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<\/p>\nOil palm is considered to be one of the most competitive vegetable oil crops in terms of productivity. The crop provides five times as much vegetable oil per hectare compared to alternative crops, such as coconut, and sequesters more carbon per hectare than tea and coconut. <\/p>\n
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According to studies conducted by Sri Lankan scientists, per litre of oil palm requires lesser fertilisers and less water than coconut, dry rubber or tea. The crop primarily uses rainwater for cultivation, and there is no evidence of oil palm\u00a0 plantations causing groundwater depletion. Yet, despite a wide range of virtues, the Sri Lankan government has decided to ban palm oil production, ordering replacement of oil palm trees with rubber plantations, on grounds of unfavourable environmental and social impacts.<\/p>\n
Myths and truths\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Unfortunately, palm oil has been at the receiving end of a perception that is nurtured based on unfavourable emotions and not facts around it. Claims of oil palm plantations leading to widespread deforestation and damage to ecosystems have hardly any transparent scientific research backing them. In Sri Lanka, palm oil does not replace forest but other plantation crops, primarily rubber or coconut. Therefore, its biodiversity performance needs to be compared with these crops, and as found in various studies, the differences in biodiversity between oil palm, rubber, tea and coconut plantations are neither significant nor conclusive.<\/p>\n In an attempt to break the myths around palm oil and its production, Solidaridad has released the \u201cMyths and Truths of Oil Palm\u201d, a research-based scientific study that provides information and assessments on palm oil through an in-depth literature review on research findings by over 15 leading scientists from top universities and research institutions across Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Sri Lanka. A result of extensive research, the publication vividly portrays the social, economic and environmental impacts of oil palm production.<\/p>\n Research highlights\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Setting tone<\/strong><\/p>\n The launch was organized on 19 January 2022 in a hybrid event with scientists, government ministries and departments, research institutes, private sector, community organisations, media and other participants from Sri Lanka joining the event physically. Panellists and participants from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and other parts of the world attended the event virtually.<\/p>\n Among the panellists, Solidaridad Asia Managing Director Dr. Shatadru Chattopadhayay began the session on a strong and positive note, highlighting the socio-economic impacts of the crop.<\/p>\n \u201cStop condemning palm oil while adulating other oils, especially when we know that palm oil provides livelihoods to thousands of communities,\u201d he mentioned, setting the tone of the session.<\/p>\n Prof. Maja Slingerland from the Wageningen University of the Netherlands, who is also the study reviewer and editor, spoke at length on the impacts and opportunities of oil palm cultivation in Asia.<\/p>\n Research scholar Dr. Ranjith Mahindapala, presented the audience with the key findings and recommendations from the publication. The panellists also included Manjula De Silva from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka; Musdahlifah Machmud from the Co-ordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of \u00a0Indonesia; Atul Chaturvedi from the Solvent Extractors Association, India; and Dr. Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, among others.<\/p>\n\n