Sustainability in Palm Oil is More Than Just Forests
There is no such thing as sustainable palm oil. Certified palm oil is a con.
These are common charges against Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) with the original certification scheme, the RSPO, as the target of these attacks.
The basis of these charges is deforestation that is associated with the expansion of the palm oil industry in Southeast Asia. The loss of forests to palm oil cultivation in Malaysia and Indonesia has been so well documented that many have missed the fact that these Southeast Asian countries still boast of good forest cover despite their development as nations over the years.
These are common charges against Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) with the original certification scheme, the RSPO, as the target of these attacks.
The basis of these charges is deforestation that is associated with the expansion of the palm oil industry in Southeast Asia. The loss of forests to palm oil cultivation in Malaysia and Indonesia has been so well documented that many have missed the fact that these Southeast Asian countries still boast of good forest cover despite their development as nations over the years.
Image from the Holy See conference on agriculture and development. Click on image for full presentation.
This fact has clearly been lost on writers like Roberto Cazzalo Gatti as he zeroes in on forest cover to challenge the sustainability of the RSPO’s certified palm oil.
Roberto published a report in 2018 where he called the palm oil trade “a menace to the ecosystem integrity of Southeast Asia.” A follow up report which he shared on Twitter expanded the topic from forests to wildlife as he titled the report:
'Certified “sustainable” palm oil took the place of endangered Bornean and Sumatran large mammals habitat and tropical forests in the last 30 years'
Roberto Gatti maybe excused his lack of understanding of what the word “sustainable” means as he rants on his personal website against certified palm oil, toilet paper and drinking five cups of coffee or tea while loving a dog or caring for the orangutan. One hopes that his books are printed using only renewable energy on recycled paper but in his narrow focus on nature as a measure of sustainability, Roberto is obviously unaware of what the word “sustainable” means.
As defined by Merriam-Webster
Definition of sustainable
1: capable of being sustained
2a: of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged
-sustainable techniques
-sustainable agriculture
b: of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods sustainable society
Within this definition, palm oil, as a crop derived from a plant that bears fruit for most of its 25 year existence, qualifies as a sustainable crop. Where Roberto Gatti may have a point is the loss of forests to power development, a point that he has plenty of opinions on but deforestation cannot be the sole basis to dismiss the credibility of a certification scheme.
The expansion of palm oil in Riau or Kalimantan provinces was poorly planned so it is obvious that corrective measures need to be put in place to prevent the threat of extinctions in countries like Madagascar, which actually produces very little palm oil. Other key challenges to its sustainability include land rights which remain a controversial issue in Indonesia but palm oil in Indonesia should get credit for having enriched many rural communities.
The potential for palm oil to bring development has been well noted which explains why so many African countries, Nigeria in particular, are looking to expand their production to create jobs and self sufficiency for cooking oils. Its potential for environmental destruction has also been noted and was called out in a major conference on agriculture and development at the Holy See in 2018.
In their opening address the speakers underlined the importance of fostering dialogue among all stakeholders concerned; overcoming the divisive debates opposing economic development and the environment; pursuing all efforts to balance human activities and environment protection.
The Executive Summary can be accessed on this link. It is words and actions like these that will define sustainability, not mere remote-sensor studies on deforestation. If it were that simple, every farm worker or palm oil farmer would jump at the chance to make a living with a mouse and keyboard.
Sustainability must include the rights of all humans on earth to enjoy the same level of personal comfort and well-being that Roberto Gatti does. Even if the certified palm oil from the RSPO involves some deforestation, once the human factor is factored in, it is likely more sustainable in the true sense of the word than the lifestyles of many of palm oil’s critics.
Published July 2020. CSPO Watch
Roberto published a report in 2018 where he called the palm oil trade “a menace to the ecosystem integrity of Southeast Asia.” A follow up report which he shared on Twitter expanded the topic from forests to wildlife as he titled the report:
'Certified “sustainable” palm oil took the place of endangered Bornean and Sumatran large mammals habitat and tropical forests in the last 30 years'
Roberto Gatti maybe excused his lack of understanding of what the word “sustainable” means as he rants on his personal website against certified palm oil, toilet paper and drinking five cups of coffee or tea while loving a dog or caring for the orangutan. One hopes that his books are printed using only renewable energy on recycled paper but in his narrow focus on nature as a measure of sustainability, Roberto is obviously unaware of what the word “sustainable” means.
As defined by Merriam-Webster
Definition of sustainable
1: capable of being sustained
2a: of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged
-sustainable techniques
-sustainable agriculture
b: of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods sustainable society
Within this definition, palm oil, as a crop derived from a plant that bears fruit for most of its 25 year existence, qualifies as a sustainable crop. Where Roberto Gatti may have a point is the loss of forests to power development, a point that he has plenty of opinions on but deforestation cannot be the sole basis to dismiss the credibility of a certification scheme.
The expansion of palm oil in Riau or Kalimantan provinces was poorly planned so it is obvious that corrective measures need to be put in place to prevent the threat of extinctions in countries like Madagascar, which actually produces very little palm oil. Other key challenges to its sustainability include land rights which remain a controversial issue in Indonesia but palm oil in Indonesia should get credit for having enriched many rural communities.
The potential for palm oil to bring development has been well noted which explains why so many African countries, Nigeria in particular, are looking to expand their production to create jobs and self sufficiency for cooking oils. Its potential for environmental destruction has also been noted and was called out in a major conference on agriculture and development at the Holy See in 2018.
In their opening address the speakers underlined the importance of fostering dialogue among all stakeholders concerned; overcoming the divisive debates opposing economic development and the environment; pursuing all efforts to balance human activities and environment protection.
The Executive Summary can be accessed on this link. It is words and actions like these that will define sustainability, not mere remote-sensor studies on deforestation. If it were that simple, every farm worker or palm oil farmer would jump at the chance to make a living with a mouse and keyboard.
Sustainability must include the rights of all humans on earth to enjoy the same level of personal comfort and well-being that Roberto Gatti does. Even if the certified palm oil from the RSPO involves some deforestation, once the human factor is factored in, it is likely more sustainable in the true sense of the word than the lifestyles of many of palm oil’s critics.
Published July 2020. CSPO Watch