of palm oil in the world.
Players in Kenya’s edible oil subsector are seeking for areas of collaboration with the Malaysian authorities in developing local palm oil plantations.
The Asian nation is in the meantime looking to export more palm oil to Kenya, at a time that mutual business relationship between Malaysia and Kenya, hit $1.19 billion (Sh167 billion) in 2022.
Kenya has been among the leading importers of palm oil from Malaysia in the region with plans at an initial stage to grow local production.
Kenya sees this a cushion to external shocks that impact prices of the commodity in the local market.
This comes at a time that the prices of palm oil have skyrocketed due to disruptions in the global supply chain.
In an effort to showcase Malaysian expertise in palm oil production, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council is holding an East African summit in Nairobi.
Speaking during the summit, Malaysian deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof underscored the importance of the Malaysia-Kenya trade relationship, observing that Kenya is a vital market for Malaysian palm oil in the East Africa region. The StarKE
---------
MPOC Europe Alert No. 36
5 July 2023
The EU’s Renewable Energy Directive:
Opportunities and Concerns with Respect to Waste-Based Biofuels
In June 2023, a spokesperson of Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection announced that the Government of Germany had requested the European Commission to investigate the flow of allegedly fraudulent biofuels into the EU. Germany suspected that the EU’s sustainability criteria and requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions were not being met by fuels imported from China.
In accordance with the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II), advanced liquid of gaseous biofuels that are produced from certain feedstocks may currently count double towards EU Member States’ greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets for transport fuels.
Suppliers of biodiesel to Germany had highlighted that they were seeing offers for advanced biodiesel made from feedstocks such as sludge from food production waste, acid oils from soap stocks, and palm oil mill effluent (POME), and claimed that such biodiesel was being wrongly labelled as ‘advanced biofuel’. It was claimed that the amount being shipped in bulk from China was reportedly “far in excess of what can reasonably be available for export”, leading to multiple effects on supply-demand balances and prices, as well as plant closures.
On 27 June 2023, the Government of Germany announced that the investigations by the Government of German and the European Commission did not confirm any case of fraud in mislabelled biodiesel imports from Asia. However, the European Commission indicated that it remained committed to step up its oversight of this trade, with a plan to launch a database of supply chains by the end of 2023.
Possible actions: Currently, palm oil is still the only biofuel feedstock that meets the criteria to be deemed a high indirect land-use change (ILUC)-risk feedstock, which is already discouraging or completely deterring the use of palm oil as a biofuel feedstock in the EU market of biofuels used in the transport sector. However, POME and palm oil-based Used Cooking Oils (UCOs) have remained an important part of the energy mix in the EU, thanks to their double-counting towards individual EU Member States’ GHG reduction targets for transport fuels.
While this double-counting will no longer be available under the forthcoming revision of the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive, known as the RED III, which will apply from mid-2024, Malaysia should continue taking advantage of this opportunity while it is available and its operators should observe due diligence and supply chain traceability in order to be able to defend their practices in case of further investigations. MPOC EU
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July 04, 2023
Commodity in focus: Rubber
Despite the rubber tree being native to South America, 90% of rubber comes from Asia with Thailand responsible for 35% of production.
Brazil, one of the countries from which the rubber plant originated, is no longer a major producer due to disease ravaging the plant. The culprit, South American Leaf Blight, is still active but only in Latin America.
One academic paper described all efforts to combat the blight since 1910 as ending in “miserable failure”.
EU directive
Rubber production could be affected by EU reforms aimed at cutting the risk of deforestation, meaning traders of commodities – including rubber – have to comply with tougher due diligence requirements or face heavy fines.
Mandatory rules adopted by the Council of the EU in May mean that commodities produced after the cut-off date of 31 December 2020 must be “deforestation-free”.
Traders will be required to trace commodities back to the plot of land where they were produced and assess whether there was any potential exposure to forest destruction.
In Malaysia, Reuters reports that palm oil and rubber smallholders have filed a petition to the EU to protest against the new laws, which they claim will prevent small farmers from accessing the European market. Export UK
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MCC's Peatland Portfolio in Indonesia provides insights on how countries can prevent devastating wildfires
The images of forest fires blazing across Canada are vivid and surreal: pine trees choked by red and yellow flames as smoke clouds reach for the murky orange sky. It’s a harrowing sight. Already, the wildfires have burned millions of acres of Canadian forest, forcing thousands of Canadians to flee their homes.
Dense haze from the forest fires in Quebec drifted over Ontario, considerably worsening air quality across the country and down into the neighboring United States. According to the U.S. government source AirNow, the level of particulate matter in the air from the wildfire smoke has been unhealthy and at times hazardous across the U.S. East Coast and Midwest.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) supported the Government of Indonesia’s priority by funding a $12.4 million portfolio of peatland related projects—two partnership grants, two support contracts, and one smaller community-based grant.
The peatland portfolio was part of MCC’s $228 million Green Prosperity Project (GPP), implemented from 2013-2018, which aimed to reduce land-based greenhouse gas emissions by improving land use practices and management of natural resources.
According to Martha Bowen, the Indonesia Country Director for MCC, the goal of MCC’s peatland portfolio was to support the Government of Indonesia’s own initiative to safeguard and restore the country’s rich peatland forests. MCC
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Nigeria-Agriculture: A’Ibom Assures On Enhanced Productivity, Takes Over DAKKADA Global Oil Palm Farm
Determined to launch Akwa Ibom State into the league of states with increased palm oil production, the State Government has resumed the management of the Dakkada Global Oil Palm Limited, formerly known as Akwa Palms Estate.
Hence, trespassers have been warned to stay off the farms or risk the full wrath of the law.
This was the hallmark of the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno’s visitation on Tuesday to the palm farm which is situated in six communities in Esit Eket, Urueffong Oruko and Mbo Local Government Areas of the state.
The six villages namely Etebi Idung Asan, Etebi Akwa Ata, Unyanga, Udung Uko, Ntak Inyang and Orukem, through their village heads and youth leaders also affirmed their resolved to surrender the oil palm plantation to the state government to fast track its productivity and development.
Addressing the communities, Governor Umo Eno said that he led the state delegation on a fact-finding mission to monitor the progress recorded at the farm for full takeover by the government. New Telegraph NG
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India-Nagaland lacks oil palm processing mill
Despite 5,423 ha area being under oil palm cultivation and presence of 1.204 oil palm growers, not a single oil palm processing mill has been set up in the State to date.
Nagaland has to rely on Godrej Agrovet Pvt Ltd’s (GAVL) processing mill at Kolasib in Mizoram, close to Silchar, while Patanjali has started their groundwork for setting up a mill at Niglok Industrial Growth Centre in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Siang district.
Being perishable, the produce has to be processed within 48 hours of harvesting to prevent it from deteriorating and accumulating harmful fatty acids.
Speaking to Nagaland Post, National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) officer Ronchamo Kikon acknowledged that palm oil cultivation was expanding in the Northeast.
He disclosed that the State had entered into agreement with GAVL on Jan 19, as a result of which two oil palm nurseries had come up in Jalukie (six ha) and Nuiland (six ha), while Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali signed an MoU on Jan 31 for setting up two units in Tizit (10 ha) and Tuli (four ha). He said Zone I (Peren, Chümoukedima, Dimapur, Niuland and Wokha districts) produces were sent to Kolasib and Zone II (Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts) to East Siang. Nagaland Post
Commodity in focus: Rubber
Despite the rubber tree being native to South America, 90% of rubber comes from Asia with Thailand responsible for 35% of production.
Brazil, one of the countries from which the rubber plant originated, is no longer a major producer due to disease ravaging the plant. The culprit, South American Leaf Blight, is still active but only in Latin America.
One academic paper described all efforts to combat the blight since 1910 as ending in “miserable failure”.
EU directive
Rubber production could be affected by EU reforms aimed at cutting the risk of deforestation, meaning traders of commodities – including rubber – have to comply with tougher due diligence requirements or face heavy fines.
Mandatory rules adopted by the Council of the EU in May mean that commodities produced after the cut-off date of 31 December 2020 must be “deforestation-free”.
Traders will be required to trace commodities back to the plot of land where they were produced and assess whether there was any potential exposure to forest destruction.
In Malaysia, Reuters reports that palm oil and rubber smallholders have filed a petition to the EU to protest against the new laws, which they claim will prevent small farmers from accessing the European market. Export UK
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MCC's Peatland Portfolio in Indonesia provides insights on how countries can prevent devastating wildfires
The images of forest fires blazing across Canada are vivid and surreal: pine trees choked by red and yellow flames as smoke clouds reach for the murky orange sky. It’s a harrowing sight. Already, the wildfires have burned millions of acres of Canadian forest, forcing thousands of Canadians to flee their homes.
Dense haze from the forest fires in Quebec drifted over Ontario, considerably worsening air quality across the country and down into the neighboring United States. According to the U.S. government source AirNow, the level of particulate matter in the air from the wildfire smoke has been unhealthy and at times hazardous across the U.S. East Coast and Midwest.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) supported the Government of Indonesia’s priority by funding a $12.4 million portfolio of peatland related projects—two partnership grants, two support contracts, and one smaller community-based grant.
The peatland portfolio was part of MCC’s $228 million Green Prosperity Project (GPP), implemented from 2013-2018, which aimed to reduce land-based greenhouse gas emissions by improving land use practices and management of natural resources.
According to Martha Bowen, the Indonesia Country Director for MCC, the goal of MCC’s peatland portfolio was to support the Government of Indonesia’s own initiative to safeguard and restore the country’s rich peatland forests. MCC
---------
Nigeria-Agriculture: A’Ibom Assures On Enhanced Productivity, Takes Over DAKKADA Global Oil Palm Farm
Determined to launch Akwa Ibom State into the league of states with increased palm oil production, the State Government has resumed the management of the Dakkada Global Oil Palm Limited, formerly known as Akwa Palms Estate.
Hence, trespassers have been warned to stay off the farms or risk the full wrath of the law.
This was the hallmark of the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno’s visitation on Tuesday to the palm farm which is situated in six communities in Esit Eket, Urueffong Oruko and Mbo Local Government Areas of the state.
The six villages namely Etebi Idung Asan, Etebi Akwa Ata, Unyanga, Udung Uko, Ntak Inyang and Orukem, through their village heads and youth leaders also affirmed their resolved to surrender the oil palm plantation to the state government to fast track its productivity and development.
Addressing the communities, Governor Umo Eno said that he led the state delegation on a fact-finding mission to monitor the progress recorded at the farm for full takeover by the government. New Telegraph NG
---------
India-Nagaland lacks oil palm processing mill
Despite 5,423 ha area being under oil palm cultivation and presence of 1.204 oil palm growers, not a single oil palm processing mill has been set up in the State to date.
Nagaland has to rely on Godrej Agrovet Pvt Ltd’s (GAVL) processing mill at Kolasib in Mizoram, close to Silchar, while Patanjali has started their groundwork for setting up a mill at Niglok Industrial Growth Centre in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Siang district.
Being perishable, the produce has to be processed within 48 hours of harvesting to prevent it from deteriorating and accumulating harmful fatty acids.
Speaking to Nagaland Post, National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) officer Ronchamo Kikon acknowledged that palm oil cultivation was expanding in the Northeast.
He disclosed that the State had entered into agreement with GAVL on Jan 19, as a result of which two oil palm nurseries had come up in Jalukie (six ha) and Nuiland (six ha), while Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali signed an MoU on Jan 31 for setting up two units in Tizit (10 ha) and Tuli (four ha). He said Zone I (Peren, Chümoukedima, Dimapur, Niuland and Wokha districts) produces were sent to Kolasib and Zone II (Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts) to East Siang. Nagaland Post
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July 03, 2023
Palm oil surges to highest since March after US slashes soy area
(July 3): Palm oil jumped more than 5% to inch closer to RM4,000 a tonne after a US acreage report showing smaller-than-expected soybean plantings shocked crop markets and sent prices of soybean oil surging.
Futures in Kuala Lumpur climbed as much as 5.4% to RM3,994, the highest intraday level since March 15, before trading at RM3,947 by the midday break. The tropical oil is tracking Chicago soybean oil, its closest substitute for use in food and fuel, which extended gains after surging 7.3% Friday (June 30).
Prices are climbing on the acreage report, a slower pace of Malaysian palm oil production in June, continuing geopolitical tensions and a weaker ringgit, said Paramalingam Supramaniam, a director at Selangor-based broker Pelindung Bestari. “The rally certainly has more legs” with a weakening ringgit, he said. The Edge/ Bloomberg
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Deforestation: EC, Indonesia and Malaysia to set up Joint Task Force to address EUDR
A mission jointly led by YAB Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Plantation and Commodities of Malaysia, and H.E. Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, facilitated by the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), was conducted to meet with the political leaders of the European Union (EU) in Brussels at the end of May. In the meetings, both ministers expressed concerns with the newly legislated EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and reiterated the importance of commodities, particularly palm oil, to the economy and the well-being of its people in both countries in particular toward smallholders.
The European Commission underlined that its policies respond to common international commitments. The main objective would be to ensure that Europe would not drive global deforestation through its own consumption. Moreover, the EU reassured the producing countries that they would continue to be engaged during the whole process. Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, and the Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius agreed to the establishment of a consultative engagement process with both Indonesia and Malaysia to discuss ways and practical means of the implementation of EUDR. European Interest
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Solidaridad and Netherlands hand over Oil Palm Mills to SMEs in Liberia
Solidaridad and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Accra, Ghana have handed over four, efficient oil palm processing mills to four small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Liberia.
The beneficiary SMEs are located in the Grand Bassa, Lofa, and Nimba counties, respectively. Solidaridad is an international civil society organization.
They are supporting the SMEs to scale up their processing activities, enhance farmers’ access to markets for oil palm fruit, and improve the production of palm oil in Liberia.
The mills were constructed as part of the interventions under the Sustainable West Africa Palm Oil Program (SWAPP) implemented by Solidaridad from 2018 to 2022 in Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Accra provides the funding. The program has contributed to increasing the productivity, inclusivity, and sustainability of the West African palm oil sector through micro, small, and medium enterprises that provide farm management and milling services. The New Dawn
Palm oil surges to highest since March after US slashes soy area
(July 3): Palm oil jumped more than 5% to inch closer to RM4,000 a tonne after a US acreage report showing smaller-than-expected soybean plantings shocked crop markets and sent prices of soybean oil surging.
Futures in Kuala Lumpur climbed as much as 5.4% to RM3,994, the highest intraday level since March 15, before trading at RM3,947 by the midday break. The tropical oil is tracking Chicago soybean oil, its closest substitute for use in food and fuel, which extended gains after surging 7.3% Friday (June 30).
Prices are climbing on the acreage report, a slower pace of Malaysian palm oil production in June, continuing geopolitical tensions and a weaker ringgit, said Paramalingam Supramaniam, a director at Selangor-based broker Pelindung Bestari. “The rally certainly has more legs” with a weakening ringgit, he said. The Edge/ Bloomberg
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Deforestation: EC, Indonesia and Malaysia to set up Joint Task Force to address EUDR
A mission jointly led by YAB Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Plantation and Commodities of Malaysia, and H.E. Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, facilitated by the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), was conducted to meet with the political leaders of the European Union (EU) in Brussels at the end of May. In the meetings, both ministers expressed concerns with the newly legislated EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and reiterated the importance of commodities, particularly palm oil, to the economy and the well-being of its people in both countries in particular toward smallholders.
The European Commission underlined that its policies respond to common international commitments. The main objective would be to ensure that Europe would not drive global deforestation through its own consumption. Moreover, the EU reassured the producing countries that they would continue to be engaged during the whole process. Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, and the Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius agreed to the establishment of a consultative engagement process with both Indonesia and Malaysia to discuss ways and practical means of the implementation of EUDR. European Interest
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Solidaridad and Netherlands hand over Oil Palm Mills to SMEs in Liberia
Solidaridad and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Accra, Ghana have handed over four, efficient oil palm processing mills to four small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Liberia.
The beneficiary SMEs are located in the Grand Bassa, Lofa, and Nimba counties, respectively. Solidaridad is an international civil society organization.
They are supporting the SMEs to scale up their processing activities, enhance farmers’ access to markets for oil palm fruit, and improve the production of palm oil in Liberia.
The mills were constructed as part of the interventions under the Sustainable West Africa Palm Oil Program (SWAPP) implemented by Solidaridad from 2018 to 2022 in Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Accra provides the funding. The program has contributed to increasing the productivity, inclusivity, and sustainability of the West African palm oil sector through micro, small, and medium enterprises that provide farm management and milling services. The New Dawn
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July 02, 2023
Oil palm cultivation more efficient than coconut
Oil palms are a type of vegetable oil that holds great importance as an edible product, contributing significantly to global food consumption patterns and the claim that the oil palm industry contributes to deforestation is unfounded, said the chief guest Ambassador of Indonesia to Sri Lanka, Dewi Gustina Tobing.
The Ambassador was speaking at the Agriculture Symposium of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna recently.
The primary goal of the symposium was to foster a commendable endeavour in uniting agricultural and environmental professionals, researchers, and academics from national and international backgrounds.
Oil palm cultivation requires less land and is more efficient compared to other vegetable oils. To put it into perspective, producing 80,000 MT of oil from coconuts would necessitate approximately 80,000 hectares of land, whereas oil palms would only require 20,000 hectares for the same amount of oil production, she said. Sunday ObserverLK
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Malaysia Looking into palm oil opportunities in East Africa
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has sent a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof to the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum-East Africa Region 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The forum, to be held from July 3–7, will explore trends and the growth potential of palm oil in the East African market while fostering bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and Kenya in the industry.
The Plantation and Commodities Ministry said during the forum, Fadillah would deliver a keynote address and officially inaugurate the event, emphasising Malaysia’s commitment to sustainable palm oil production and its expertise in the industry.
“While in Kenya, he is scheduled for a series of high-level meetings with Cabinet Secretaries of Kenya and other relevant stakeholders including representatives from the palm oil industry. The StarMY
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Lula stalls EU-Mercosur talks, prepares counter-proposal
EU-Mercosur talks have been ongoing since the 1990s, but common ground between the bloc and Mercosur countries – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – was only found recently, in 2019, though the positions of the Brazilian President Jaïr Bolsonaro on respecting the environment and indigenous peoples had stalled some progress.
As negotiations continued, the European Parliament and national parliaments called for clauses that provided for mutual respect for the environment and human rights, to which the European Commission proposed a “side letter” as an annexe to the agreement reached in 2019 that reflects the concerns raised “reaffirming their commitment [both side] to the effectively implement the Paris Agreement”.
However, as the letter is non-binding for either of the trading blocs, it fails to quell the demands made by those who still oppose the free trade deal in its current form.
On the French side, in particular, there have been calls to introduce so-called “mirror clauses” that would force producers on both sides to respect health and environmental standards.
The French National Assembly even adopted a resolution on 13 June, calling for renegotiating the free trade agreement to ensure the inclusion of social and environmental clauses – a move the European Commission has repeatedly stated is out of the question.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Mercosur countries do not favour having the additional letter to the deal, even if it is non-binding. Euractiv
Oil palm cultivation more efficient than coconut
Oil palms are a type of vegetable oil that holds great importance as an edible product, contributing significantly to global food consumption patterns and the claim that the oil palm industry contributes to deforestation is unfounded, said the chief guest Ambassador of Indonesia to Sri Lanka, Dewi Gustina Tobing.
The Ambassador was speaking at the Agriculture Symposium of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna recently.
The primary goal of the symposium was to foster a commendable endeavour in uniting agricultural and environmental professionals, researchers, and academics from national and international backgrounds.
Oil palm cultivation requires less land and is more efficient compared to other vegetable oils. To put it into perspective, producing 80,000 MT of oil from coconuts would necessitate approximately 80,000 hectares of land, whereas oil palms would only require 20,000 hectares for the same amount of oil production, she said. Sunday ObserverLK
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Malaysia Looking into palm oil opportunities in East Africa
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has sent a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof to the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum-East Africa Region 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The forum, to be held from July 3–7, will explore trends and the growth potential of palm oil in the East African market while fostering bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and Kenya in the industry.
The Plantation and Commodities Ministry said during the forum, Fadillah would deliver a keynote address and officially inaugurate the event, emphasising Malaysia’s commitment to sustainable palm oil production and its expertise in the industry.
“While in Kenya, he is scheduled for a series of high-level meetings with Cabinet Secretaries of Kenya and other relevant stakeholders including representatives from the palm oil industry. The StarMY
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Lula stalls EU-Mercosur talks, prepares counter-proposal
EU-Mercosur talks have been ongoing since the 1990s, but common ground between the bloc and Mercosur countries – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – was only found recently, in 2019, though the positions of the Brazilian President Jaïr Bolsonaro on respecting the environment and indigenous peoples had stalled some progress.
As negotiations continued, the European Parliament and national parliaments called for clauses that provided for mutual respect for the environment and human rights, to which the European Commission proposed a “side letter” as an annexe to the agreement reached in 2019 that reflects the concerns raised “reaffirming their commitment [both side] to the effectively implement the Paris Agreement”.
However, as the letter is non-binding for either of the trading blocs, it fails to quell the demands made by those who still oppose the free trade deal in its current form.
On the French side, in particular, there have been calls to introduce so-called “mirror clauses” that would force producers on both sides to respect health and environmental standards.
The French National Assembly even adopted a resolution on 13 June, calling for renegotiating the free trade agreement to ensure the inclusion of social and environmental clauses – a move the European Commission has repeatedly stated is out of the question.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Mercosur countries do not favour having the additional letter to the deal, even if it is non-binding. Euractiv
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July 01, 2023
Palm oil-Task force to settle EU, RI, Malaysia deforestation dispute
Responding to the opposition of palm oil-producing countries to its deforestation stance on trade, the European Union has agreed to set up a joint task force to achieve a “win-win solution” for the European Commission, Indonesia and Malaysia. The joint task force, involving numerous stakeholders, will focus on several commodities likely to be heavily scrutinized by the newly legislated EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), such as palm oil, wood, rubber, coffee and cocoa, a joint statement by the three parties said on Thursday. Recent months have seen Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta joining forces to act as the firmest naysayers against the EUDR, a trade policy seeking to ban all imports linked to deforestation from entering the vast European market. The Jakarta Post
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Chocolate majors back EU deforestation law that could prove costly for consumers
Europe is introducing laws to ensure commodities including cocoa, coffee and palm oil aren’t grown on deforested land
Big chocolate companies are welcoming new EU rules that protect forests, but which risk further hitting consumer wallets.
The EU is introducing laws that ensure that commodities including cocoa, coffee and palm oil aren’t grown on deforested land – and is also putting in measures to tackle issues such as child labour in supply chains.
Companies such as Lindt & Spruengli, Ferrero and Unilever say they back the move because it looks after the environment and those who grow the crops.
But for shoppers – who increasingly want to know where their food comes from and whether it was ethically produced – it could come at a cost. The National News/ Bloomberg
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Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Fadillah to lead Malaysian delegation to palm oil forum in Kenya
PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof who is also Plantation and Commodities Minister will lead the Malaysian delegation to the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum-East Africa Region 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya from July 3 to 7.
The forum is poised to be a significant event that aims to explore the trends and growth potential of palm oil in the East African market, while fostering bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and Kenya in the palm oil industry.
The Plantation and Commodities Ministry said that during the forum, Fadillah would deliver a keynote address and officially inaugurate the event scheduled on July 4, emphasising Malaysia's commitment to sustainable palm oil production and its expertise in the industry.
"While in Kenya, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Plantation and Commodities is scheduled for a series of high-level meetings with Cabinet Secretaries of Kenya, and other relevant stakeholders including representatives from the palm oil industry. The StarMY
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Kenya-Busia County Mobilizes Cooperatives Ready For Edible Oil Production At Nasewa EPZ
BUSIA, Kenya, Jul 1 — The county government of Busia has stirred-up efforts to boost the farming of edible oils in readiness for the operationalization of the Industrial park and Export processing zone at Nasewa.
The chairperson Agriculture committee in the county Assembly of Busia Beatrice Kanoti noted that structures are already in place with current county policy of enrolling 1000 farmers per ward into cooperatives with a common goal based on the edible oil crop of their choice.
Speaking outside the assembly, Kanoti said the department of Agriculture has received a boost with an allocation of Sh716 million which is 10 per cent of the total budget expenditure. This comprises Sh253 million as recurrent expenditure and Sh564 million for capital expenditure. CapitalFM KE
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Nigeria-‘Palm Oil Production Improvement Will Boost GDP’
The Chief Executive Officer of LSX Integrated Agro Processing, Leke Oluwatosin has called on the government to explore palm kernel oil processing to boost the sector’s contributions to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
Oluwatosin disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos recently.
He also harped on the viability of palm oil and its derivatives value chain in increasing the country’s agriculture revenue.
“The choice of oil palm cultivation is based on the viability and lucrative nature of the produce. In the U.S., it costs more to buy palm oil than any other oil variety. PunchNG
Palm oil-Task force to settle EU, RI, Malaysia deforestation dispute
Responding to the opposition of palm oil-producing countries to its deforestation stance on trade, the European Union has agreed to set up a joint task force to achieve a “win-win solution” for the European Commission, Indonesia and Malaysia. The joint task force, involving numerous stakeholders, will focus on several commodities likely to be heavily scrutinized by the newly legislated EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), such as palm oil, wood, rubber, coffee and cocoa, a joint statement by the three parties said on Thursday. Recent months have seen Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta joining forces to act as the firmest naysayers against the EUDR, a trade policy seeking to ban all imports linked to deforestation from entering the vast European market. The Jakarta Post
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Chocolate majors back EU deforestation law that could prove costly for consumers
Europe is introducing laws to ensure commodities including cocoa, coffee and palm oil aren’t grown on deforested land
Big chocolate companies are welcoming new EU rules that protect forests, but which risk further hitting consumer wallets.
The EU is introducing laws that ensure that commodities including cocoa, coffee and palm oil aren’t grown on deforested land – and is also putting in measures to tackle issues such as child labour in supply chains.
Companies such as Lindt & Spruengli, Ferrero and Unilever say they back the move because it looks after the environment and those who grow the crops.
But for shoppers – who increasingly want to know where their food comes from and whether it was ethically produced – it could come at a cost. The National News/ Bloomberg
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Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Fadillah to lead Malaysian delegation to palm oil forum in Kenya
PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof who is also Plantation and Commodities Minister will lead the Malaysian delegation to the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum-East Africa Region 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya from July 3 to 7.
The forum is poised to be a significant event that aims to explore the trends and growth potential of palm oil in the East African market, while fostering bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and Kenya in the palm oil industry.
The Plantation and Commodities Ministry said that during the forum, Fadillah would deliver a keynote address and officially inaugurate the event scheduled on July 4, emphasising Malaysia's commitment to sustainable palm oil production and its expertise in the industry.
"While in Kenya, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Plantation and Commodities is scheduled for a series of high-level meetings with Cabinet Secretaries of Kenya, and other relevant stakeholders including representatives from the palm oil industry. The StarMY
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Kenya-Busia County Mobilizes Cooperatives Ready For Edible Oil Production At Nasewa EPZ
BUSIA, Kenya, Jul 1 — The county government of Busia has stirred-up efforts to boost the farming of edible oils in readiness for the operationalization of the Industrial park and Export processing zone at Nasewa.
The chairperson Agriculture committee in the county Assembly of Busia Beatrice Kanoti noted that structures are already in place with current county policy of enrolling 1000 farmers per ward into cooperatives with a common goal based on the edible oil crop of their choice.
Speaking outside the assembly, Kanoti said the department of Agriculture has received a boost with an allocation of Sh716 million which is 10 per cent of the total budget expenditure. This comprises Sh253 million as recurrent expenditure and Sh564 million for capital expenditure. CapitalFM KE
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Nigeria-‘Palm Oil Production Improvement Will Boost GDP’
The Chief Executive Officer of LSX Integrated Agro Processing, Leke Oluwatosin has called on the government to explore palm kernel oil processing to boost the sector’s contributions to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
Oluwatosin disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos recently.
He also harped on the viability of palm oil and its derivatives value chain in increasing the country’s agriculture revenue.
“The choice of oil palm cultivation is based on the viability and lucrative nature of the produce. In the U.S., it costs more to buy palm oil than any other oil variety. PunchNG
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Palm oil news. July 2023 CSPO Watch