News on Palm Oil. April 2021

Read curated news that impacts the global palm oil industry.
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CSPO Watch News. Making it easy for you to follow the palm oil industry

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Sri Lanka - ​Crucial meeting today to resolve palm oil crisis
Industry cries foul over delay in issuing of special licenses to continue biz
LCMA says 5 members applied for special licence to import palm olein
Bakery owners to source raw material from major importers
Stakeholders warn on shortage of oil within next couple of weeks

Government will hold a crucial discussion today with industry stakeholders to resolve the palm oil crisis which has threatened the continuity of income and jobs of thousands as well as pushing costs up due to scarcity.  

Given the urgency and wide impact, representatives from the confectionery, bakery as well as top officials of trade and related institutions will attend today’s meeting which will be the second engagement since last week. FinancialTimes

Ghanaian crude palm oil company receives $1.1m to support smallholder farmers in West Africa
A Ghanaian crude palm oil and palm kernel oil processing company, 8 Degrees North, has received an amount of $1.1 million to support smallholder farmers in West Africa (Ghana and Liberia) to access the growing market for organic palm oil in the United States.

Together with Pacha Soap, a US-based natural soaps company committed to ethical sourcing and J-Palm, a Liberian palm kernel oil company in the alliance, they will secure organic accreditation for their two mills, which will allow smallholders in both Ghana and Liberia to get better prices for their palm fruits.

The co-investment project is a USAID-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub (Trade Hub) initiative that seeks to boost profits considerably for smallholders and increase the value of exports from the region while creating over 6,000 new jobs in Ghana and Liberia. GhanaBusinessNews

China - ​Stalemate: sustainable palm oil struggles to take off in China
‘Industry asks if there’s a policy, the government asks industry if there are any examples, consumers say there are no certified products on the shelves, and businesses say consumers won’t pay the extra.’

...Admittedly, in the EU powerful consumer and environmental movements provided crucial early impetus, something which is unlikely in China. But China’s undertakings on building the “ecological civilization”, “a community with a shared future for mankind” and the “green Belt and Road Initiative” are other conditions unique to China. It remains to be seen if these conditions would make all positive forces on the supply chain resonate and trigger a chain reaction that leads to the greening of one of the world’s most important vegetable oil. ChinaDialogue

UK - ​UK and Indonesia Promote New Economic Ties
On Monday, 26 April 2021, the UK and Indonesia concluded the first round of exploratory trade talks and committed to further strengthening their trade and investment links, which rose to a record level of £3 billion of bilateral trade in 2019, through a new joint trade dialogue. 

Indonesia has been a priority post-Brexit partner for the UK given it is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies with one of the largest international professional services firms, PwC, predicting it will become the world’s fourth-largest economy in 2050, behind China, India, and the US.

New Economic and Trade Working Group
The UK and Indonesian governments have announced a shared commitment to realizing the potential growth of bilateral trade through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) between Indonesia’s Minister of Trade and the UK Secretary of State for International Trade. The JETCO will aim to deepen our bilateral trade, boost cooperation, and discuss market barriers in areas such as renewable and green energy, food and beverages, and agricultural commodities.​ ASEANBriefing

Singapore - ​Toyota Tsusho to conduct biofuels trials in Singapore
Toyota Tsusho Petroleum, a physical bunker supplier operating barges in the Port of Singapore and part of Japan's Toyota Tsusho Corporation, has become the latest player to announce it will conduct biofuel trials in the city-port.
This comes after global resources company BHP, German shipping company Oldendorff Carriers, and advanced biofuels pioneer GoodFuels, with the support of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, conducted the first marine biofuel trial involving an ocean-going vessel bunkered in Singapore on April 4.
TTP's trial, which will run from April to September in collaboration with other partners, is being undertaken with a view to the regular use of biodiesel fuel in international maritime transport.​ BiofuelsNews

Indonesia is world's largest biodiesel producer: Hartarto
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is globally the largest producer of biodiesel, with daily output touching 137 thousand barrels, which is much higher compared to the United States, Brazil, and Germany, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said.

"Indonesia is the largest biodiesel producer in the world, with a capacity of 137 thousand barrels of oil per day. Meanwhile, the United States (is next) with 112 thousand barrels, Brazil with 99 thousand barrels, and Germany with 62 thousand barrels of oil per day," the minister disclosed at an online discussion originating from Jakarta on Monday.

This success has positioned Indonesia as a country to be reckoned with in the world biodiesel market, he said. AntaraNews

Indonesia - ​Indonesia’s biodiesel expansion plans stymied by financial, climate concerns
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Indonesia’s biodiesel expansion plans may be thwarted because the palm oil-based fuel already strains the country’s finances, and increased production of the renewable fuel could unwittingly place Jakarta further from the global climate change agenda.

Biodiesel is costlier to produce and its price gaps with conventional fuels like diesel and gasoil are closed by price support provided by the local government to keep the domestic renewable fuel suppliers in operations.

The price support for biodiesel is primarily funded by the export levy imposed on palm oil products, hence it is a fiscal burden on the country, said Putra Adhiguna, energy economics & policy specialist at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), a non-profit think tank in the US.​ ICIS

Indonesia's Pertamina HVO ambitions face obstacles
Indonesian state-owned refiner Pertamina has started offering renewable diesel for export but still needs to clear some obstacles to oblige potential buyers.

The company issued a tender to sell a couple of small palm oil-based cargoes of 1,000t for May and 4,000-5,000t for June, which closed today, but given they did not possess International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) so interest was thin, according to traders.

Without ISCC certification its use will not count towards renewable mandates in Europe under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). Given the steep price premium of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) over regular gasoil there was little incentive to buy the cargoes. Argus assessed Class I palm oil-based HVO at $1,650.94/t fob ARA yesterday, $1,083.33/t over gasoil. ArgusMedia

Canada - ​Demand for canola biodiesel may be driving canola crush plants in Regina: Professor
Cargill announced plans for a canola crushing plant Thursday, Viterra announced plans Monday.

Richard Gray says he wasn't surprised to see two canola crush facilities announced within a few days of each other for the Regina area. 

The first announcement came from Cargill on Friday and the second by Viterra on Monday. 

Gray said the demand for biodiesel may be driving the duelling plant announcements. Biodiesel is a fuel derived directly from living matter — such as canola plants — meant to be a substitute for diesel. CBC

Ferrero Releases Palm Oil Progress Report For 2020
Ferrero, the world's second-largest chocolate producer, has released its Palm Oil Progress report for 2020, outlining measures taken to ensure sustainable sourcing of the commodity.

The Italian manufacturer has also reiterated its commitment to sourcing sustainable palm oil that is 100% RSPO certified and segregated, and traceable to plantations.

The group publishes a list of its sources every six months to ensure transparency.

While all of Ferrero's original products source their palm oil sustainability, its recently acquired companies have yet to meet 100% RSPO Certification. ESMagazine

India - ​Pandemic tears through India's agriculture commodity demand; exports show resilience
New Delhi — India's agriculture industry is in a wait-and-watch mode amid the worsening pandemic situation, as localized lockdowns have stagnated market demand, while any subsequent stricter restrictions in the coming days are expected to slow down trading activity and disrupt supply operations.

Even though agriculture and allied activities are exempted from government restrictions so far, several markets across India remain closed as cases continue to skyrocket.​ SPGlobal

Malaysia’s trade mission to South Korea, Japan sees RM986.15 million export-related transactions
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s first trade and investment mission to South Korea and Japan amidst the pandemic and global challenges has generated export-related transactions worth RM986.15 million.

During the six-day mission which ended on April 6, a series of business discussions on sourcing of products and services were held, involving premium buyers and leading companies from both countries. TheSunDaily

Pakistan - ​Olive cultivation to make Pakistan self-sufficient in edible oil
PESHAWAR - Blessed with diverse ecological zones, fertile soil and suitable climate conditions, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is going to emerge as a home of olive trees where over 70 million wild olive plants have been discovered out of which 40 million would be planted jointly by the Agriculture and Forest departments in next five years.

From Chital to D I Khan and Suleiman Mountains near Waziristan to West Bank of the River Indus, KP is declared the most suitable landscape for olive cultivation where about 700,000 hectares land was fit for whopping olive cultivation on commercial scale. In order to bring this vast land under olive cover,  the Forest and Agriculture  departments have joined hands to plant 40 million olives mostly of Italian and Spanish varieties under 10 Billion Trees Afforestration Project (10BTAP) by 2026.​ NationPK

India - ​Promote barter trade for surplus commodities
Focus on barter trade for wheat, sugar export
Saddled with a burdensome inventory of wheat and sugar, New Delhi is struggling to meaningfully liquidate the stocks while causing the least financial damage. Several options, including higher domestic consumption, diversion for bio-fuel and export to overseas markets, are under consideration.

As part of this, the government has decided to distribute free rations of wheat to 80 crore vulnerable families during May and June. This is a welcome step as it comes at a time when the nation is facing the second wave of Covid-19 infections and reverse migration of people from cities to their villages has commenced. TheHinduBusinessLine

Indonesia - Palm oil contributes significantly to Indonesia's exports: Minister
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's food and beverage industry, particularly palm oil, has contributed significantly to the country's exports, in addition to base metal industry and chemical product and chemical industry.

The food and beverage industry contributed US$9.69 billion, the base metal industry at US$5.87 billion, and the chemical product and chemical industry amounting to US$4.18 billion.

"The food industry's export value is dominated by palm oil," Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said in his statement here on Sunday. AntaraNews

Malaysia - ​MPIC in midst of developing new variety of oil palm tree
KLUANG: The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) is in the midst of producing a new variety of oil palm tree that will grow up to 20ft only to facilitate crop harvesting.

Its Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng said although trees from the new variety will be shorter than the existing breed which could reach 40 to 50 ft, the quality of the fruit and oil produced are still the same.

“Based on the record, most of the smallholders are senior citizens. It is hoped that the new variety with shorter oil palm trees will make it easier for them to harvest on their own.

“MPOB is also conducting a study to produce more palm oil for the new variety,” TheSunDaily

Nigeria - ​Foreign investment: Ogun raises economic team to liaise with Indonesian investors
Ogun State Government will set up an economic team to liaise with the Indonesian investors in exploring areas of interests that will be mutually beneficial to both the state and the Pacific nation.

The state governor, Dapo Abiodun, gave this hint when he hosted the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Usra Hendra Harahap, in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Abiodun noted that Indonesia has made tremendous progress in the areas of technology, infrastructure, housing, transportation and medicine, expressing the state’s interest to tap in.

The governor said, “Ogun has more than enough land to accommodate a lot of industries. We are desirous of building a seaport because the deepest part of water in the country is in our state. TheNationNG

Pakistan - ​Palm Oil Imports Increase 34.83pc To $1.86 Billion In 3 Quarters
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Apr, 2021 ) :The palm oil imports increased by 34.83 percent during the first three quarters of the current fiscal year against the imports of the same period of last year.

The palm oil imports during July-March (2020-21) were recorded at $1860.935 million against the imports of $1380.245 million during July-March (2019-20), showing increase of 34.86 percent, according to latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

In terms of quantity, Pakistan imported 2,443,293 metric tons of palm oil during the period under review as compared to the imports of 2,277,022 metric tons last year, showing increase of 7.3 percent. UrduPoint

ASEAN Needs A Green New Deal
ASEAN is the world’s fifth largest economy; an economic recovery focused on transforming key industry sectors and fuelled with long term-investments in sustainable solutions would set a new global standard for development. 

Forestry is one key sector. ASEAN is home to 15 percent of the world’s tropical forests, making it a globally important carbon sink, keeping carbon out of the air and in the ground and trees. But logging and agriculture claim about eight million hectares of forest a year.  

Reform of the forestry sector is needed now, and could start with palm oil, a dominant carbon emitter in Malaysia and Indonesia. An industry revamp requires stricter standards for sustainable palm oil certification to halt deforestation and the use of new carbon capture technologies in the milling of palm oil, which releases potent GHG.​ TheAseanPost

Indonesia - ​Widodo claims Indonesia leading by example on climate change
Indonesia's president says greenhouse gas reduction commitments by developed countries powers must be credible if developing countries are to follow suit.

Joko Widodo was among dozens of world leaders speaking at the US-hosted virtual Leaders Summit on Climate Change underway today.

Widodo said he welcomed the target declared by several countries of achieving net zero gas emissions by 2050.

But he said that to ensure their credibility, such commitments should be implemented based on the 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions at the heart of 2015's Paris Agreement.

Widodo said developing countries will implement similar ambitions if developed countries' commitments were credible, accompanied by concrete support.​ RNZ

US - ​How Biofuels Giant Neste Transforms America’s French Fry Grease Into Clean Diesel
Neste, at 2.7 million gallons per day (65,000 bbl/d), is the world’s biggest producer of renewable diesel, and believes in a long-term market for the fuel, which is advantaged over ethanol in that it is a drop-in biofuel, interchangable with traditional diesel. Ethanol, in contrast, does not mix happily or easily with gasoline. And as it appears the electrification of transportation will begin with smaller vehicles, they feel demand for diesel will endure longer.

Baines is dedicated now to finding buyers who are willing to pay a little extra for certified biofuels, and to participate in the circular carbon economy. In Oakland, Calif., for example, Neste gathers up restaurant grease and returns it as renewable diesel that fuels the city’s truck fleet. While in the Netherlands, McDonald’s supplies Neste with about 370,000 gallons of fryer oil a year; its logistics supplier then buys about the same amount of renewable diesel. Forbes

EU rapeseed, RSO prices to stay high in 2021-22
The price of European rapeseed oil (RSO) and its feedstock hit a new record high yesterday, with tight global oilseed supply expected to continue buoying values until at least the start of the new marketing year in July.

High substitution costs for alternative oilseeds and vegetable oils have further contributed to rising rapeseed and RSO values. Surging Chinese demand has lifted soybean values amid delays in Brazil's planting campaign and weaker Argentinian output caused by dry conditions.

Moves in the US to boost soybean oil's use as a feedstock for renewable diesel continue to support demand there for the product, with prompt CBOT soybean oil contracts rising to a 10-year high of 60.19 ¢/lb on 21 April.

Malaysian palm oil prices, another rival feedstock for RSO, rose to a more than one-month high yesterday and were close to March's record levels.​ ArgusMedia

US - ​InvestigateWest: Cascadia needs stronger clean-fuels push.
Biofuels cut Titan’s petroleum diesel consumption by 93% and cut its carbon footprint by over two-thirds.

Switching wasn’t a sacrifice. Wilson gets renewable diesel at the same price. And the cleaner burn reduces maintenance costs, so he figures he’s saving about 2 cents a mile — over $20,000 a year.

Titan’s move is part of a Pacific coast wave driven by clean-fuels standards enacted in California, Oregon and British Columbia. Their mandates and fees provide a $1 to $2 per gallon subsidy to renewable diesel and other low-carbon fuels.​Kansas

General Mills advances regenerative ag practices
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, US — General Mills, Inc. achieved sustainably sourcing on 100% of its top 10 priority ingredients and advanced regenerative agriculture practices on farmland in 2020, just two of several highlights noted by the Minneapolis-based company as part of the release of its 2021 Global Responsibility Report.

The annual update, which highlights social and environmental progress made each fiscal year, features actions and outcomes across four areas: Food, Planet, People and Community. WorldGrain

ESG - ​How Investors Can Stop Deforestation
EARTH DAY 2021: With deforestation increasing last year, shareholders can play a role in stimulating better management of resources by voting and engaging

Companies, consumers, investors, and regulators are increasingly taking note of issues related to land use and biodiversity, and the impact and risks involved. In February 2021, in a 600-page report commissioned by the Treasury of the United Kingdom, Prof Sir Partha Dasgupta said a new way of accounting GDP is needed, one that includes the depletion of resources, to prevent the collapse of global ecosystems that the world depends on. Companies have become more aware of how these issues can impact their business and are more closely scrutinising their supply chains regarding deforestation and biodiversity loss, for example, satellite monitoring. Morningstar

Swedish pension funds’ ethical council to step up biodiversity work
The council gave its dialogue with firms involved in palm oil production as an example of its biodiversity work in 2020, saying that there was a big difference between the commitments firms had made on sustainable palm oil production, and their actual implementation.

“Zoological Society of London SPOTT shows in a survey covering 100 players that 71% of the companies had clear commitments to counter deforestation, but only 42% were able to provide detailed information on how they implemented their guidelines,” the council said. IPE

Honduras - (Press release) ​Dinant Marks Earth Day With Commitment To Invest Further In Environment Preservation
TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS, 21 APRIL 2021:, April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To mark Earth Day, Dinant – the family-owned consumer products manufacturer founded in Honduras in 1960 – has reconfirmed its commitment to invest resources in protecting and enhancing the natural environment.

Company spokesman, Roger Pineda, said, “Earth Day is a timely reminder to us all that protecting the natural environment must continue to be at the heart of Dinant’s business model and at the core of our values. We’ve achieved a lot, but there is a great deal more to do.” YahooFinance

Korea’s LG Chem to launch bio-based products in June
The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) awarded ISCC-Plus certification to LG Chem's Yosu plant on 8 April, which will be valid for one year. The "Plus" certification system audits sustainability in sectors and markets beyond transport biofuels, which are beyond the scope of the EU Renewable Energy Directive.

Replacing fossil-derived raw materials with bio-based input can lower carbon emissions by around 50pc, according to LG Chem, though external specialists are still undertaking life cycle assessments of its specific products. ArgusMedia

Cargill, Love's announce Nebraska venture to produce renewable diesel
Cargill and Love's Family of Companies announced Tuesday they have entered into a joint venture to produce and market renewable diesel in the United States.

The companies will construct a new production plant in Hastings, Nebraska, that will produce about 80 million gallons annually of renewable diesel, a cleaner fuel which can be made from natural fats, vegetable oils and greases that can power vehicles with diesel engines.

The venture will be the only project of its kind to both produce and market renewable diesel all the way to the retail pump, the companies said in the announcement.​ Reuters

Colombia - Fedepalma supports the National Government's commitment to improve air and fuel quality
The recent decision of the current Government to increase again the mixture of biodiesel with fossil diesel to 12% (B12), not only represents a determined support to the National Biodiesel Program and to the improvement of fuels, but also to the commitment it has with the environment and with the improvement of the quality of the air that Colombians breathe, a commitment in which we support the present administration ”, expressed Jens Mesa Dishington, Executive President of Fedepalma. FedePalma

Report warns EU about increased imports of palm oil in disguise
The imports of Used Cooking Oil (UCO) intended for the decarbonisation of EU transport are expected to significantly rise, a new report has found. However, the report also called on the EU to put limits on its use, considering its controversial origin and its hidden links to palm oil.

Used Cooking Oils (UCO) are considered waste-based and are double-counted under the EU’s renewable energy directive to decarbonise Europe’s transport sector. But the current directive does not distinguish between domestically collected oils and those imported from third countries.

Critics also suggest some of those oils contain palm oil, which the EU has decided to phase out in order to slow deforestation in tropical countries. Euractiv

Climate change: Growing doubts over chip fat biofuel
New research questions the environmental impact of rising imports of used cooking oil (UCO) into the UK and Europe.

Chip fat and other oils are considered waste, so when they are used to make biodiesel it saves carbon emissions by displacing fossil oil.

But such is the demand across Europe that imports now account for more than half of the UCO that's made into fuel.

According to the study, there's no way to prove these imports are sustainable.

With no testing of what's coming in, experts believe it is also ripe for fraud. BBC

KitKat to be carbon neutral by 2025 as Nestlé steps up action to protect and restore forests
21 Apr 2021 --- KitKat will be carbon neutral by 2025 as Nestlé boosts its sustainability efforts. The iconic chocolate brand plans to reduce the emissions generated by sourcing its ingredients, the manufacturing of the product and its distribution by more than 50 percent as part of the plan.

Most emissions occur when producing KitKat’s ingredients, such as cocoa and milk. The brand will reduce these emissions as much as possible through initiatives like restoring forests and supporting a transition to regenerative agriculture.

KitKat will also invest in high-quality offsetting based on natural climate solutions, tackling those emissions that cannot be eliminated. 

The company is collaborating with The Carbon Trust, a global climate change and sustainability consultancy, to measure the brand's current carbon footprint. This process will be completed later this year. FoodIngredientsFirst

Indonesia, UK Lead International Dialogue on Forest Sustainability
Jakarta. Indonesia has officially agreed to co-chair an international alliance that brings together producers and consumers of forest agriculture and commodities.

Together with the UK, Indonesia will lead more than 25 countries grouping in the Forest Agriculture & Commodities Trade (FACT) Dialogue to protect and increase sustainability of supply chains of forest products.

“I am delighted Indonesia has agreed to co-chair this dialogue. For this dialogue to be successful, it is important that producer and consumer countries are collaborating fully – learning from each other,” British Ambassador to Indonesia Owen Jenkins said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Indonesia has amazing experience to bring to bear on this issue and as co-chair they will be able to pass that on, influencing others,” he wrote.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said last Friday Indonesia will “lead by example” in collaborative actions to promote trade and protect the environment at the same time.​ JakartaGlobe

Indonesia's looser palm plantation rules renew conflict between jobs, environment
JAKARTA, April 21 (Reuters) - Indonesian farmer Albertus Wawan hopes a new government regulation means the small plot of land where he grows palm oil trees in a forest reserve on Borneo may be recognised as a legal plantation and eligible to access funding.

But the hopes of thousands of smallholders like Wawan for the acceptance of their farms inside designated forest areas is alarming green groups and comes at time when palm oil is under scrutiny in some Western countries for its links to deforestation.

The changes, part of President Joko Widodo's sweeping liberalisation of regulations to boost Southeast Asia's biggest economy, illustrate the trade-offs countries make to protect the environment or provide jobs to raise living standards. Reuters

Malaysia/ Belgium - ​Palm oil: Khairuddin to meet Belgian ambassador in early May
BANGI (April 20): The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities officials are expected to meet the Belgian Ambassador to Malaysia on commodity issues in early May.

Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said the meeting is not necessarily confined to palm oil issues but could also be a platform for the ministry to discuss matters related to other national commodities, including cocoa.

"The Belgian Ambassador has requested to meet me but due to time constraints, our meeting will be held when I pay a courtesy call on the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka in early May," he told reporters in conjunction with the pre-launch of the MPOB Transfer of Technology (TOT) Seminar and Exhibition 2021 here today. TheEdgeMarkets

Corporate News - ​PepsiCo Announces 2030 Goal to Scale Regenerative Farming Practices Across 7 Million Acres, Equivalent to Entire Agricultural Footprint
PURCHASE, N.Y., April 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) today announced a new, impact-driven Positive Agriculture ambition, anchored by a goal to spread regenerative farming practices across 7 million acres, approximately equal to its entire agricultural footprint. The company estimates the effort will eliminate at least 3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by the end of the decade. Additional 2030 goals within the agenda include improving the livelihoods of more than 250,000 people in its agricultural supply chain and sustainably sourcing 100% of its key ingredients.

"Any plan to tackle the urgent challenges facing the global food system must address agriculture, the source of nourishment for billions of people and a key lever to address climate change and inequality," said PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta. "As one of the world's leading food and beverage companies, a resilient food system is essential to our business, and with our scale we have an opportunity and responsibility to drive meaningful change. PepsiCo's Positive Agriculture agenda prioritizes investment, innovation, and robust collaboration with our farming partners to deliver impact around the world. Working together, we can reduce our collective carbon footprint, feed a rapidly growing population, and provide meaningful economic opportunities for more people." PRNewswire

Corporate News - Food Lion announces major sustainability commitments
Food Lion is taking a big leap in its sustainability efforts to make a greater impact in caring for the planet and its neighbors. The new, far-reaching commitments make it easier for customers to know how and where their food is sourced, reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions across all layers of the retailer’s operations, and eliminate waste through all parts of the food supply chain, in addition to several other initiatives and goals that will help reinforce Food Lion’s role as a good neighbor to help create a more sustainable future.

“In 2015, we set big goals for ourselves to achieve significant sustainability targets in several critical areas, and I’m proud to say we’ve met or exceeded many of those milestones,” said Meg Ham, president of Food Lion. “However, we know much more work needs to be done, and that’s why we’re holding ourselves accountable for even bigger goals that we hope to achieve by 2025 and beyond. We are committed to sustainability across every part of our business — now and into the future — and we’re making it easier for our customers to join us to create a more sustainable community because we all have a role to play.” TheProduceNews

Indonesia - How Indonesia plans to benefit from EFTA trade deal
The House of Representatives has recently approved a draft trade deal with the four-member European Free Trade Association (EFTA) that is expected to facilitate foreign investment and liberalize trade in goods and services, particularly commodities such as palm oil and raw metals.

The Indonesia-EFTA Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IE-CEPA) was approved by the House on April 9 and has been called Indonesia’s doorway to the wider European market. The non-European Union trade bloc consists of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Shinta Kamdani, deputy chair of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), said the agreement was expected to benefit Indonesian businesses that sold gold, nickel, crude palm oil (CPO), coffee, tea, footwear, fisheries products, wood furniture, webbing products and creative economy items. JakartaPost

Sri Lanka - ​Rs. 150 b confectionery industry still in the dark over palm oil ban
The confectionery industry worth Rs. 150 billion is still in the dark over the immediate ban on palm oil imports, with no proper directions given on the procedures to obtain licences, whilst many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are running short of stocks amidst increased demand.

“We are still not aware of the procedure to obtain the special licence to import palm oil for our manufacturing purposes. Our members are hoping to meet today (20) and discuss the way forward of the industry,” Lanka Confectionery Manufacturers’ Association (LCMA) President S.M.D. Suriyakumara told the Daily FT. FinancialTimesLK

UK (Press Release) - ​"Sustainability First" campaign launched by The Centre for Sustainable Palm Oil Studies (CSPO) with release of ground-breaking palm oil report for Earth Day
LONDON, April 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A landmark report on The Role of Sustainable Palm Oil in Global Food Security and Deforestation Efforts has been published by The Centre for Sustainable Palm Oil Studies (CSPO) for Earth Day this week.

The report also heralds the launch of the "Sustainability First" campaign, an effort by CSPO to raise awareness of the vital role sustainably sourced palm oil plays in supporting deforestation efforts globally - and ensuring those arguments reach consumer audiences worldwide.

The report was co-authored by three eminent international experts: YahooFinance

Singapore and Indonesia exporters catch China's GDP tailwind
SINGAPORE -- Southeast Asian countries' exports are growing on the back of China's sharp rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest official statistics show, brightening the region's economic picture.

China on Friday reported its gross domestic product jumped a record 18.3% on the year in the first quarter of 2021, versus the 6.8% contraction seen in the same period of 2020 at the start of the health crisis.

For the Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc, China's growth pace is a key external factor, as most countries are entrenched in Chinese supply chains. China accounted for 14.2% of total ASEAN exports in 2019, according to the ASEAN Secretariat, topping the U.S. at 12.9% and the European Union at 10.8%. AsiaNikkei

Nigeria- Indonesia Trade Hits $459m
he Director of Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre, Mr. Hendro Jonathan has disclosed that the value of Nigeria- Indonesia trade currently stands at $459 million, which he describes as a positive growth sign for both countries.

He explained that in the bilateral trade relationship with Nigeria, the conversation has always being on the value of trade, not volume.

According to him, in terms of trade volume, it is positive for Nigeria, because export from the West African country is higher when compared with the imports from Indonesia. ThisDayLive

India - ​‘Kinnera’ water all set to flow across Telangana
Hyderabad: In a unique business diversification, the Telangana State Cooperative Oil Seeds Growers Federation Limited (TS- Oilfed) will hit the market with its own packaged drinking water bottles under the brand name ‘Kinnera’ in a couple of days.

This will be the second State-run packaged drinking water bottle supply after Mission Bhagiratha which came up with its own pure drinking water bottles, particularly for government offices.

The idea to launch purified and packaged drinking water bottles was borne out of the fact that there was plenty of water available in the borewells at Apparaopeta palm oil factory in Kothagudem district, TS Oilfed Chairman K Ramakrishna Reddy told Telangana Today. TelanganaToday

Sri Lanka - ​Government back-tracks on palm oil import ban
The Government has taken two steps back after the first step of banning the import of palm oil, the most popular cooking oil, which followed the Prime Minister’s directive of lifting the restriction on certain refined palm oil based products within 24 hours of the President’s prohibition order.
According to the sequence of events, the Controller General of Department of Imports and Exports Control was advised by the Presidential Secretariat on April 5 to issue the relevant gazette notification banning palm oil imports totally with immediate effect.  She issued a notification that the import of palm oil has been suspended immediately. Further, Director-General of Customs was informed of this decision and directed to desist from clearing imported palm oil containers at the Colombo Port.
This move was made following the detection of aflatoxin in crude coconut oil imported recently and the practice of mixing palm oil and coconut oil in producing cooking oil, official sources said. SundayTimesLK

EU biofuel restrictions could benefit canola
Canola is best poised to take advantage of this opportunity because it contains far more oil than competing crops and is already the preferred feedstock for the EU biofuel industry.

Canola could be the big beneficiary of a growing movement in the European Union to ban other types of biodiesel feedstocks, says an industry executive.

On March 22, 2021, Belgium notified the European Commission of its intention to ban biofuel made from palm oil and soybean oil effective Jan. 1, 2022.

France was the first country to ban palm oil biodiesel on Jan. 1, 2020. Lithuania has also taken that step. There are reports that Germany, Italy and Denmark could soon follow suit.​ Producer

Italy - ​Eni abandons palm oil for biorefinery in Venice
It will be replaced by biomass from waste vegetable edible oils and waste animal fats.

"The Venice biorefinery is preparing to stop using palm oil for the production of biofuels". This was announced by Eni, explaining that in recent days it presented "the documentation for the verification of the EIA of the construction of new units that will enhance the pre-treatment plant of biological fillers started in June 2018, and which allowed to treat oils raw vegetables, used vegetable edible oils and waste animal fats". Currently the plants in Porto Marghera are able to process about 7.5 tons / hour of used cooking oils and animal fats. With the construction of the new biomass treatment lines, the entire production capacity of the Ecofining plant will be satisfied with biological materials from the waste and residual supply chains, expanding the basket of biological fillers to those encouraged by European and national standards and eliminating so definitely palm oil from biofuel production.​ EFANews

EU Commissioner Blasts Brazil’s Climate Pledge for Not Going Far Enough
Brasilia: The European Union’s top environment official told Brazil on Wednesday that the South American country’s updated climate pledge “sends a bad signal” by only committing to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2060.

Like most of the world, Brazil late last year submitted an updated commitment under the Paris Agreement on climate change, known as a nationally determined contribution (NDC). But the country largely maintained its previous targets while adding the net-zero-by-2060 pledge.

Brazilian foreign minister Carlos França defended the updated pledge, saying it affirmed the country’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.

França said developed countries had failed to meet their promises to provide financing that developing nations need to be more ambitious, which included a pledge to mobilise $100 billion annually to finance developing countries’ action on climate. Science

EU trade in soy, palm oil and beef linked to tropical deforestation
The EU is one of the world’s largest importers of tropical deforestation and associated emissions, according to a new WWF report published today.

Key findings from the report show that the EU in 2017 (the latest year for which data is available) was responsible for 16% of deforestation associated with international trade, totalling 203,000 hectares and 116 million tonnes of CO₂. The EU was surpassed by China (24%) but outranked India (9%), the United States (7%) and Japan (5%).

Between 2005-2017, soy, palm oil and beef were the main imported commodities linking deforestation to consumption (embedded tropical deforestation), followed by wood products, cocoa and coffee. BrusselsTimes

India leans on Malaysia as palm oil imports pick up: SEAI
New Delhi — Malaysia continued to edge out Indonesia as the largest palm oil exporter to India in the November 2020-March 2021 period, amid a widening tax difference between the world's two biggest palm oil suppliers.

India – the world's largest importer of vegetable oil – bought 1.68 million mt of crude palm oil from Malaysia and 1.29 million mt of CPO from Indonesia between November 2020 and March 2021, data released by the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEAI) on April 14 showed.

A year ago, Indonesia supplied 2.06 million mt of CPO to India in the five-month period, while Malaysia supplied 414,815 mt. SPGlobal

India's palm oil imports rise 56.50 pc in March
New Delhi, Apr 14 (PTI) India''s import of palm oils rose 56.50 per cent to 5,26,463 tonne in March this year as refiners were discouraged to import sunflower oil due to high prices, industry body Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) said on Wednesday.
India, the world''s leading vegetable oil buyer, had imported 3,36,392 tonne palm oils in March 2020.

The country''s total vegetable oil imports rose marginally to 9,80,243 tonne in March 2021, compared to 9,55,422 tonne in the year-ago period.

The share of palm oil is more than 60 per cent of the country''s total vegetable oil imports.

According to SEA, refiners purchased more palm oil during March due to the high prices of sunflower oil. OutlookIndia

Korea - ​Posco International aims to become global food company
Posco International aims to expand its food business to become one of the world’s top 10 food trading companies, amid growing concerns over rising food prices, the South Korean trading company said Wednesday.

The company cited the FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in international prices of commonly traded food commodities. According to the food price index, the figure for March marked the 10th consecutive monthly increase, increasing 2.1 percent from the month before.

According to Posco International, Korea’s grain self-sufficiency rate is only 21 percent, as the country produces 4.5 million tons of grain in a year and imports about 16 million tons annually to satisfy demand. KoreaHerald

Malaysia - ​Six-point plan to save Malayan tiger from extinction
SUNGKAI: Stiffer fines for poachers and a six-point plan to save the Malayan tiger prove the government’s seriousness in ensuring that the tiger, Malaysia’s national animal, will not become extinct, said energy and natural resources minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.

“We are focused and serious about ensuring that the tiger doesn’t go extinct. This is a shared responsibility and duty in curbing poaching,” he said after witnessing an agreement for the palm oil industry’s support for conservation plans.

“We are amending the Wildlife Conservation Act so that we can be more responsive to current developments and wildlife conservation efforts where we will increase penalties and fines for offenders. We know that there are irresponsible parties who traffic wildlife online. So the amendment will strengthen enforcement in combating illegal activities,” he said.​ FreeMalaysiaToday

Sri Lanka - ​Sri Lanka will discourage FDI with abrupt tax changes, policy upheavals: Eran
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka will find it hard to attract foreign direct investors with sudden policy changes and bans announced by gazette, with overall policy driven by special interests, opposition legislator and former state minister for finance, Era Wickremaratne said.

Sudden tax hikes and import bans by gazette will not only discourage foreign investors but also local investors, he warned.

Political Risk

“When policies change suddenly at midnight it will be very difficult to attract local or foreign direct investment,” Wickremaratne said.

“What investors look for is consistency. Even if they do not agree with the view they may come if there is consistency. If you suddenly change policy, political risk is increased. EconomyNext

Belgium - ​Belgium to ban soy and palm oil in biofuels from 2022
Soy and palm oil will be banned from biofuels from 2022 as part of an initiative to eliminate deforestation, the Federal Minister for Environment and Climate Zakia Khattabi announced on Tuesday.

Khattabi said that, following the examples of Denmark, France, and the Netherlands, biofuels made from palm oil will no longer be allowed both on the Belgian market as well as in the transport sector, whilst soy will be banned as a raw material for transport biofuels from 2023.​ BrusselsTimes

Indonesia - ​Palm Oil Production Can Grow Without Converting Rainforests And Peatland
A four-year research project led by Grassini and supported by a $4 million grant from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests that keeping up with demand may not necessarily mean converting more valuable, fragile ecosystems into agricultural land.

According to research published March 25 in Nature Sustainability, palm oil yields on existing farms and plantations could be greatly increased with improved management practices. Researchers from the Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute, the Indonesian Agency for Agriculture Research and Development, and Wageningen University in the Netherlands were also part of this project.​ EurasiaReview

Indonesia - ​Ministry scales down proposed palm oil expansion in Papua, West Papua
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya says that efforts have been taken, in accordance with legal measures, to scale down the level of palm oil expansion proposed by regents/mayors and governors in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

According to the minister, since President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo took office until 2019, 38.2% of the total area proposed for palm oil expansion, based on location permits from the regents/mayors and recommendation letters from the governors of the two provinces, has been cut. 

"The figure of 38.2% comes from the total area finally approved of 172,430 hectares, compared to the area of 279,049 hectares initially proposed for palm oil expansion by the two provincial governments. This means that an area of 106,619 hectares did not get approved," Minister Nurbaya explained at the ministry building (Apr 9). ForestHints

Indonesia - ​House approves Indonesia-EFTA trade deal
Indonesia is one short step away from having its first trade agreement with European countries after legislators approved a bill over a deal between Indonesia and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

The House of Representatives approved on Friday the draft for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IE-CEPA) between Indonesia and the EFTA, which comprises Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The legislation is now pending a signature from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo that would immediately make the IE-CEPA come into effect. The President very rarely rejects bills approved by the house. TheJakartaPost

Bangladesh - ​4% advanced tax waived for edible oil ahead of Ramadan
The move has been made to keep prices of essential commodities, such as edible oil, stable during Ramadan


The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Sunday withdrew the 4% advanced tax for imported and unrefined edible oil, both soybean and palm, ahead of the month of Ramadan.

The move has been made to keep prices of essential commodities, such as edible oil, stable during Ramadan, as the period is known to consumers as volatile.

The VAT policy wing of NBR issued a statutory regulatory order (SRO) on the day in this regard. DhakaTribune

Sri Lanka - ​About-turn on palm oil ban fails to quell industry uproar
Industrial manufacturers and food and beverage producers are calling on the government to review its sudden ban on palm oil imports and introduce plans for substitutes before implementing the ban announced this week.

Palm oil is an essential ingredient in industrial products and many food products, manufacturers said, emphasising that imports of the oil were critical for business.

The President of the Bakery Owners Association, N K Jayawardena, said 75 per cent of margarine products used in baking were made from palm oil. “All our pastries and bakery products are made with palm oil,” he said.​ SundayTimesLK

Sri Lanka - ​Ban-nomics: Sri Lanka to ban imports of handloom textiles, printed batiks
Minister Jayasekera said there was no plan to for a broad ban on textile imports and only items such as bed sheets and sarees will be banned.

Rulers have already banned a number of products in the expectation that creating a scarcity and driving up prices will bring prosperity to the people of Sri Lanka.

Prices of banned items such as turmeric, green gram, have shot up. Sri Lanka Navy is kept busy nabbing smuggled turmeric from India. Sri Lanka has also banned the import of ethanol to give profits to a loss making expropriated state enterprise.

Brown sugar is also taxed at higher level that while sugar to give profits to the loss making state enterprise. Palm oil is the latest item to be banned. EconomyNext

Nigeria - ​Top Agro food products exported by Nigeria in 2020
Nigeria exported agricultural products worth N321.5 billion in 2020, representing a 19.16% increase when compared to N269.8 billion recorded in 2019 and a 6.27% increase compared to N302.28 billion recorded in 2018.

However, despite the increase recorded in export, imported agricultural goods surged by 78.58% in 2020 compared to 2019. Nigeria imported agricultural goods worth N1.71 trillion in 2020 as against N959.5 billion in 2019.

This is according to data tracked by Nairametrics Research from the foreign trade quarterly reports, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

In spite of crude oil, agriculture still remains the base of Nigeria’s economy, providing the main source of livelihood for most Nigerians. The sector remains the largest sector of the Nigerian economy and employs about two-thirds of the entire labour force in the country.​ NairaMetrics

Global - ​Big brands join $1-billion forest conservation push for SE Asia
KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Major household brands and palm-oil buyers Nestle and PepsiCo have backed a scheme that aims to invest $1 billion in forest conservation across Southeast Asia over 25 years.

The Rimba Collective, developed by Lestari Capital, a Singapore-based impact investment firm, will fund projects that protect and restore more than 500,000 hectares (1.2 million acres) of tropical forests in Indonesia and the region.

“By linking conservation funding directly with company operations, it has the potential to be a game-changer for forest protection and restoration,” Michal Zrust, Lestari Capital co-founder, told a virtual launch event this week. Reuters

France - ​French SAF law hand-in-hand with commercial development
LONDON (ICIS)--France’s incoming sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) law is already seeing sweeping changes to the aviation sector from oil majors. The moves could signal further commercial compliance with the law that could see other stakeholders in oil join changes.

France looking to pass ambitious plan
Massive swing in aviation to SAF
Hopes for green initiatives to kickstart aerospace sector after coronavirus
The production of SAF is set to increase in Europe with two of French oil major Total’s facilities retrofitted to deliver the product.

France proposed a new law, which gives some of the world’s most ambitious targets for the aviation industry to use sustainable oil-alternatives over traditional fossil-based fuels.​ ICIS

Brazilian biodiesel at record price triggers auction suspension: sources
Brazilian Biodiesel Auction (L79), which started on April 5, was suspended suddenly April 6 by the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuel, ANP without any conclusion, which market sources suspect could be due to the record high price for the B100.

The maximum reference price (MRP) was established between Real 7,420/cu m to Real 7,860/cu m, a surge of nearly 26% from the prior auction. The price reference was published by the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuel, ANP on March 31.
​
Brazil has a mandatory blend of 13% of B100 in the diesel and the current country's regulation settles that the biofuel can only be traded within the auction process, which happens in a bi-monthly basis.​ SPGlobal

Sri Lanka - ​Special permits in the works for importing palm oil for bakery and confectionery products
Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena yesterday told Parliament that a special permit procedure will be introduced to import palm oil required for the production of bakery and confectionery products. The move comes after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had on Monday instructed that the import of palm oil be banned with immediate effect.

Gunawardena said with the new permit bakery and confectionery industries would not be affected by the ban. “If anyone wishes to import palm oil, they can submit an appeal to the Finance Ministry Secretary on the matter,” he added.

Responding to a question raised by MP Kumara Welgama, he also pointed out that if the products are up to the required standards there will be no impediment to the production process. FinancialTimes

Sri Lanka food, shampoo firms hit by midnight ‘regime uncertainty’ as palm oil banned
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka firms producing a range of foods and personal care items would be hit by a palm oil ban, in addition to publicly traded companies growing the plant which would have be uprooted under state orders, an equities research report said.

Sri Lanka produces c. 8 percent of it annual palm oil requirement and imports the remaining 92 percent, estimated at 200,000 tonnes from Indonesia and Malaysia, CAL an investment bank said in a research note to clients.

“Due to Sri Lanka’s palm oil sourcing mix, the implementation of a complete importation ban will be complex due to the high demand for palm oil spanning across multiple industries and the inability of local production to fulfil the existing demand,” CAL Research said.​ EconomyNext

Sri Lanka palm oil ban would push up prices, give profits to those with stocks: Harsha
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s palm oil ban was a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction that would push up costs for consumers and businesses and would give profits to those holding stocks of the commodity, opposition legislator Harsha de Silva said.

“This knee jerk reaction to ban palm oil imports without provision for any affordable substitute will only make even harder to make ends meet for consumers,” de Silva said.

“Price of bread and bakery products will no doubt increase.”

He said the ban may be relaxed. EconomyNext

Liberia - ​Rep. Thomas Goshua Wants Expatriates Leave Equatorial Palm Oil; Says There are Qualified Liberians
Buchanan, Grand Bassa –Representative Thomas Alexander Goshua of District 5 in Grand Bassa County has asked one of the largest concession companies in the county, Equatorial Palm Oil (EPO) to abide by its agreement with the Government of Liberia by employing Liberians into key positions.

Rep. Goshua who once worked for the company before becoming a lawmaker was very outstanding with his statement on the on community Radio over the weekend.

The lawmaker told the public that 50% of EPO’s top management positions are meant for Liberians, lamenting that the company can’t point at three of the top management positions that Liberians are holding.

“We are not going to sit here and allow EPO to play with our citizens and so I have written them to act swiftly or else they’ll have me to contend with,” he said.​ FrontPageAfrica

GLOBAL - ​The future of sustainability certification
THE release early this month of Greenpeace’s report Certified: Destruction, which was critical of the certification systems for forest and ecosystem risk commodities, has shifted the focus to the role of certification on the sustainability agenda.

The report had sought to “assess the effectiveness of (mainly voluntary) certification for land-based commodities as an instrument to address global deforestation, forest degradation and other ecosystem conversion and associated human rights abuses (including violations of indigenous rights and labour rights)”.

The certification schemes Greenpeace reviewed included the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC), Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and UTZ, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO), Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), Roundtable for Responsible Soy (RTRS), ProTerra, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). TheEdgeMarkets

Malaysia irked by Sri Lanka’s palm oil ban
Malaysia, one of the key sources from where Sri Lanka imports palm oil, appears to have been visibly irked by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s move to ban palm oil imports.

Malaysia’s Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Dr. Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali was quoted by Malaysian media as saying that the Sri Lanka’s decision will have no effect on the country’s oil palm industry.

“The world has a population of over seven billion people and we are confident our palm oil will be accepted worldwide. DailyMirrorLK

Sri Lanka - ​Confectionery industry in crisis over “sudden” palm oil import ban
The confectionery manufacturing industry yesterday expressed concerns over its survival and security of jobs, following the “sudden” decision by the Government to ban its key raw material – palm oil imports – with immediate effect.

“The sudden decision by the Government has caused significant stress and additional burden to all confectionary, bakery and food processors severely. It affects all food processing industries, their viability and employees engaged,” Lanka Confectionery Manufacturers Association (LCMA) Chairman S.M.D. Suriyakumara told the Daily FT. DailyFT

Malaysia - ​Palm oil: US' demand to continue with increased vaccinations, lifted lockdowns, says industry player
KUALA LUMPUR (April 6): Globally, vaccine rollouts are the order of the day and as Covid-19 cases decline, stringent lockdowns will likely be lifted. 
In relation to palm oil and the United States’ demand for the commodity, Global Agri-Trade Corporation director of sales Benjamin J. Perez sees continuity arising from the positive developments.
He believes the US is heading towards a more prosperous market environment, hence opening more opportunities for sustainable palm oil to enter the country.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has really changed the market in US with the recent trends in the market, focus on sustainability amongst the rallying charges of non-governmental organisations and consumer advocacy groups,” he said at the virtual Palm Oil Internet Seminar (POINTERS) 2021. TheEdgeMarkets/Bernama

India - ​Farmers turn to palm tree cultivation as returns are high
Kothagudem: The increase in prices of palm fruit bunches is encouraging farmers to go for palm tree cultivation in place of traditional crops. This is evident largely in Dammapet and Aswaraopet areas.

The price of palm fruit bunches per tonne is Rs 17,341 as of now. This is the highest price so far and there were occasions in the past when the farmers demanded an increase in the price from Rs 10,000.

The price of palm oil fruit per tonne went up from Rs 10,809 to Rs 12,031 per tonne in March last year. The hike then was a record of sorts.

The continuous increase in the price is tempting farmers to go for palm tree cultivation in larger areas. Palm tree cultivation is spread over 50,000 acres in Dammapet and Aswaraopet mandals at present​. DeccanChronicle

Malaysia - ​TDM's plantation division receives ISCC EU recognition
KUALA LUMPUR (April 5):- TDM Plantation Sdn Bhd has received International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) valid from March 17, 2021 until March 16, 2022.

It is the first plantation company in Terengganu to receive such certification.

The ISCC, approved by the European Commission, is accorded to the plantation division of TDM Bhd, following an independent technical review of its supply chain, operations and greenhouse gas (GHG) calculations at the company’s South Zone operation units. TheEdgeMarkets

Nestlé releases latest shared value sustainability report
The Nestlé group has unveiled its 2020 Creating Shared Value (CSV) and Sustainability Report that has underlined the completion of the majority of its key social and environmental commitments including on child labour and deforestation, reports Neill Barston.

As the business noted, its plans align with and support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and focus on promoting healthier lives for adults and children, improving livelihoods in the communities where it works around the world, including its cocoa operations.

“We are proud of what we have achieved so far, but now is the time to accelerate our efforts,” said Rob Cameron, Global Head of Public Affairs. “Nestlé will work to create a resilient future for our planet and the communities where we operate.” ConfectioneryProduction

Indonesia, Romania agree to boost trade, investment cooperation
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Romania have agreed to increase cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, counter-terrorism, COVID-19 handling, and mutual support at international forums during high-level talks held virtually on Thursday.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mahendra Siregar and director general of American and European affairs at the Foreign Ministry, Ngurah Swajaya, co-chaired the Indonesian delegation at the meeting, according to a written statement released on Friday.

"We identified priority sectors for cooperation in the fields of industry, digital technology, communication, and transportation, including cooperation in the port sector," Siregar informed. AntaraNews

China's ASEAN diplomacy pushes back against US 'encirclement'
SHANGHAI -- China is backing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' efforts to solve the Myanmar crisis and shoring up ties with its neighbors, in a diplomatic blitz framed by state media as "very easy" pushback against U.S. pressure.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi on Friday and was due to meet the Philippines' Teodoro Locsin the same day, after successive meetings with Singapore's Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday and Malaysia's Hishammuddin Hussein on Thursday.

Wang this week declared Beijing's support for a special ASEAN leaders summit on the bloc's violence-plagued member Myanmar -- an idea pushed by Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. NikkeiAsia

Malaysia, China get ready for post-Covid-19 cooperation
KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): Malaysia and China have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the establishment of a high-level committee to promote cooperation in the post-Covid-19 era, a historic development in Malaysia-China relations and the first of its kind for Malaysia.

The MoU was inked during a meeting between Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and his Chinese counterpart — state councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi — in Fujian, China yesterday. Hishammuddin's two-day visit to China was on the invitation of Wang Yi.

During their joint press conference yesterday, Hishammuddin said pursuant to the MoU, the high-level committee on post-Covid-19 cooperation was also established, co-chaired by him and Wang Yi.​ TheEdgeMarkets

Fuji Oil : reinforces commitment to sustainable development with a Supplier Code of Conduct
Osaka, April 2nd: Fuji Oil Group announces today the implementation of its Supplier Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct will enable us to continue communicating and engaging with suppliers, to ensure that the products and services we procure have been produced and handled in a resilient and responsible way, respecting the environment and human rights.

Fuji Oil Group's Supplier Code of Conduct requires all suppliers to comply with a set of principles covering human rights, product quality and safety, environmental protection, business integrity and Risk Management. Fuji Oil Group will also request prevention and remediation mechanisms to detect and handle violations to the code of conduct.

This code of conducts will be instrumental for ensuring the success of Fuji Oil Group's sustainable procurement programs for Palm Oil, Cacao, Soy and Shea Nuts.​ MarketScreener

Canada (Opinion) - ​Don’t let biofuel expansion threaten global biodiversity
New clean fuel standards promise to create a large domestic market for oilseeds but we must avoid overuse of biofuels to prevent despoilment of environmentally sensitive land around the world.

Two projects announced this month in Saskatchewan are driven by expectations that clean fuel regulations in Canada and the United States will increase demand for fuel made from oilseeds and animal fat.

True North Renewable Fuels Ltd. is studying the feasibility of a 20,000 barrel per day renewable diesel plant in Regina that would require the oil from more than two million tonnes of canola.

Covenant Energy is looking at a similar project producing 6,500 barrels per day for the Estevan, Sask., area, requiring about 795,000 tonnes of canola.

The plants are dependent on the federal government enacting new clean fuel standards. If these plants go ahead, they would likely spark the need for additional crushing plants.​ WesternProducer

US (Opinion) - ​New UN report details the best ways to prevent deforestation in Latin America. What’s that got to do with U.S. food needs?
The lead author of a comprehensive new report connects the dots on how the way we eat affects tropical forests—and vice versa.

On March 25, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a new report on the state of forests in Latin America and the Caribbean. Titled Forest Governance by Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, the report shows that forests managed by these groups are twice as likely to avoid deforestation as similarly accessible forests managed by others. But “threats to these forests and their inhabitants are growing,” according to the report, including from agricultural interests, “in a way that is disproportionate and unsustainable.” That creates a potential crisis with regards to these extensive, tree-filled tracts that are so essential for planetary health—affecting rain patterns and helping cool the air, curtailing greenhouse gas emissions and holding carbon, and protecting biodiversity. In fact, another new report, from Global Forest Watch, shows that the rate of global forest destruction accelerated sharply in the last year. TheCounter with David Kaimowitz

Global - ​Consumer goods giants plot course to deforestation-free supply chains
A coalition of 20 multinational consumer goods firms have developed a roadmap to eliminate commodity-driven deforestation, after pledging last year to deliver a 'forest-positive' impact.

The roadmap has been produced by members of the Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Forest Positive Coalition of Action. Launched at Climate Week NYC six months ago, the initiative involves corporates that are dependent on forest-related key commodities, including Nestle, Mars, Carrefour and Asia Pulp & Paper.​ Edie

Indonesia - ​Sustainable palm: the future of Indonesian palm oil production and trade
Sustainability is perhaps the biggest buzzword in recent years, capturing the zeitgeist of the late 2010s and early 2020s. From food consumption to travel and leisure, sustainability is increasingly driving public opinion, which in turn influences governments.

Arguably, this shift in attitude has impacted one of Indonesia’s largest exports: palm oil. Trade relations between Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil producer, and the European Union were damaged in 2017 when the European Parliament issued a resolution calling for inclusion of EU biofuels sustainability criteria to protect peatlands and land with high biodiversity value, or high carbon stock. JakartaPost

China - ​Spotlight: China reinforces position in HVO market with launch of new 400,000 mt/year plant
State-owned energy company Beijing Sanju Environmental Protection & New Materials launched a 400,000 mt/year capacity hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO aka 'renewable diesel') plant in Rizhao, Shandong province on March 12 that utilizes used-cooking oil (UCO) and palm oil mill effluent (POME, aka palm acid oil or PAO) as feedstock. Beijing Sanju is planning to establish a subsidiary in Malaysia to procure a steady supply of HVO feedstock including UCO, gutter oil, tallow and POME/PAO.
The new HVO plant, Shandong Sanju Bioenergy, was the result of an April 7, 2020 cooperation agreement between Beijing Sanju (primary owner, investor and tech provider), Hainan Qilu Development (investor and subsidiary of Qilu Transportation Development Group) and the Juxian County Government (minority owner, fixed assets).

In August 2020, Beijing Sanju signed a sales contract with Hainan Qilu to supply 100,000 mt of HVO by the end of second quarter 2021. In September 2020, Hainan Qilu's parent company was merged (contracts as well) with Shandong Gaosu Group, a state-owned enterprise that manages the bulk of Shandong province's highways/expressways.​ SPGlobal

Malaysia/ Russia - ​Malaysian and Russian oils and fats experts explore key food safety issues
Malaysian and Russian experts on fats, oils and biotechnology have recently assembled virtually for a web event moderated by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), to address processing contaminants in edible oils, such as 3-MCPD.

Claiming consumers have a right to foods within safety limits, they stated a need for balance between removing or reducing contaminants without increasing costs or harming the environment.

One such alternative was offered: a patented 3-MCPD and glycidyl mitigation process that uses additive-free water, with almost no oil-loss when extracting contaminants, and is environmentally friendly. Also, with almost no moving parts, the process is practically maintenance-free.

Concerns about contaminants formed during edible oil processing, and their potential health implications, have been around for years. Mitigating the presence of some of the most concerning contaminants, such as 3-MCPD, has been complicated by cost and environmental issues. ConfectioneryProduction

GLOBAL - ​Labour Shortages and the EU Ban: New Challenges for the Palm Oil Market
IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Palm Oil – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends, and Insights.’ Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

While Indonesia, planning to expand production, fights for the EU’s recognition of palm oil as a biofuel, Malaysia is faced with an acute shortage of labor due to the outflow of guest workers after the pandemic. Despite the challenges in these two countries, which produce 85% of the world’s palm oil, the global demand remains high. As the economies of the main importers, China and India, recover, the previous growth in demand is expected to continue.​ GlobalTradeMag

Indonesia - ​Data from two sources show serious gap in Indonesian primary forest losses
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), Indonesia's 2020 primary forest loss amounted to 270 thousand hectares, revealing a major gap with the official data on primary forest loss from Indonesia’s forestry authorities.

Data from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) show that only 12,320 hectares of primary forest were lost to deforestation during 2018/2019-2019/2020, or just 4.56% of the WRI figure.

This huge contrast can be ascribed to the WRI’s definition of primary forests which differs substantially from the legal definition used by the Indonesian government. Foresthints

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