What Is FFB (Fresh Fruit Bunch)?
FFB stands for Fresh Fruit Bunch, namely the fruit bunch harvested from oil palm plants that serves as the main raw material for palm oil production. The oil palm plant has the scientific name Elaeis guineensis .
Structure of FFB
One FFB consists of:
- Small fruits (loose fruits)
- Fruit flesh (mesocarp) ? source of CPO
- Shell
- Kernel
The weight of one bunch generally ranges from 1030 kg depending on plant age and variety.
Why Must It Be Processed Immediately?
FFB must be processed immediately after harvest because4:
- Delaying processing increases the free fatty acid (FFA) content
- The quality of the oil (CPO) can decline
- Industry standards recommend processing within less than 24 hours after harvest
What Is FFB Processed Into?
- At a palm oil mill, FFB produces5:
- Crude Palm Oil (CPO) from the fruit flesh
- Palm kernel from the seeds
- Fiber and shell as biomass fuel
References
FAO. Small-scale Palm Oil Processing in Africa.
https://www.fao.org/3/y4355e/y4355e03.htm
FAO Ecocrop Database. Elaeis guineensis.
https://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/cropView?id=1069
Corley, R.H.V. & Tinker, P.B. (2016). The Oil Palm (5th Edition). Wiley.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781118953297
4 Agriculture Journal (MDPI). Effect of Harvesting and Handling on FFA in Oil Palm FFB.
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/11/1779
5 Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). Palm Oil Milling Process.
https://mpob.gov.my/palm-oil-processing/