Palm oil is extracted from palm trees. It is becoming a very popular cooking ingredient all over the world. However, it is mostly used in the tropics. Because of the increase in popularity, there is an urgency to find a way to achieve sustainable production of this oil.

The way palm oil is being extracted presently is causing a number negative things to happen with the planet. It is a contributor to deforestation, and green house effect. These are just a few things that have resulted from extracting various oils.

These environmentalists cite that soils and cash crops are being destroyed because of plants that are being built to produce palm oil in greater amounts more efficiently. Farmers who depend on these cash crops are losing money.

Biodiversity is something else that is in jeopardy from production. Biodiversity deals with the different lifeforms in one area. Because of the departure of the trees in forests, animals are becoming scarce. This is leading to many endangered animals to be completely wiped out.

It is not surprising, then, to learn that habitats of these endangered animals are becoming harder to locate. Animal rights activists are becoming greatly concerned. The Sumatran orangutan, Sumatran tiger, and the Asian rhinoceros are just a few of the animals that are being wiped out. Many more have already become extinct.

Progress, while slow, has been made to try and resolve many of these issues. One of the easiest, and less expensive ways to deal with the deforestation is to re-plant what is used. Replacing what is taken is easy. It’s a matter of re-planting the seeds that can be saved from production. Doing this also ensures that there will be more trees to harvest from later down the road.

Cutting down on pollution can be achieved by making sure that the factories are run with energy efficiency. Use pure resources to power it. Great care should taken before picking out how to power the factor. Wind power is one way to go. There are many other options available that could be researched.

Having a specific place where this product is produced is another way to accomplish sustainable production. Choose a farm or two per region. Raise these palms specifically for that purpose. Doing it this way will eliminate what is taken from nature. It will also restore populations of animals that have been forced to flee their habitat. Doing it this way will also make distribution much easier.

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This oil has been in the news a lot recently. It is the worlds number one fruit crop, and has overtaken the banana. Vast tracts of rain forest have been cleared to make way for palm oil plantation. The reason of course is economic.

Just a small amount of land can produce a large amount of oil. The returns are huge and the demand for this crop is growing all the time. The big companies that own the plantations make a lot of money.

The countries that produce it are mainly in Asia, more specifically Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The plant is not native to these countries as it is originally from Africa. It is used for fuel, but is also found in food products, cosmetics and is used to make engine lubricants.

Malaysia is the worlds largest producer of the oil, with Indonesia a close second. It would seem that any crop that can produce a cleaner fuel than traditional oil should be popular. The world is always looking for better alternatives. The problem lies in the way that the oil is being produced.

Great swathes of forest have been cleared for this crop with little or no regard for the ecosystem or the plants and animals which it supports. A typical example would be the loss of habitat for the critically endangered Orangutan in Borneo. The actual production of the oil can be very environmentally friendly but it has often not been the case.

In the worst cases the oil production can produce more than twice its weight in harmful waste and by products. A lot of companies have been guilty of using powerful insecticides which damage the environment. The farming methods used render the soil useless after just a few short years.

Production does not have to harm the environment. It could be produced in such a way as to bring renewed prosperity to a region that badly needs it without damaging the Earth. With the correct management it is a much sought after commodity.

Strong insecticides do not have to be used as they can be replaced with natural alternatives such as insects and birds that will eat the pests. After the trees have finished producing they do not have to be burnt but van be shredded and used for compost to return nutrients to the soil. Water irrigation can be well managed leaving the water table intact. We all need the palm oil plantation, but we need to ensure that its properly managed even if it means paying a little more for the end product.

Looking for more information on whether a palm oil plantation is a good or bad thing? Get the low down in our comprehensive get involved overview on http://www.greenpalm.org/en/how-can-i-get-involved/growers