Headline News on Palm Oil. September 2021
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EU (Opinion from Anja Hazekamp) 'We can democratise our food systems'
What role should the EU take in reforming our broken food system? Our food system is broken. The harm can no longer be ignored: environmental degradation, destruction of biodiversity, global warming, poverty wages and chronic health problems. The Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system, launched in May 2020, finally acknowledged these longstanding problems, proposing 27 actions that have the potential to steer us away from this destructive path. This might be our last chance. For it to succeed, the EU must be willing to face its contradictions and resist pressure from corporate interests. Boundaries Crucially, the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy needs to open the path for a Common Food Policy that brings consistency across all EU policy areas. For example, we cannot truly restore biodiversity or successfully achieve a protein transition while heavily subsidising the intensive livestock industry and signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that directly contradict these goals. The EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement is a case in point. Successive studies have indicated how the agreement will fuel the rapid destruction of the Amazon forest, reward toxic pesticide producers and encourage industrial livestock production. TheEcologist |
Malaysia - Target of 20m tonnes CPO production in limbo
MALAYSIA may not be able to achieve the 20 million tonnes crude palm oil (CPO) target this year if the 75,000 foreign workers shortage is not addressed, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) said. The industry may not generate an extra RM20 billion revenue this year, dragged by the nationwide acute shortage of manual harvesters. MPOC Science, Environment and Sustainability Division director Dr Ruslan Abdullah stressed that the oil palm will continue to produce crops, with or without workers. “Whether it is harvested or not, new crops will come in. If you do not harvest the crop, we will just lose money, so all the efforts to get a good healthy crop by fertilising, taking care of them are wasted because we are not going to get any product. “With the change of government, policy might change, we don’t know what is going to happen but as far as the industry is concerned, we are in dire need of foreign workers so we can keep up with productivity,” he told reporters after the “Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) and Palm Oil Industry: Between Myth and Reality” webinar organised by MIDF Research yesterday. According to the Malaysian Palm Oil Association, the government may lose up to RM2 billion in additional tax collection from the palm oil sector due to the expected loss in production revenue of between 20% and 30% in 2021. TheMalaysianReserve |
Papua New Guinea - Land still available for palm oil
ABOUT 6.2 million hectares of land is still available to grow oil palm in PNG, according to the Oil Palm Industry Corporation (Opic). Opic acting general secretary Kepson Pupita said Opic aimed to revive the industry by fixing existing infrastructure, improving manpower and reviewing legislation. Palm oil is PNG’s major agricultural export earner, generating on average K1.2 billion in export revenues annually. On Saturday, Pupita opened a newly-refurbished Opic office and staff house outside Kavieng, New Ireland with a new fencing around the office. A smallholder access road was also built by Opic outside Kavieng. All this cost K700,000, from the K2 million Opic received from the Government’s K50 million agriculture price support and intervention programme. He said the K2 million was used in project areas of Milne Bay, Northern, Bialla and Hoskins in West New Britain and Kavieng on block rehabilitation programmes. TheNationalPG |
India - Guaranteed MSP is real farm reform: The case of edible oil
To end the ‘forever war’ with farmers, the central government must announce a law to guarantee minimum support price (MSP) for the purchase of all 23 crops whose calculations are made by the Commission of Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). It is known that assured procurement of only cereal crops has resulted in an overflowing buffer stock, which is more than three times of the mandated norm. However, the nation owes a debt to the humble farmer whose hard work ensured that there were no starvation deaths in the worst pandemic since the Spanish flu in 1918 and the famines in Bengal and Travancore in 1943. Records show that 92 million tonnes of grain were distributed for Covid relief, for migrant labour and the public distribution system (PDS) last year as against an average of 62 million tonnes for the past five years, starting 2014. HIndustanTimes |
India - Expansion of oil palm cultivation is path to self-sufficiency
India which was self-sufficient in edible oils in the early 1990s has emerged as a leading importer in the last decade or so. Liberalisation of imports in the early 1990s has impoverished the oilseed growers leading to a drastic reduction in oilseed growing area. Currently the country imports 15 million tonnes of edible oils. India consumes 25 million tonnes of edible oil of which 45 per cent is palm oil. Per capita consumption of edible oil increased from 3 kg annually in 1950 to 14.2kg in 2010-11, to 19.2kg in 2019-20. Consumption has been steadily increasing due to increase in income levels. This growth trend would translate into edible oil consumption approximating 32 million tonnes by 2030. Obviously, meeting this huge demand through imports is irrational, as this would further impoverish the oil seed farmers in the country, and lead to further shrinkage of area under oil seed cultivation. A proper strategy to achieve self-sufficiency in oil seed production has to be evolved. Expansion of oil palm is one viable alternative to achieve self-sufficiency. NewIndianExpress |
India - Arunachal Pradesh to go ahead with oil palm cultivation despite environmentalists' concerns
The Arunachal Pradesh government held a discussion with at least four organisations, including three private companies — who showed interest to invest in the frontier state — to take up cultivation and production of aroma oil and palm on a mission mode on Tuesday. Representatives of Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow, 3F Industries Ltd, Hyderabad, Ruchi Soya Industries Limited, Andhra Pradesh, and Dabur India Limited, Ghaziabad, submitted proposals to Chief Minister Pema Khandu to invest in the sector. 3F Industries, a private firm, requested Khandu to allot land for starting a processing plant for production of oil palm. The company ventured into palm oil production in the state in 2012 in the Lower Dibang Valley district but could not start a factory due to lack of land. DeccanHerald |
Asean faces $2.7 trillion challenge and opportunity to go green, stay competitive: Report
SINGAPORE - South-east Asia has taken the first key steps to shifting to a greener and cleaner economy but it needs US$2 trillion (S$2.7 trillion) of investment this decade to cut emissions and remain competitive globally, said a report released on Wednesday (Sept 29). The report by management consultancy Bain & Company, Microsoft and Singapore's Temasek said the region needs to focus on three areas: speeding up the switch to green energy and transport; putting a value on nature; and making the agri-food sector more efficient, less polluting and less environmentally damaging. Doing so will address about 90 per cent of the region's greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, as well as address environmental damage from deforestation and fires, and inefficient agricultural practices, said the report titled Southeast Asia's Green Economy: Opportunities On The Road To Net Zero. StraitsTimes |
EU - TotalEnergies sees 2mn-3mn t/yr HVO, SAF output by 2025
TotalEnergies said today it aims to produce 2mn-3mn t/yr of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2025. The firm already has a 500,000 t/yr HVO plant at La Mede, where it recently began SAF production, and is converting its 93,000 b/d Grandpuits facility, near Paris, into a 400,000 t/yr biorefinery that it has scheduled to start up in 2024. This will produce 170,000 t/yr of biojet, 120,000 t/yr of biodiesel and 50,000 t/yr of naphtha for bioplastics. Last year TotalEnergies said it planned to add 300,000 t/yr of HVO capacity in Europe from co-processing at existing facilities, and that it was considering introducing HVO capacity at refineries in Texas and South Korea. Chief executive Patrick Pouyanne confirmed today that from 2023 palm oil will no longer be used at the La Mede refinery or "anywhere else" by the company. ArgusMedia |
India - Budget For Northeast States' Development Nearly Doubled In 7 Years: Minister
Kolkata: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday said the Centre has almost doubled the budgetary allocation for development of the northeastern states in the last seven years with around ₹ 68,000 crore having been allotted in the current fiscal. Mr Reddy, the minister for development of north eastern region (DoNER), said the centre is giving a push for development of agriculture in the region to attract investments in the sector and the NE states will play a crucial role to increase the output of edible oils. "The budgetary allocation for development of northeastern states is around ₹ 68,000 crore in the 2021-22 fiscal compared to about ₹ 60,000 crore in FY21. The Centre has nearly doubled the allocation in the last seven years to the region as ₹ 36,000 crore was given in 2014-15," he said, addressing a virtual programme East India Summit organised by CII. NDTV |
India - Ruchi Soya to invest Rs 500 crore on palm oil factory, nurseries: Arunachal Pradesh CM
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that Ruchi Soya NSE -0.65 % will invest Rs 500-plus crores on nurseries, extension, Palm Oil Factory/Refinery while Dabur India, eyes to collaborate in the field of procuring medicinal plant raw material, cultivate special medicinal plants. Khandu had a series of meetings through the day with various stakeholders on the way forward in cultivation and production of aroma oil and palm oil in the state on a mission mode. Representatives of Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP)), Lucknow, 3F Industries Ltd, Hyderabad, Ruchi Soya Industries ltd, Andhra Pradesh, and Dabur India Limited, Ghaziabad, submitted their respective proposals and presentations to the Chief Minister. EconomicTimes |
Malaysia sets 2050 carbon-neutral goal
Malaysia's new prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has announced a goal for the country to become carbon neutral "as early as 2050", alongside a commitment to stop building new coal-fired power plants. Malaysia is the world's fourth-largest LNG exporter and second-biggest palm oil producer. "Cleaner electricity generation will be implemented through the operation of several gas power plants in peninsular Malaysia to replace the coal power plants," Ismail said when announcing the 12th Malaysia Plan for 2021-25. Gas is still a fossil fuel, albeit less polluting than coal. Coal-fired output accounts for more than 50pc of Malaysia's generation mix. It is unclear how the latest target will affect Malaysia's coal demand in the short term. Coal procurement firm TNB Fuel Services (TNBF) bought around 23.9mn t of Indonesian coal, 5mn t of Australian Hunter Valley material loaded at Newcastle and 3.8mn t of Russian coal in 2020. TNBF is a subsidiary of Malaysia's state-owned utility Tenaga Nasional (TNB) and was set up in 1998 to ensure stable coal supplies across TNB's 12.2GW coal-fired fleet. Renewable energy generation from sources such as biomass and biogas is targeted to rise to 31pc of the country's total installed capacity by 2025, Ismail said. The country will also introduce "economic instruments such as carbon pricing and carbon excise" to support its efforts to become carbon neutral. "Details of other measures for carbon reduction will be announced once a review of long-term low-carbon development strategies is finalised by the end of 2022," Ismail said. He also reiterated the country's commitment to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity per unit of GDP by 45pc by 2030 relative to 2005, in line with the 2015 Paris climate agreement. ArgusMedia |
Malaysia - RMK-12: Palm oil-based biodiesel use to be scaled up in Malaysia – B15 and B20 soon, up to B30 by 2025
Prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob recently presented the 12th Malaysia Plan, or Rancangan Malaysia Ke-12 (RMK-12), which is a five-year guide for the country’s development from 2021 to 2025. In it, the government touched upon biodiesel usage and how it will be scaled up in the years to come. Before we continue further, here’s a recap of the current situation. At most fuel stations currently, you will have access to Euro 5 B10 biodiesel, which replaced Euro 2M diesel across Malaysia as of April 1. This blend of 10% palm methyl ester and 90% regular diesel was first introduced in 2019 and is the base type of diesel that follows the pricing of Euro 2M previously, marked by a black nozzle. The alternative that costs 10 sen more is Euro 5 B7 biodiesel, which has been available since 2019, and is identified by a blue nozzle at the pumps. This blend is made up of 7% palm methyl ester and 93% regular diesel, and is offered as an option at most fuel stations, with the exception of those in Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands in Pahang and Kundasang in Sabah, where it is the standard biodiesel offering at those places. The next step, B20 biodiesel was launched for the transportation sector in 2020, with the fuel (20% palm methyl ester and 80% regular diesel) being implemented in Langkawi and Labuan. Originally, the nationwide implementation of B20 biodiesel was supposed to happen in June 2021. However, this was later pushed forward to early 2022, although then plantation industries and commodities minister Datuk Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said this was more likely to happen by the end of 2022. PaulTan |
Sri Lanka - Palm oil industry hopeful of ban removal in light of forex saving
The Palm Oil Industry Association of Sri Lanka (POIASL) is hoping that the authorities would revisit the current ban on oil palm cultivation keeping in mind the benefits it will have on the country’s foreign exchange situation. “We also look forward with hope that there would be a re-thinking of the current ban on cultivation of palm oil, keeping in mind the potential benefits that may be gained by conserving foreign exchange, and thereby stabilising and strengthening the Sri Lankan economy – similar to the strategy used by the Indian government, which is a prime reference point,” POIASL President Dr. Rohan Fernando, who is also the Managing Director of Elpitiya Plantations PLC said. He was addressing the third AGM of POIASL, which was held as a virtual event. On August 15, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a support programme to incentivise oil palm production. The Indian government intends to bring an additional 6.5 lakh hectares under oil palm cultivation. The agro-business industry has said the move will help its growth and reduce the country’s dependence on palm oil imports, especially from Indonesia and Malaysia. India imported 18.41 million tonnes of vegetable oil in 2018. DailyMirror |
Papua New Guinea - Oil palm farmers urged to increase production
THE Oil Palm Industry Corporation (Opic) wants its 1,897 smallholder farmers to work their blocks for increased production so that they can earn more money to sustain their living. Opic acting general-secretary Kepson Pupita said this in Kavieng on Saturday during the opening of the refurbished Opic staff house and office with new fencing, rehabilitation of block roads and purchase of two motorbikes. Pupita said all these changes would enable officers to carry out effective extension work across 2,820 hectares of smallholder blocks. The Poliamba estate of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL) in Kavieng has about 5,000 hectares of planted oil palm. Pupita said the funds came from the K50 million price support and intervention programme provided by the national government last year to support the agriculture sector. Of the K50 million, K2 million was allocated to Opic. “With the K2 million, I have done in the five project areas (Milne Bay, Northern, Bialla, Hoskins and Kavieng) block rehabilitation, building access roads to complement the PIP (public investment programme) funds on run down blocks,” Pupita said. TheNational |
US - Can sustainability standards effectively mitigate food system challenges?
Standards provide guidelines for sustainable production, and compliance is usually voluntary URBANA, Ill. — While agrifood production is essential for feeding our growing global population, it can also contribute to environmental and social problems, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, poor or precarious labor conditions, and persistent poverty. Certification and standards can encourage use of sustainable production practices, but how effective are such programs in addressing food system challenges? A new study from a team of international researchers reviews the literature on sustainability standards and identifies a series of important questions. “Our paper summarizes the current state of knowledge about sustainability and certification standards for crop and livestock production,” says Hope Michelson, agricultural economist at the University of Illinois and co-author on the paper. “We look at the impact of standards across different actors in the supply chain. That includes farmers and consumers, as well as institutions that serve as connective tissue in the system: development agencies, processors, wholesalers, and retailers.” Private groups, governments, and non-government organizations (NGOs) set the standards, which provide guidelines for sustainable production, and compliance is usually voluntary. Morningagclips |
Indonesia says won't approve new palm oil permits after moratorium lapses
A lack of clarity on the extension of the moratorium has alarmed environmentalists who say that Indonesia is at risk of losing further tracts of forest to plantations AKARTA, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Indonesia will not approve new palm oil permits even after the lapse of a moratorium on new plantations, a senior government official said on Friday, amid concerns from green groups about a watering down in protection for forests. The moratorium, which was introduced in 2018 to stop deforestation and improve governance in the palm oil industry, ended on Sept. 19 without any clear replacement. Although authorities remain undecided on whether to extend the ban, they are committed to not approve any permits for new palm plantations, said Ruandha Agung Sugardiman, a senior official at Indonesia's Environment and Forestry Ministry, "Even without (the moratorium), the policy laid down by the environment and forestry minister is to continue the ban on new permits for forest clearance for palm oil plantations," he told an online conference. TRUST |
India - Arunachal will benefit most from oil palm cultivation: Khandu
Allaying ‘fears’ of its negative impact on the environment, the chief minister said no forest land will be destroyed or a tree cut for oil palm cultivation. Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday said the Central government will be investing around Rs 6,000 crore on oil palm cultivation in the Northeast and expected Arunachal Pradesh to benefit the most out of it. Allaying ‘fears’ of its negative impact on the environment, the chief minister reiterated that no forest land will be destroyed or a tree cut. “Only wastelands, which are abundant along the foothills, will be utilized for oil palm cultivation. We will have to be patient and wait for a few years to reap its benefits, which will be massive,” Khandu said. EastMojo |
Malaysia - FGV eyes maiden oil palm venture in India — report
KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 24): FGV Holdings Bhd is believed to be eyeing its maiden oil palm venture in India's state of Telangana after news reports indicated that FGV representatives had met government officials there on Wednesday (Sept 22) to propose the setting up of an oil palm processing unit in Sircilla and other parts of the state. The New Indian Express, quoting KT Rama Rao, who is Telangana’s Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Industries and Commerce, and Information Technology, reported yesterday (Sept 23) that one of the FGV's representatives recognised the Telangana state government’s efforts to encourage large-scale cultivation of oil palm and that the representative said how oil palm cultivation can be profitable for farmers and generate employment there. It was reported that FGV, which is one of the world's largest producers of crude palm oil (CPO), also invited Rama Rao to visit Malaysia to study the prospects of oil palm. TheEdgeMarkets |
GLOBAL - Coalition of multinational companies issues report on reducing deforestation
PARIS — A coalition of 20 global retailers and manufacturers, including PepsiCo, Inc., Nestle SA and Mondelez International, on Sept. 23 published its first annual report detailing progress in reducing deforestation. The Consumer Goods Forum’s Forest Positive Coalition of Action, which formed last year, keeps performance indicators for the four commodities of palm oil; soy; paper, pulp and fiber-based packaging; and beef. The world is losing 88,000 square kilometers of forest every year, which equates to losing an area the size of London every week, said Wai-Chan Chan, managing director of the Consumer Goods Forum, a global industry network that encourages the adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry. “Our planet is on the brink of irreversible climate change, and stopping commodity-driven deforestation is critical to addressing the climate crisis and preserving biodiversity, as well as protecting forest-based communities around the world,” he said. “Collaboration and openness are both vital in combating deforestation, and we must push ourselves to all continue to do much more to catalyze change.” FoodBusinessNews |
ASEAN food makers look to correct labor abuses in supply chains
TOKYO/BANGKOK/SINGAPORE -- Thai Union has promised to deploy electronic monitoring systems in all of its suppliers' tuna fishing vessels by 2025 to crack down on labor rights violations, a move that could have a far-reaching impact on the industry's business practices. The world's top producer of canned tuna will use equipment, including cameras, global positioning systems and sensors, that will track working conditions on board as part of the company's commitment to "100% transparency" in its tuna supply chain. As Southeast Asia emerges as a key supplier of food for the world, food and agricultural companies in the region are moving to address human rights concerns in their supply chains. The 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are responsible for about a fifth of global fish catches, more than China, and ASEAN members Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand provide roughly 90% of the world's palm oil. NikkeiAsia |
India - UPDATE 1-INDIA'S PALM OIL IMPORTS TO DROP 9% AS FARMERS EXPAND OILSEEDS AREA
PANAJI, India, Sept 23 (Reuters) - India's palm oil imports in 2021/22 are likely to drop 9% from a year earlier on a rise in domestic supplies, as farmers expand the area planted with oilseeds in response to record high prices, a leading industry analyst told Reuters. The lower imports by the world's biggest palm oil buyer could limit a rally in benchmark Malaysian palm oil prices , which are trading near record highs hit in August. Palm oil imports in the new marketing year starting on Nov. 1 could fall to 7.6 million tonnes from 8.35 million this year, Govindbhai Patel, managing director of trading firm G.G. Patel & Nikhil Research Company, said on Thursday. Lower palm oil imports would pull down total edible oil imports to 13.3 million tonnes in 2021/22 from 13.7 million tonnes, said Patel, who has been trading edible oils for more than five decades. Agriculture |
India - FGV to set up oil palm unit in Telangana
HYDERABAD: Representatives of Malaysian company FGV Holdings met IT and Industries minister KT Rama Rao on Wednesday to propose setting up an oil palm processing unit in Sircilla and other parts of the State. In a meeting held at Pragathi Bhavan, Satyanarayana, one of the company’s representatives recognised the State government’s efforts to encourage large-scale cultivation of oil palms and added how the cultivation can be profitable for farmers and generate employment. The world’s largest crude palm oil producing company also invited Rama Rao to visit Malaysia to study the prospects of oil palms. Stressing on the need for crop-diversification, the minister assured that farmers in Sircilla would soon be cultivating oil palms on a large scale. Assuring that he would soon be visiting Malaysia, Rama Rao asked the company to also establish a seed processing unit and an oil palm nursery in Sircilla, along with their palm oil processing factory. NewIndianExpress |
Indonesia - AAK Embarks on venture with Nestle and Musim- Mas to tackle deforestation
22 Sep 2021 --- AAK has entered a smallholder partnership with Nestlé and palm oil corporation Musim Mas to address deforestation outside of palm oil concession areas in Aceh, Indonesia. The five-year program will “positively impact some 1,000 independent smallholders.” Aceh is a priority landscape, as 87% of the Leuser Ecosystem – a protected area important for both biodiversity and carbon storage – lies within the province. “This partnership is an important part of AAK’s sustainable sourcing approach,” says Anne Mette Olesen, chief strategy and sustainability officer at AAK. “Engaging with partners and other stakeholders in the supply chain is fundamental, and only together can we make the global palm oil industry fully transparent and sustainable.” FoodIngredientsFirst |
Indonesia to use "existing laws" as palm oil moratorium expires
JAKARTA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Indonesia will use existing laws in a jobs creation bill passed last year to deal with issues around sustainable palm oil production, a senior official said on Wednesday, after a moratorium on new plantation permits recently ended. The Southeast Asian country, the world's top palm oil producer, launched the moratorium in September 2018 to try to stop deforestation and improve governance in the industry, while seeking to boost output from existing cultivated areas. The moratorium ended on Sept. 19 with no indication of an extension, raising concerns by environmentalists who say that Indonesia is at risk of losing further large tracts of forest to plantation expansion. Reuters |
India - Sircilla: KTR stresses on palm oil cultivation
Sircilla: IT and Municipal Minister KT Rama Rao on Monday said he would take up oil palm farming at Mohinikunta village in the district as a part of the State government's decision to promote oil palm farming. The minister stressed on the need of cultivation of alternative crops by the farmers to earn a higher percentage of profit. For Telangana state to be more self-sufficient in farming there was a need to adopt crop diversification, he added. He chaired an awareness meeting on 2021-22 Yasangi crop diversifications in Sircilla. He told chairpersons of the farmer coordination committees, agricultural extension officers and public representatives to inform the farmers about the benefits of crop rotation and cultivation of alternative crops. TheHansIndia |
EU - Shell announces ambition to produce 2 million tonnes of SAF a year
Shell has announced its ambition to produce around 2 million tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) a year by 2025. It also aims to have at least 10% of its global aviation fuel sales as SAF by 2030. This follows the oil and gas company’s revelation that it is to build a 820,000-tonnes-a-year biofuels facility at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park in Rotterdam. “Currently, sustainable aviation fuel accounts for less than 0.1% of the world’s use of aviation fuel. We want to help our customers use more SAF,” said Anna Mascolo, President of Shell Aviation. “With the right policies, investments and collaboration across the sector we can accelerate aviation’s progress towards net zero by 2050. BiofuelsNews |
Indonesia - Govt should optimally utilize alternative energy sources: Minister
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif called to optimize the use of alternative energy sources to lower dependence on fossil fuels. "Fossil energy continues to dominate as the primary energy source despite abundant potential of new renewable energy. Hence, alternative energy sources must be optimized," Tasrif stated during the "Indonesia Energy Transition Dialogue 2021" webinar on Monday. Moreover, the minister noted that domestic oil consumption was higher than its production capacity, resulting in an increase in oil imports and a trade balance deficit. Minister Tasrif remarked that fossil energy had continued to dominate energy production by meeting some 90 percent of the country's energy production requirements. Meanwhile, New Renewable Energy (EBT) only contributes 11.2 percent to the national energy and only 2.6 percent of the total potential is utilized. AntaraNews |
Indonesia - Jobs law may replace expired oil palm moratorium, official says
The remaining swaths of oil palm plantations inside forest areas will have to be resolved by the controversial Job Creation Law and its implementing regulations if the expiring moratorium on new plantations is not extended after the three-year run, an official says. The moratorium, enacted by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo three years ago in September through Presidential Instruction (Perpres) No. 8/2018, required government agencies to stop granting new licenses for palm oil concessions and to review existing ones every three years. It was expected to improve palm oil governance and was put in place amid concerns of deforestation caused by oil palm plantations near or inside forest areas. The moratorium expiring on Sunday and the government has yet to extend it so far. TheJakartaPost |
Indonesia’s halt to palm oil expansion is set to expire soon
Indonesia’s moratorium on new oil palm plantation permits is set to expire this week, as the industry awaits clarity on whether the government will extend the policy. President Joko Widodo ordered a stop to permit issuance for new plantations and expansion of existing ones for three years, in a decree signed on Sept 19, 2018. That order expanded on an earlier ban on permits for plantations on primary forest and peat land. As palm prices surge almost 50% in the past year due to tight supply, the government has given few signs on whether the moratorium would remain. The breakneck expansion of plantations through Southeast Asia has come at the expense of vast swathes of tropical rainforest. An extension could lead prices to climb higher as there’s been slow replanting of old oil palm trees, said Christopher Andre Benas, an analyst at RHB Sekuritas. Since the moratorium, the government ha found about 3 million hectares of palm oil plantation operating without permits in forest areas. The Southeast Asian country has identified about 16.4 million hectares of land planted with the crop, of which 6.72 million hectares belong to smallholders. TheEdgeMarkets |
Nigeria - $4.2mn in funding for Nigerian Agritech startup Releaf
Nigerian startup Releaf has secured $4.2mn in seed funding and grants, to help farmers and factory workers across Africa increase efficiency. Releaf was founded in 2017, in Uyo, Nigeria. The firm works with 2,000 smallholders farmers, to create processing hardware for the sustainable oil palm sector. This is to reduce post-harvest loss. Releaf has been supported by Y Combinator, Steve Pagliuca (Chairman of Bain Capital) and Justin Kan (Co-founder of Twitch). The funding will enable higher productivity and decrease the time and effort spent on smaller tasks. This will also create jobs across local farming communities. “Our mandate is to industrialise Africa’s food processing industry”, said Ikenna Nzewi, CEO and co-founder of Releaf. “This round of funding enables us to develop and prove our technology with smallholder farmers in the oil palm sector. Given Nigerians spend 60% of their income on food and Africa’s population is set to increase by 100,000 people per day over the next three decades, we’re presented with an incredible opportunity to feed more people, reduce consumer costs, and supply the fastest-growing food market in the world.” FoodDigital |
India - India's 2021-22 soybean output seen sharply lower on year: Platts survey
India's soybean production may decline sharply in the marketing year 2021-22 (October-September) as erratic rainfall during the sowing season affected yields, according to a survey by S&P Global Platts. A poor soybean crop could increase India's reliance on edible oil imports and endanger its exports of soybean meal in the coming months, analysts said. India's soybean production in MY 2021-22 is expected to be around 10.8 million mt, nearly 16.6% lower on the year, an average estimate of 13 analysts and traders showed. India harvested 12.9 million mt of soybean in MY 2020-21, according to ministry of agriculture. Soybean, the largest-grown oilseed in India, is sown in June-July and harvested in September-October. India's agriculture ministry is expected to release its production estimates later this month. The likely decline in the output is primarily due to an expected fall in yields due to erratic showers, analysts said. According to India's ministry of agriculture, planted area under soybean was at 12.2 million hectares in 2021-22, slightly higher than 12.1 million hectares in 2020-21. SPGlobal |
US - RENEWABLE DIESEL BOOM IS WILD CARD FOR U.S. SOYBEANS
U.S. production of renewable diesel, currently less than 1 billion gallons a year, could reach 5 billion gallons by 2024 based on a spate of announced or proposed projects, said an Energy Department agency in July. “This growth is driven by higher state and federal targets for renewable fuel, favorable tax credits, and the conversion of existing petroleum refineries into renewable diesel refineries,” said the Energy Information Administration (EIA). At present, about one-third of U.S. soy oil production, or 8.8 billion pounds, is used in making biofuels. Consumption will grow to 11 billion pounds, or 43% of annual production, in the marketing year that opens on Oct. 1, estimated the USDA last week. “This is a big wild card in the soybean complex,” said Irwin. Roughly 8.5 billion pounds of feedstock is needed to produce 1 billion gallons of renewable diesel, he said. A sharp increase in production could overwhelm domestic soy oil production, which totals 25 billion pounds a year. Agriculture |
India - Edible oil wholesale prices in check after standard duty rates slashed
New Delhi, Sep 18: A massive difference in daily wholesale prices for edible oils was reported since the Centre decided to slash standard rate of duty a week ago to check the prices, an official statement said on Friday. The daily wholesale prices of packed palm oil dropped by 2.50 per cent, followed by sesame oil by 2.08 per cent, coconut oil by 1.72 per cent, packed groundnut oil by 1.38 per cent, packed sunflower Oil by 1.30 per cent, packed mustard Oil by 0.97 per cent, packed vanaspati by 0.71 per cent and packed soya Oil by 0.68 per cent, the Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Ministry statement said. "Based on the interaction with all the states and Edible Oil Industry Associations, need for greater transparency was felt. As a follow-up action, the Department of Food and Public Distribution is in the process of creating a web portal for monitoring the stocks of edible oils/oilseeds on a weekly basis in the country. The data on the portal will be submitted by millers, refiners, stockkeepers, and wholesalers etc. States have also issued directions for display of retail price prominently to ensure fair pricing," the release said. NewKerala |
Uganda - Meet the Kalangala residents excited about the palm oil benefits
Youngsters now engaged in handicraft production business within the tourism and antiquities sector in Uganda, are being urged to ensure regulatory standards are complied with. Youths drawn from different handicraft product formations, in major protected areas are being taken through skilling and acquisition of ISO certification for their products targeted for the international market. NTVUG |
Nigeria - A Startup that Will Cut the Cost it Takes to Produce Palm Oil
Besides being a key ingredient for cooking jollof rice, vegetable oil is used industrially in paints, soaps, biofuels, and lubricants. But getting the oil from palm nuts can be a hassle for manufacturers if they have to engage smallholder farmers directly. In most cases, the Nigerian farmer cracks palm nuts with large stones, an inefficient process that makes eventual finished goods more expensive. Nigeria-based startup Releaf intends to solve this problem by processing produce from farmers, and also delivering the oil to food manufacturers. The startup has raised $2.7 million from a number of investors including Samurai Incubate, a Japanese venture capital firm, and Nigeria-based firms Future Africa, and Consonance Investment Managers. Releaf also won a $1.5 million grant from the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE), a program by the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs, and the United States Agency for International Development. The big picture is to put a factory closer to smallholder farmers who produce 80% of Nigeria’s oil palm. Most production happens in the Niger Delta (42%), southwest (27%), and southeast (25%) regions, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). “We believe the firm’s thesis on decentralizing food processing would have a strong match with Africa’s economic development landscape for the next few decades,” says Rena Yoneyama, managing partner at Samurai Incubate Africa. Africa |
Tanzania mulls over becoming leading palm oil exporter
Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Saturday plans are afoot to make the country a leading palm oil exporter in the east African region. Majaliwa made the remarks when he inspected a 500-hectare farm for producing palm oil seedlings in the east African nation’s western region of Kigoma on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. “Tanzania wants to end imports of edible oil and become a leading exporter of edible oil,” said Majaliwa. He said the country is spending about 470 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 203 million U.S. dollars) to import edible oils annually. In 2019, Majaliwa said Tanzania had set aside 4.3 million U.S. dollars to boost cultivation of palm oil as part of its strategy to end importation of edible oils. NewsGhana |
Nigeria - Fresh Impetus for Palm Tree Production
The government has intensified production of palm tree, to halt the importation of edible oil in the country. Annually the government spends over 400bn/- to import cooking oil. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, disclosed this yesterday after inspecting a palm tree farm belonging to the Bulombora National Service (JKT) Camp, as part of his working tour in Kigoma Region. As such, the PM directed District Commissioners (DCs) and the District Executive Directors (DEDs) in Kigoma Region to effectively coordinate palm tree production in their respective areas. He equally called upon them to manage a database of the farms, which among other things will contain information including the number of farmers, size of the farm and their locations. According to him, the move will help to ease service delivery with regard to the production of palm tree. "The government is committed to make a close follow up on the production of palm tree from the initial to securing of the seedlings. Parents, establish palm tree farms for your children for their bright futures and economic development... It will help them not to be dependent," noted Mr. Majaliwa. Zawya |
Costa Rica is the Main Exporter of Palm Oil in 2020
QCOSTARICA – In 2020, Costa Rica was the largest exporter of palm oil in the region, selling US$148.4 million, followed by Panama with US$28.7 million, followed by Nicaragua with US$2.2 million, followed by El Salvador with US$400,000. During the year, Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua increased their sales in year-on-year terms by 69.3%, 33.8% and 11%, respectively. El Salvador’s exports decreased by 4.9%. The Netherlands, Main Buyer Last year, 24.87% of the value exported from Central America was exported to the Netherlands, 22.58% to Mexico, 17.55% to Spain, 8.77% to El Salvador and 8.34% to Italy. However, a downward trend in regional business is being experienced. Between 2019 and 2020, the exported value of palm oil recorded a 17.6% decrease, falling from US$811 million to US$668.1 million. In the case of traded volume, it decreased by 33.03% for the periods under analysis, going from 1.581 million tons in 2019 to 1.058 million tons in 2020. Qcostarica |
Canada - Sustainability program intended to ease soybean access to EU
Canada does not have a national soybean sustainability certification program, but some grain companies run their own programs and are able to sell to the European Union. | File photo Soy Canada eyes European Union market as it talks with its members this fall about a verified certification program Canada’s soybean industry is attempting to secure broader access to the European Union and other key markets. “Soy Canada is in the process of implementing a verified sustainability program for Canadian soybeans,” said Brian Innes, executive director of the organization. Consultations with the association’s members and other players are slated to take place this fall. Producer |
EU Commission approves year-long extension of tax exemptions for Swedish biofuels
The European Commission has approved the prolongation of the tax exemption measure for biofuels in Sweden. Sweden has exempted liquid biofuels from energy and CO₂ taxation since 2002. The measure has already been extended several times, the last time being in October 2020. The Commission has now approved an additional one-year extension of the tax exemption from 1 January to 31 December 2022. The objective of the tax exemption measure is to increase the use of biofuels and to reduce the use of fossil fuels in transport. The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular the Guidelines on State Aid for environmental protection and energy. The Commission found that the tax exemptions are necessary and appropriate for stimulating the production and consumption of domestic and imported biofuels, without unduly distorting competition. In addition, the scheme will contribute to the efforts of both Sweden and the EU to deliver on the Paris agreement and move towards the 2030 renewables and CO₂ targets. The support to food-based biofuels should remain limited, in line with the thresholds imposed by the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED). BiofuelsNews |
EU - Shell to build 820,000 t/yr biorefinery
Shell will build a biorefinery with production capacity of 820,000 t/yr in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, it said today. The facility will be on the Pernis refinery site and production is expected to start in 2024. Shell will produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) — also known as renewable diesel — from used cooking oil (UCO), waste animal fat (tallow) and "other industrial and agricultural residual products," it said. Of the 820,000 t/yr capacity, SAF could make up more than half, with HVO taking the remainder of the share. Shell will "adjust this mix to meet customer demand," it said. Shell plans to supplement the waste feedstocks with a range of vegetable oils until sustainable advanced feedstocks, categorised under the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II Annex IX Part A, become more widely available. The plant will not process any virgin palm oil as feedstock. ArgusMedia |
Indonesia - Environmentalists urge extension of Indonesia palm permit moratorium
JAKARTA, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Green groups on Thursday urged Indonesia to extend a moratorium on new palm oil permits and improve its implementation, warning of a risk of losing millions of acres of forest to plantation expansion. Indonesia, the world's top palm oil producer, launched the moratorium in September 2018 to try to stop deforestation caused by palm oil, while seeking to boost output from existing cultivated areas. The moratorium ends on Sept. 19. Three years is not enough to solve palm issues related to deforestation, Inda Fatinaware, executive director at non-governmental group Sawit Watch, said in a virtual seminar. Reuters |
India - Edible Oil Mission is a good idea. But more is needed
Last week, the government announced the minimum support prices (MSP) of rabi crops for the marketing season 2022-23. The MSP for wheat is up by 2 per cent while that of rapeseed-mustard is up by 8.6 per cent, perhaps indicating that the government wants to focus more on edible oils/oilseeds than on wheat. This is the right approach given, on the one hand, the bulging stocks of wheat at home and the massive imports of edible oils on the other. But the profitability of MSP over the projected cost (A2+FL) is 100 per cent both in case of wheat as well as rapeseed-mustard. Given that the government has a massive procurement programme for wheat, but a very meagre one for rapeseed-mustard even when the prices rule below MSP, the relative incentive structure remains in favour of wheat. So, we doubt if farmers will switch from wheat to mustard in any meaningful manner to bridge the edible oil deficit. IndianExpress |
Oil palms alone can be damaging; with other crops, the benefits abound
JAKARTA — Intercropping, the practice of growing two or more crops in close proximity, could be one of the keys to mitigating the impact of oil palm plantations on forests and biodiversity, new research suggests. The common views shared by oil palm farmers and companies is that the crop needs to be cultivated as a monoculture — row upon row of nothing but oil palms — in order to maximize yields. This is due to the belief that other species growing among the oil palms will compete for light and nutrients. But there’s actually no negative effect on oil palm yield from intercropping or livestock integration, according to Maja Slingerland from Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands, who researches palm oil and cocoa production from agronomic and socioeconomic perspectives. Mongabay |
EU - Leaked EU anti-deforestation law omits fragile grasslands and wetlands
The fragile Cerrado grasslands and the Pantanal wetlands, both under threat from soy and beef exploitation, have been excluded from a European Union draft anti-deforestation law, campaigners have said, and there are many other concerning loopholes. The European Commission has pledged to introduce a law aimed at preventing beef, palm oil and other products linked to deforestation from being sold in the EU single market of 450 million consumers. But campaigners said a leaked impact assessment reveals “significant omissions” in the plans, including the exclusion of endangered grasslands and wetlands, as well as products that raise environmental concerns, such as rubber and maize. The long-awaited draft regulation, expected to be published in December, will be limited to controlling EU imports of beef, palm oil, soy, wood, cocoa and coffee, according to a report seen by the Guardian. Under the plans, countries that sell these commodities into the EU, such as Russia, Brazil and the United States, would be classed as high, standard and low-risk, with controls on relevant exports depending on their status. TheGuardian |
EU mulling rules to stop import of 'deforestation' products
The European Commission is planning to ask companies selling products in the EU such as palm oil, soya or coffee to prove that they are not contributing to deforestation, a leaked document shows. As part of its overall climate agenda, the EU aims to curb forest degradation, driven by European consumption of various commodities, with a mixed system of "tiered due diligence". The new law, expected to be published in December, will be based on a system that will categorise countries into "low, standard and high" risks of deforestation, according to the impact assessment of the new regulation, seen by EUobserver. The level of risk of the country of production will then determine due diligence obligations for companies selling their products on the EU's internal market - meaning "simplified due diligence duties" for low risk and "enhanced scrutiny" for high risk. The leaked document, however, falls short of clarifying such differences. EUObserver |
India - Will re-look if palm oil comes at cost of environment: Conrad Sangma
Shillong: While concerns have been raised about the recent cabinet approval for implementation of National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said if it comes at a cost of degrading the environment to a very large extent then they will have to look at those aspects. Stressing that there requires a balance to look at all the aspects, Sangma said that as a whole they are always interested to see how they can create livelihood and opportunities for the people but balancing the environment is also important. The CM said even though the Govt of India has come up with multiple schemes and several NE states have shown interest in moving forward with it, each state has different pros and cons. “For us as a government, we would like to see that there be various business opportunities for creating livelihood and business opportunities for our entrepreneurs and farmers. Obviously that is something we would like to take advantage of. But if it comes with a high cost, if it comes at a cost of degrading the environment to a very large extent, which becomes irreversible, and if it comes at the cost of damaging our land and our people, then we have to consider those aspects as well,” Sangma said. EastMojo |
Liberia - J-Palm Liberia, TRIBE Launch Startup Challenge for Budding Young Entrepreneurs
Monrovia – J-Palm Liberia and TRIBE have jointly launched a startup challenge to support young entrepreneurs building small businesses through formal pitch training and grant of L$100,000 to the first place winner. The Startup Challenge, which runs from September 13 to October 8, 2021, seeks to convene up and coming entrepreneurs challenged by access to capital, lack of knowledge on business pitching, maintenance of a reliable customer base and the possession of a revenue and profit model to attract investment. SMEs drive structural changes and create economic prosperity. Notably, as the entrepreneurial ecosystem grows and develops, participating SMEs create job opportunities, supporting people’s transition to financial security, and potentially, economic freedom. However, young Liberian entrepreneurs struggle to set up formal business structures and raise capital for their businesses. During the phases leading up to selecting a winner, entrepreneurs will showcase their products and services to attract a larger audience. Participants are expected to provide more insight into their businesses and work with various trainers to ensure their knowledge is enhanced in business pitching to prepare them properly. FrontPageAfrica |
Zambia - Zampalm invests $30m in plantation
ZAMPALM Limited has invested US$30 million to plant 3,700 hectares of palm trees from which 256 metric tonnes of crude palm oil is produced annually. The plantation, which was established in 2016 and started operating the following year, is owned by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) with 90 percent while Zambeef Products Plc owns 10 percent. The company is located in Kanchibiya, Muchinga Province, and deals in the commercial production of crude palm oil at different stages of the supply chain. Zampalm general manager David Subakanya said in an interview recently that the plantation has potential to help accelerate the country’s diversification and industrial development agenda. “From the time operations started, we have invested US$30 million at the plant and we are looking forward to investing more funds in the future. Currently, the plantation is producing 256 metric tonnes of palm oil annually. DailyMailZM |
Nigeria to increase oil palm production by 67 percent
Nigeria’s oil palm production is set to rise beyond two million metric tonnes per annum (MMTA) in the next three years. This is buoyed by the development of specialised fertiliser which may be introduced to farmers next year. The country’s palm oil production stands at less than 1.2MMTA. Consequently, OCP Fertilisers Nigeria Limited and Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) are working on trials for the specialised fertiliser that will increase production by 40 per cent per hectare, beginning from 2022. To this end, The Nation learnt researchers at Institute of Agricultural Research and Training(IAR&T) and NIFOR are testing fertiliser formulation at various agro-ecological situations across oil palm production states. The Country Manager, OCP Fertilisers Nigeria Limited, Mr. Caleb Usoh, said the company, in partnership with NIFOR and IAR&T, conducted a soil mapping survey, to facilitate the development of specialised fertiliser recommendation for oil palm nationwide, so as to address complaints of low yields by farmers. TheNationNG |
From Plate to Plough: Nurturing palm oil in India
The government should have been bolder with the palm oil mission and targeted a coverage of 2 million hectares instead of just 1 mha The government has just announced MSP of rabi crops for marketing season 2022-23. Wheat MSP is up by 2% while rapeseed-mustard (R-M) MSP is up by 8.6%, perhaps indicating that the government wants to focus more on oilseeds. This is the right approach given bulging stocks of wheat at home and massive imports of edible oils. However, given the large procurement programme for wheat, but meagre R-M procurement even when prices fall below the MSP, implies relative incentives are still highly in favour of wheat. So, we doubt if farmers will switch from wheat to R-M in any meaningful manner to bridge the edible oil deficit. In this context, it may be noted that the prime minister recently announced the Rs 11,000-crore National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NEOM-OP) as a part of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. This is a bold step to augment domestic supplies of edible oil, given 60% of our edible oil consumption is imported—more than half of which is palm oil followed by soybean and sunflower. In FY21, edible oil imports touched $11 billion (13.5 million tonnes). Despite this, edible oil inflation in July 2021 (y-o-y) was 32.5%. FinancialExpress |
India - Govt Reduces Custom Duties On Vegetable Oils To Curb Price Hike Ahead Of Festive Season
According to the notice issued by Finance Ministry, the import tax on crude palm, soybean, and palm oil has been reduced to 2.5% from 7% and 10% respectively. To curb price hikes ahead of the festive season, the Union Government has reduced custom duties on vegetable oils. The tariff rates have been lowered on palm, soybean and sunflower oils by the Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. According to PTI, the measure to control the price increase has resulted in a revenue loss of 1,100 crores. On Saturday, the Department of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in a statement announced the decrease in customs duties on both crude and refined variants of the aforementioned three types of vegetable oils. However, the government has increased the agri-cess or the (special purpose tax, which is levied over the basic tax) on crude palm oil by 2.5 per cent. This has led to an increase in tax from 17.5% to 20%. HinduBusinessLine |
India - Why India is not self-sufficient in oilseed production
Poor infrastructure and lack of cohesive government policy continue to haunt oil seed and oil producers The Centre’s decision to allow the import of 1.2 million tonnes (MT) of crushed and de-oiled genetically modified (GM) soya cake or soyameal has landed Maharashtra’s soya producers in trouble. Maharashtra, along with Madhya Pradesh, is one of the leading soya producing States. Together, these States contribute an estimated 89 per cent of the total production in India. Market experts draw attention to the fact that recently India exported about 19 lakh tonne soyameal to other countries. This soyameal was non-GM and hence was in demand in the world market. However, India’s poultry sector faced a shortage of soyameal and the government decided to import GM soya cake. The result was immediate. HinduBusinessLine |
Malaysia - Govt to identify suitable way to overcome labour shortage in plantation sector — Mustapa
PUTRAJAYA: The government will identify a suitable way to overcome the labour shortage in the plantation sector, especially oil palm, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. The minister said there were currently two short term solutions that may be suitable, namely to intensify the Labour Recalibration Programme or to bring in foreign workers. “I hope in two to three weeks we will be able to resolve the labour shortage problem, if not the palm oil industry will face a major problem. This is not an easy problem to overcome but we need to ensure that in two to three weeks, this matter can be resolved,” he told the reporters after a ceremony to present baskets of food under the Food Basket Programme to gig workers and former media workers here today. TheSunDaily |
Indonesia - Palm oil-based jet fuel makes late debut in Indonesia
A consortium of Indonesian companies, regulators and one university has begun a series of tests on an aviation fuel containing a small share of biofuel derived from palm oil, responding to a government mandate on the increased domestic use of the commodity through biofuel blending. The consortium started nine days of flight tests on Thursday for an aviation turbine fuel (avtur) dubbed Bioavtur J2.4, of which 2.4 percent is biofuel made from refined palm oil. The first test was conducted using a CN 235-220 plane that flew 10,000 feet above West Java, according to several press statements. TheJakartaPost |
India - Govt reduces import duty to rein in prices of edible oils
NEW DELHI: The government has reduced import duty on edible oils with immediate effect, which may cool down the prices of these key kitchen items. According to a finance ministry notification, the base import duty on crude palm oil has been reduced to 2.5% from 10%, while the tax on crude soyaoil and crude sunflower oil has been reduced to 2.5% from 7.5%. With this reduction, the effective duty, which includes agri cess on crude palm oil, crude soyaoil and crude sunflower oil will come down to 24.75% from the earlier 30.25%. In case of refined palm oil, soyoil and sunflower oil, the effective duty will be 35.75% from 41.25%, according to a food ministry statement. Read more at: |
India - Import duty on edible oils cut to give relief to consumers
The government has reduced import duty on edible oils in order to provide respite to consumers amid rising food prices ahead of the consumption-driven festive season. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) issued a notification to the effect, "on being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest to do so." The changes are applicable from September 11. Import duty on crude palm oil has been reduced to 2.5% from 10% earlier, while that on crude soya oil has been reduced to 2.5% from 7.5% earlier. Import duty on refined grades of palm oil, soya oil and sunflower oil has been cut to 32.5% from 37.5%. EconomicTimes |
EU parliament committee approves farm subsidy reforms
BRUSSELS, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The European Parliament’s agriculture committee on Thursday approved a deal to overhaul the European Union’s huge farming subsidies, including new measures aimed at making agriculture greener. The committee approved three pieces of legislation, which from 2023 will govern spending from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) - a scheme that will spend 387 billion euros from the EU’s 2021-2027 budget on payments to farmers and rural development. The rules are the result of a three-year battle between EU countries and lawmakers over how to make the policy greener, which ended when negotiators agreed a deal on reforms in June. Reuters |
EU reinforces its leading position in global agri-food trade
2020 marked another improvement in the EU’s leading position among the world’s biggest exporters of agri-food products. On the import side, the EU has become the third largest importer after the United States and China, according to a report published today. 2020 was an exceptionally challenging, yet successful year for EU agri-food trade, which reached a total value of €306 billion: €184 billion in exports and €122 billion in imports. Both values represent a slight growth of 1.4% and 0.5% respectively, compared to 2019. International trade has played a crucial role in mitigating the devastating economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and proved to be a central tool in enhancing resilience. The EU is the largest trading bloc and a wide-ranging network of free trade agreements (FTAs) underpins its position in world trade. EuropeanSting |
India - Kerala plans to expand oil palm farming
Centre’s support sought for cultivation in all districts The Agriculture Department is eyeing the possibility of increasing the area under oil palm cultivation in the State. At a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar earlier this week, the State had sought support for expanding oil palm cultivation to all districts under the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), Agriculture Minister P. Prasad said. “The Centre had agreed to oil palm cultivation on 6,500 hectares in eight districts. We have informed the Centre that all 14 districts have potential,” Mr. Prasad said. TheHindu |
Malaysian biodiesel sales capitalise on EU price hike
Malaysian biodiesel exports surged by 128pc year-on-year and 138pc month-on-month to 57,000t in August after European prices hit record highs in July. But sales over January-August of 221,000t are still 13pc lower than in the same period in 2020 as record high feedstock values this year have mostly priced it out of the international market, according to data from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. Global vegetable oil supply headwinds have kept prices elevated and Malaysian palm mills have faced particular difficulties in sourcing foreign labour under stringent Covid-19 lockdown orders, which were only exacerbated when the Delta variant started rampaging through the country in July. January-August palm output declined by 9pc on the year to 11.59mn t. High prices and stronger competition from Indonesia after it slashed export levies from July sent exports tumbling to 1.16mn t in August from 1.58mn t a year earlier and 1.4mn t in July. MarketScreener |
Indonesia - Report forecasts steep rise for Indonesian palm prices and land values
A new report forecasts a steep rise for Indonesian palm oil prices and land values. Conducted by climate research company Orbitas, the report predicted that the country’s palm oil prices would increase by 29% and land values would rise by 52% by 2040 under different climate scenarios. The project involved the analysis of which types of palm oil producers were best prepared to face different climate transition scenarios and how investors could work with the industry to captured increased value for palm oil while avoiding future deforestation. “The Indonesian palm oil industry has experienced unprecedented growth over the past 50 years. But this growth has come at the expense of some of the world’s most important carbon sinks – forests and peatlands – leaving the industry and its financiers exposed to material risks,” said the report, published on 27 August. OFIMagazine |
Indonesia - Pertamina develops palm oil-based jet fuel to curb carbon emissions
Jakarta (ANTARA) - State oil and gas company PT Pertamina is developing palm-oil based aircraft fuel to create a mix to lower carbon emissions in the air transportation sector. The product, called Bioavtur J2.4, was developed by the Pertamina International Refinery in Cilacap, Central Java. "Through a comprehensive development stage, Bioavtur J2.4 has proven to deliver performance equivalent to that of fossil-based aviation turbine (avtur) fuel," Pertamina Subholding Refining & Petrochemical Corporate Secretary Ifki Sukarya noted in a statement on Wednesday. Since 2014, Pertamina has pioneered research and development of bioavtur through the Dumai refinery and Cilacap refinery. Currently, bioavtur's performance is optimal with a difference of only 0.2-0.6 percent from that of fossil avtur fuel. AntaraNews |
Malaysia - MPOA urges govt to lift freeze on foreign worker recruitment for palm oil industry at 'breaking point'
KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 9): Palm oil planters have urged the government to unfreeze the recruitment of foreign workers as an acute shortage has and would continue to result in loss of revenue for planters and income to the government due to loss in palm oil yield, according to Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Mohd Nageeb Wahab. “Our single biggest problem today is the acute shortage of workers, namely harvesters ... I would dare say the shortage since the [foreign labour] intake freeze took effect in March 2020 has increased to more than 75,000 workers. This shortage translates into an alarming 20% to 30% shortfall in our potential production. In 2020, as a result of this shortfall, the industry's loss of revenue is estimated at about RM10 billion to RM12 billion on the back of an average crude palm oil (CPO) price of around RM2,685 per metric ton (MT). “That big reduction in revenue resulted in the reduced contribution of about RM1 billion to the government. And in spite of that, total taxes paid out by the industry amounted to about RM5.2 billion last year,” Mohd Nageeb said during the virtually-held National Recovery Summit today. TheEdgeMarkets |
India - Meghalaya to ensure environment protection while bringing in palm oil cultivation: CM
Shillong, Sept 8 (PTI) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said his government will ensure environmental safeguards before going ahead with Centre’s plans to promote palm oil cultivation in the Northeast region. “Whatever steps we take, we will do it only when we are convinced that the environment and interests of the local people are safeguarded,” Conrad told journalists after a meeting of the ruling coalition here. He said, “The Government of India’s proposal is there and obviously we will see to what extent we will go but we will go once we have done our homework properly.” The chief minister said there are many states in the North East who are interested in palm oil cultivation as it could help create livelihood. “Obviously we are very clear as a state that we need to balance things out. So whatever decision we take will always be to ensure that the environment should not be affected in the wrong way, the forest cover should not be degraded,” he said. Sangma also said, “if we have areas which are barren and are not forested, those kind of area can be utilized for a plantation... then it is a win-win situation.” PTI JOP OutlookIndia |
India - Kothagudem collector asks officials to promote oil palm cultivation
Kothagudem: District Collector D Anudeep asked horticulture officials and scientists to motivate farmers to follow modern farming techniques for getting better yield and profits. He said farmers should be educated about the cultivation of commercial crops like oil palm as there was good demand for palm oil in the market. The Telangana government has been providing subsidies to the farmers who were taking up oil palm cultivation in order to give impetus to oil palm cultivation in the State. The Collector addressed a gathering of farmers at Lothuvagu Rythu Vedika in Laxmidevipalli mandal in the district on Wednesday where an awareness programme on oil palm cultivation and horticulture crops was organised. Anudeep said Kothagudem district was leading the State in oil palm cultivation and farmers from other districts were coming to the district to learn about the cultivation techniques. The crop was being cultivated in about 33, 000 acres of land and it was a matter of pride for the district. TelanganaToday |
Nigeria - Oil palm farmers task new Minister of Agric, Abubakar on cash crops’ value chain devt
Following the change in leadership in the agricultural sector, oil palm farms under the auspices of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria, NPPAN, Wednesday, tasked the new Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, on focusing and developing cash crops along various value chains. This was contained in a statement with subject, ‘Agenda for the new Agriculture Minister’ and signed by the National President, NPPAN, Amb. Alphonsus Enang, where the farmers called for new direction by the Abubakar-led agricultural sector to ensure cash crops including oil palm, cocoa, cashew nuts, rubber, coconut, tea and coffee are given the desired attention to really diversify the economy and generate huge foreign exchange for the country based on the viability, capability and profitability of these commodities. The statement reads in part, “The Honorable Minister should focus his energy in the development of a more sustainable sector of the agriculture industry through well articulated policies and massive development of tree crop commodities such as Oil Palm, cocoa, cashew nuts, rubber, coconut, tea and coffee to recover the lost glory of the country in the production, processing and exports of these commodities. VanguardNGR |
Papua New Guinea - Opic helping revive industry
Smallholder farmers engaged in oil palm cultivation generate an average K450 million a year in fresh fruit bunches. There is potential for more with about 6.2 million hectares of land available. Oil Palm Industry Corporation general secretary KEPSON PUPITA spoke to Business reporter PETER ESILA in Popondetta, Northern, about the oil palm industry. Question: What is Oil Palm Industry Corporation or Opic? PUPITA: Opic was established under the Opic Act 1992 to replace the extension service of the Department of Primary Industry (Department of Agriculture and Livestock) smallholder oil palm extension service. Its core functions are to:
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Nigeria - FG Seeks Strategic Investment in Strategic Economic Sectors to Aid Recovery
The federal government has said that it is prepared to collaborate with potential investment partners in critital sectors of the nation’s economy so as to expedite recovery. Some of the areas, the government said includes; domestication of production of key commodities through Backward Integration Programs, driving the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), especially through access to finance and markets; and cultivating investments particularly through improving the ease of doing business in the country. Disclosing this in Lagos at JCI Africa and Middle East Senate Association (AMESA) Conference, themed; “building emerging leaders for Africa and Middle East,” the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, said the country remains the best investment destination in Africa. Speaking on the topic, “Opportunities and potentials of trade and investments in Nigeria,” Adebayo, noted that the country’s overall policy thrusts are built around three thematic areas of focus. ThisDayLive |
India - Agri exports play important role in doubling farmers' income; need to boost farm shipments: Govt
On digital agriculture mission, he said the farmers database is our wealth and will usher in focused programme delivery, reducing seepages, better policy formulation and smart farming in the country.Database with 5.5 crore farmers is ready and work is progressing for verifying others with land records, he added.Tomar said the Union Cabinet recently approved the National Edible Oil Mission NMEO-OP for palm oil with a focus on the northeast region and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.Through this scheme, he said the production of edible oils will be accelerated in the country, thereby reducing the import of edible oils. Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said agriculture exports have an important role to play in doubling farmers' income, and stressed the need for boosting India's outward shipments to be among top-5 nations in farm exports. Goyal and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday addressed the second day of the Chief Ministers' Conference on initiatives and schemes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, according to an official statement. Speaking at the event, Tomar asked the states to take advantage of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund so that the benefits can percolate to the small and marginal farmers who lack warehousing and cold storage facilities at the farm gate. On digital agriculture mission, he said the farmers' database is our wealth and will usher in focused programme delivery, reducing seepages, better policy formulation and smart farming in the country. DevDiscourse |
US ethanol exports hit $2.3 billion in 2020, USDA reveal
US ethanol exports totalled 1.3 billion gallons valued at $2.3 billion in 2020, according to figures from the US Department of Agriculture. This total volume was 9% lower than 2019 due to reduced demand for fuel use, and 2% below the record 1.7 billion gallons shipped in 2018. Year-over-year value fell only 1% due to higher prices for fuel ethanol and increased shipments of higher-value, medical-grade ethanol. US fuel ethanol to Brazil saw the largest absolute decline in 2020, due to Brazil’s COVID-19 impacted fuel market and a 40% depreciation in Brazil’s currency. The South American country’s 20% import duty continued to impact the market. Export volumes were also lower than expected to other fuel markets last year, most notably the Philippines, Colombia and Peru. BiofuelsNews |
EU's indirect land use change approach to palm oil flawed — CPOPC
KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 7): The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) said public consultation on the European Union’s (EU) Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) is based on a false basis that had been used to continue its unfair policy and regulation of sustainable palm oil. It urged the EU to listen and act on the feedback and suggestions from all of its trading partners, which should form the core of the consultation. “In a post-Covid-19 world where economic recovery will be the overriding need for all nations, the EU must not choose trade barriers over international cooperation and open trade,” the CPOPC wrote in a column section of Euractiv, a pan-European media network specialising in EU policies. The council noted that despite continuous criticism from the palm oil industry, the EU appears to be indifferent when it comes to the politics of trade, affirming its protectionist and discriminatory policy. TheEdgeMarkets |
Asia - Inseact founders see promise for insect-based feed in vast Asian market
In late August, Singapore-based Inseact raised USD 1.3 million (EUR 1.1 million) in an oversubscribed seed funding round that will help it advanced plans to become a producer of insect-based aquaculture feed. In an interview with SeafoodSource, Inseact CEO Tim Van Vliet and COO Michael Badeski explained how the black soldier flies they are producing for aquaculture feed using waste streams from palm oil processing fill a demand for alternative proteins in Asia, where the bulk of global aquaculture is centered. SeafoodSource: How did you get into the business of producing insects for aquaculture feed? SeaFoodSource |
GLOBAL - CPOPC Files Objection to EU Targeting Palm Oil in RED II Delegated Act Determining High ILUC-Risk Feedstock
The decision to target palm oil was based on uncertain science and outdated knowledge which was used in counterintuitive policymaking. Despite continuous criticism from the palm oil industry, the EU appears to be indifferent when it comes to the politics of trade, affirming its protectionist and discriminatory policy. The RED II Delegated Act on the determination of high Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC)-risk feedstock drew on the results of consultation exercises undertaken by the Commission with “experts and stakeholders” in 2018 and 2019 dominated by European groups who were perceived as advocates for the fossil fuel industry. The CPOPC has from the very beginning held the view that the ILUC approach being used by the EU to categorize feedstocks into high ILUC-risk and low ILUC-risk is flawed. Euractiv |
Nepal - Nepal's foreign trade grows fast in 1st month of current fiscal year despite COVID-19 impact
KATHMANDU, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's foreign trade surged by 79.71 percent during the first month of the current 2021-2022 fiscal year that began in mid-July despite COVID-19 impact, data from the Department of Customs showed. Exports grew by 115.85 percent to 20.76 billion Nepali rupees (177.22 million U.S. dollars), with imports up by 75.66 percent to 150.73 billion rupees (1.28 billion dollars) year-on-year during the period. "Both trading and industrial activities were allowed to operate in a relatively unrestricted manner during the first month of this fiscal year, compared with the same period of last fiscal year," Punya Bikram Khadka, information officer at the department told Xinhua. " After more than a year since the pandemic hit the country in early 2020, we have learned to live with the virus while continuing the economic activities." According to Khadka, Nepal's exports were boosted by a massive shipment of palm oil to India, which is basically re-export. Xinhua |
Nigeria - (Opinion) Sustainable campaign against desertification
For instance, if the 19 northern state governors decide today to scientifically partner the African Development Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria to plant three million new date palm trees of the sweet flavouring Medjool species in each state in 2021/2022, by 2028/2029, we will have 57 million fully grown and producing date palms, developed in 9,500 clusters of (40 hectares each) covering a total of 380,000 hectares of saved lands. These 9,500 clusters will produce a combined output of at least 4.5 million tons of date palm fruits annually, while creating directly over one million jobs and two million indirect jobs in the plantation and 9,500 processing warehouses for the date palm fruits sorting. The 17 southern governors in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria under the same PPP framework will follow the same project design and execution architecture to plant 51million trees of the high yielding hybrid tenera palm trees in their states. Nnaemeka Onyeka Obiaraeri in PunchNG |
Indonesia - Small-scale palm oil rejuvenation to increase productivity: VP
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The rejuvenation of small-scale palm oil plantations is aimed at increasing productivity, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has said. Small-scale palm oil plantation productivity is still as low as 3.7 tons per hectares a year therefore, increasing productivity would require the government's support, Amin said while observing the first harvest of a small-scale palm oil plantation rejuvenation (PSR) program from his official residence here on Thursday. "The PSR program is part of the government's effort to increase productivity of small-scale palm oil plantations, which is still low at 3.7 tons per hectare per year, while they have the potential to produce 8 tons per hectares per year," he noted. AntaraNews |
Sierra Leone - Nearly 5000 Independent Smallholders Certified in Sierra Leone
September 2, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Palm oil holds a significant place in the African region. Oil palm is indigenous to Africa — its use as a basic food crop has been vital to the inhabitants of the equatorial regions in Africa as far back as 3000 BC in Egypt. Presently, the African region is estimated to have more than 4 million hectares of oil palm production area across over 22 countries. As an emerging market for palm oil, the region accounts for approximately 5% of global palm oil output, and at least 10% of the global palm oil demand. Being a new frontier for commercial oil palm expansion, there are ongoing investments in the sector, with projections of exponential increment in the land area under commercial oil palm production. YahooFinance |
Sustainability standards in global agrifood supply chains
Agrifood supply chains contribute to many environmental and social problems. Sustainability standards—rules that supply chain actors may follow to demonstrate their commitment to social equity and/or environmental protection—aim to mitigate such problems. We provide a narrative review of the effects of many distinct sustainability standards on different supply chain actors spanning multiple crops. Furthermore, we discuss five emerging questions—causality, exclusion, compliance and monitoring, excess supply and emerging country markets—and identify directions for future research. We find that, while sustainability standards can help improve the sustainability of production processes in certain situations, they are insufficient to ensure food system sustainability at scale, nor do they advance equity objectives in agrifood supply chains. Nature |
EU - Analyst’s Insight: How flexible is EU rapeseed demand?
How flexible is rapeseed demand? Over the course of the past six months, we have talked a lot about the price of rapeseed. Yesterday, the Nov-21 Paris rapeseed futures contract closed at €564.25/t. Prices have moved lower so far this week, but the Nov-21 contract was €187.80/t ahead of the average of the previous 5 November contracts, as at 1 September. High prices for products that are interchangeable, such as oilseeds and vegetable oils, drive demand destruction. But, while demand destruction is reportedly being seen for rapeseed in Europe, the extent to which this is possible is limited. AHDB |
India - Telangana exporters seek international courier cargo facility
Hyderabad: Exporters from Telangana on Thursday sought a dedicated international courier cargo clearance facility at the Hyderabad International Airport. The exporters also demanded notifiying a town for export excellence, setting up of another Inland Container Depot, and a mega industrial park of world class standards to boost exports from the state. They made the demands during a round table discussion on understanding the challenges of exporters and the way forward. Terming exporters “partners of development”, he assured them that the state government would do everything possible to solve their problems as this would bring buoyancy to the economy and expedite recovery in the post-Covid era. The government has set up an ambitious target to bring 20 lakh acres under palm oil cultivation in the state. Special focus is also being laid on increasing agricultural exports from the state, he added. Siasat |
India - Officials told to take steps to set up oil palm nurseries in Jangaon
Jangaon: District Collector Ch Shivalingaiah directed the officials of the horticulture department to take up steps on war footing to set up palm oil nurseries in the district since the target for the district to cultivate oil palm was 400 acres. At least 86 farmers already came forward to cultivate oil palm in the district, he said. The Collector was speaking at a review meeting on developmental works taken up under Palle Pragathi, on the implementation of the welfare schemes and other subjects in the district on Thursday. Speaking at the meeting, he also asked the officials of fisheries department to release fishlings in nine reservoirs and 804 tanks immediately. “While 4,300 units of sheep have been handed over to shepherds in the second phase of sheep distribution, we should achieve the target of 10,954 units of sheep soon. You should take steps to identify the beneficiaries and grounding of the units,” he told the officials. TelanganaToday |
GLOBAL - IUCN Congress to Push for Stronger Regulations against ‘Imported Deforestation’
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will hold the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille, France, from 3-11 September 2021. This premier conservation event will address global deforestation. More importantly, Congress motion 012 – the fight against imported deforestation – was co-sponsored by numerous IUCN Members and voted on and approved before Congress. The list of imported agricultural products contains, first and foremost, soy, palm oil, cacao, beef and its by-products, rubber, timber, and derived products that do not come from sustainably managed forests. Others include coffee, tea, or even cane sugar, which impact the deforestation and conversion of natural ecosystems.IPSNews |
GLOBAL - Activists Protest IUCN Congress with An Alternative Congress
World leaders, corporate bosses and conservation NGOs plan to meet in September 2021 for the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille, France. They will unite around making 30% of the globe “Protected Areas” and around “Nature-Based Solutions”, both of which they claim are urgently needed if rates of biodiversity loss and climate change are to be reduced. But if left unchecked, their schemes will make things worse. Experience makes clear that these plans will lead to even more human rights violations and to the biggest land grab in history, perpetuated at the expense of those who are least responsible for these crises – Indigenous Peoples, who already protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity, and other local peoples, predominantly in the global South. OurLandOurNature |
South Korea - LG Chem partners with domestic company to establish hydrotreated vegetable oil joint venture
SEOUL -- In a deal aimed at securing the stable supply of bio-materials, LG Chem, the chemical unit of LG Group, partnered with Dansuk Industrial, a domestic biodiesel company, to establish a joint venture for South Korea's first production of hydrotreated vegetable oil, a biofuel made by the hydrocracking or hydrogenation of vegetable oil. Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is a biofuel made by the hydrocracking or hydrogenation of vegetable oil. Hydrocracking, which breaks big molecules into smaller ones using hydrogens, can be used to create substitutes for gasoline, diesel, propane, kerosene and other chemical feedstock. Diesel fuel created by hydrotreating is called green diesel. LG Chem said the construction of a hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) joint plant would be completed by 2024. "Through this cooperation, we are able to strengthen the foundation for a stable supply of raw materials for the expansion of eco-friendly products," LG Chem's petrochemical business head Noh Kug-lae said in a statement on September 2. AjuDaily |
China - Experts call for bigger role of futures in real economy
China's futures market should improve services provided to companies and further open up to international investors to better serve the real economy, experts said during a forum on Wednesday. During the two-day online 2021 China (Zhengzhou) International Futures Forum, which started on Wednesday, Fang Xinghai, vice-chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said in the opening speech that China's futures market should grow into an international pricing and risk management platform that can serve the domestic market and connect the international market. It should also help facilitate the country's green development strategy by launching carbon emission futures, Fang said. More products should be rolled out, and more new commodities futures and financial futures products should be introduced. Special agricultural futures can be launched to help advance rural revitalization, while the combination between insurance and futures should be optimized, he said. ChinaDaily |
India - Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu seeks more areas under palm oil
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu Wednesday requested the Centre for increasing oil palm coverage in the state to 12000-15000 hectares. ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu Wednesday requested the Centre for increasing oil palm coverage in the state to 12000-15000 hectares, in the first year of the cabinet announcement of the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). Taking part in the virtual meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and DoNER Minister G Kishan Reddy, Khandu said that slow coverage of oil palm cultivation in the state was due to lack of commitment from the promoters in setting up of processing factories, that had led to losing of confidence among the farmers. He added that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with one of the promoters was cancelled and meetings called with the existing ones to fast track the mission, an official communiqué informed here. SentinelAssam |
India allows import of GM soy meal; will GM soybean cultivation follow?
The government’s decision to permit the import of genetically-modified (GM) soymeal for the first time has kindled hope in the agri-biotechnology industry that it might allow the cultivation of GM oilseeds in the country to reduce the dependence on imported cooking oil. On August 24, the government allowed the import of 1.2 million tonnes of de-oiled GM soy oil cake via Petropole on the India-Bangladesh border and Nava Sheva port. The Environment Ministry gave its non-objection because it said the de-oiled cake does “not contain any living modified organism”. “We have imported about 10,000 tonnes of the cake,” said a purchase executive of Saguna Foods. The Coimbatore-based company with annual sales of more than $1 billion says on its website that it has over 40,000 poultry farmers across 18 states on contract with it. In all, the industry has contracted imports of about 70,000 tonnes, the executive (who asked not to be named) said. TheFederal |
Indonesia Is Preserving Rainforests At Highest Rate In Three Decades
One-third of the world’s tropical rainforests are found in Indonesia. These forests are home to Indigenous tribes, birds, gibbons, rhinos, leopards, and tigers. Thankfully, current protections are helping these vital forests thrive. Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s administration has achieved four consecutive years of deforestation declines via land-use reforms and re-establishing a logging moratorium. This significant work culminated in 2020 when the country gained its lowest deforestation rates since monitoring began, reaching a 75% drop year-over-year. IntelligentLiving |
Indonesia, UAE launch trade deal talks
JAKARTA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday launched negotiations for a deal to increase the scale of trade and investment between the two nations, senior officials said. The proposal aims to boost two-way trade by up to 10 times from the $2.93 billion recorded in 2020, the UAE's foreign trade minister Thani al-Zeyoudi told a virtual briefing. Indonesian counterpart Muhammad Lutfi said they were aiming to reach a deal within a year. Indonesia has sought to lure business from the Gulf state, including investment in its newly established sovereign wealth fund, into which the UAE earlier this year said it would invest $10 billion. Reuters |
Indonesia - Apical Group secures US$750 million sustainable financing
JAKARTA, Kabarbisnis.com: Apical Group, one of the exporters of sustainable palm oil that is part of the RGE group of companies, has obtained a sustainable financing (sustainability linked loan) worth US$750 million from a syndicated financing institution. This is a first for the Apical Group, and rare in the palm oil industry, where the financing is tied to sustainability targets and performance. The financing was provided to Apical's business units, AAA Oils & Fats Pte Ltd and Apical Middle East, as a two-year revolving credit facility and a four-year term loan facility. In terms of financing, Apical is committed to meeting sustainability targets, namely environmental, social, and governance (LST) aspects, as determined by environmental resource management, a global environmental, health, safety, risk, and social consulting provider with an office in center in London. KabarBisnis |
Malaysia - Zuraida to adopt circular economy while she helms Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities
PUTRAJAYA (Sept 1): New Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin intends to adopt a circular economy while she helms the ministry, focusing on reproducing and recycling commodities’ waste into something more marketable. “This is something that is relevant to my experience in the last ministry (housing and local government) in waste management, so this I would like to work together [on the matter] with the ministry,” she told the media today. She was present here today for the handing over of notes from former plantation industries and commodities minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali. TheEdgeMarkets |
India - Assam has 350 hectares of area under oil palm cultivation: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the state has 350 hectares of oil palm cultivation covering Goalpara, Bongaigaon and Kamrup districts. Sarma attended the Video Conference of Union Minister for DoNER G. Kishan Reddy and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar with Chief Ministers of North Eastern States on various agriculture and horticulture related issues in NE Region with prime focus on National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). Several other matters related to this sector including Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Regions (MOVCDNER), National Bamboo Mission (NBM), Sustainable Development Goals and their target indexes for North Eastern states etc. were also discussed during this conference. EconomicTimes |
India - How the centre plans to reduce India’s palm oil import dependence
The Centre’s National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) scheme, which has a special focus on the northeastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is aimed at boosting India’s palm oil production to reduce dependence on imports to meet domestic demand. The government aims to increase annual production to 1.1 million tonnes by 2025-26, and further to 2.8 million tonnes by 2029-30. To achieve this, the NMEO-OP scheme proposes increasing the coverage of palm oil cultivation by 650,000 hectares by 2025-26, with another 670,000 hectares added by 2029-30. Palm oil can be cultivated on 2.8 million hectares in India, of which about 900,000 hectares are in the northeast. The NMEO-OP scheme has a total outlay about Rs 11,040 crore, of which Rs 8,844 crore will come from the Centre and the rest from the states. Palm oil is a specific focus because it constitutes over 50 per cent of India’s total edible oil imports. The price of this commodity has increased by over 60 per cent in the past year to Rs 138 per kg on June 1 this year, up from Rs 86 per kg on June 1, 2020. This is the highest recorded price over the past 11 years. IndiaToday |
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