Latest news with #AhmadParveezGhulamKadir
Euractiv
a day ago
- Business
- Euractiv
Can palm oil go net zero? Inside the push to cut climate impact
Palm oil is one of the most ubiquitous substances in the goods we consume, found in everything from chocolate to cosmetics. It's in nearly 50% of the packaged products we see in supermarkets, and it's also used in animal feed and as a biofuel in many parts of the world. The reason is that it's an extremely versatile oil with numerous properties and functions. It is semi-solid at room temperature, making it suitable for use in food, and it's resistant to oxidation, which can extend the shelf life of products. It's also odourless and colourless, so it doesn't alter the look or smell of food products. It would therefore be very difficult to replace with another ingredient. But palm oil has long been linked to deforestation, fires and greenhouse gas emissions. The forest loss, together with the conversion of carbon-rich peat soils, has caused millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases to escape into the atmosphere. Still, could there be a way to reap the benefits of palm oil without contributing to climate change? Today, producing countries, major brands, and local farmers are betting that new technology and rules can rewrite that story - and even push palm oil toward net-zero emissions. The biggest challenge is stopping indirect land use change (ILUC), the hidden climate cost when forests are cleared elsewhere to make room for crops that have been displaced by palm oil cultivation. For Indonesia and Malaysia, the two biggest producers of palm oil, these efforts have been particularly important. 'In Malaysia, palm oil is produced in accordance with sustainable principles and criteria under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme, which has been implemented on a mandatory basis from January 2020,' says Dr. Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir, Director-General of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. 'The MPSO certification has a deforestation cut-off date of 31 December 2019, which strengthened the requirements for new planting.' Satellite eyes in the sky Over the past two decades, pressure from consumers and regulators has motivated palm oil giants to clean up their supply chains. At the heart of this effort is traceability - proving exactly where each tonne of palm oil comes from. Multinational companies like Unilever, Ferrero, Nestlé, and Kao now monitor vast plantations with high-resolution satellite imagery and AI detection tools. Ferrero, for example, has tracked 100% of its palm oil to the plantation level since 2016 and uses Starling satellite monitoring to flag forest loss in real time. Unilever's NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation) dashboard tracks 20 million hectares globally. Meanwhile, producing countries are tightening the rules. Indonesia has launched its e-STDB traceability platform, which requires farmers and companies to register their palm plantations on a national blockchain-based database. Malaysia is developing the National Oil Palm Traceability System, to establish full traceability across the supply chain. 'This system is anchored by the Sawit Intelligent Management System (SIMS) for traceability data and will be integrated with GeoSawit and e-MSPO, two important platforms that support geospatial mapping and sustainability certification, respectively,' says Ahmad Parveez. He said, 'The integrated approach enables the tracking of the origin of palm products along the supply chain from the plantation and smallholders. The traceability system is crucial in the context of sustainability and climate commitments, including monitoring, management and reporting of emissions, among others.' These advances are being supercharged by technology. New satellite monitoring systems - like Earthqualizer, and Global Forest Watch - use AI to spot illegal land clearing, even under cloud cover. This surveillance is giving companies and governments near real-time alerts when new plantations appear on high-carbon peatlands or primary forests. Changes on the ground Palm oil emissions don't just come from clearing forests, but also from methane leaking from palm oil mills. Malaysia's Sustainable Palm Oil Roadmap encourages mills to capture methane and turn it into biogas, cutting emissions by nearly 40% per tonne of crude palm oil, according to a 2023 industry report. Meanwhile, projects like PALMSTEP in Central Kalimantan, funded by the European Union, help smallholder farmers get certified and access digital tools for traceability and regenerative farming, reducing the pressure to expand into forests. Palm oil mills emit methane from wastewater and CO₂ from energy use. Methane-capture biogas systems, together with switching to renewable energy, can reduce mill CO₂e intensity by around 40%, according to experts. Energy-efficient mills coupled with zero-burning policies can also help combat both direct emissions and ILUC pressures. 'The cooperation among countries in Southeast Asia has continued to ensure conservation of forest and biodiversity as well as reduce impact on the environment and contribute to climate action,' says Parveez. 'One of the examples is the Heart of Borneo, a trilateral cooperation between Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia covering an area of over 20 million hectares that help to strengthen the world's resilience to climate change by conserving carbon sinks and creating a huge green lung for the world, and at the same time protecting the livelihoods of the forest dependent communities.' He noted that in addition, Malaysia has the Central Forest Spine initiative that covers 5.3 million hectares in Peninsular Malaysia as part of the conservation efforts at the national level. Is it working? So far, there has been progress, but not as much as campaigners would have liked to see. The NGO WWF has said that it is better to stick with palm oil rather than alternatives like soybeans, coconut or sunflower oil because they require between four to ten times more land. But they say that while progress is being made on reducing palm oil's climate and environmental impact, change isn't coming fast enough. Studies show deforestation rates linked to palm oil have fallen in Indonesia and Malaysia since the destructive haze years of 2015, when fires raged across peatlands, releasing over 500 million tonnes of CO₂. The World Resources Institute reports that palm-related deforestation dropped by more than 40% between 2012 and 2022, thanks in part to corporate 'zero deforestation' pledges and tighter land laws. 'Palm oil presents a positive example of decoupling commodity production from deforestation,' says Anita Neville, Chief Sustainability and Communications Officer at the Singapore-based palm oil company Golden Agri-Resources. Neville remarked that forest loss linked to palm oil production in Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, fell by more than 90% from its peak in 2012 to 2022, while palm oil production continued to increase. But scientists warn that indirect land use change remains a threat if demand keeps rising. If plantations expand into untouched forests or displace other crops to new frontiers, the climate gains vanish. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), formed in 2004, has been working to ensure that climate gains are maintained. RSPO has production standards for growers that set best practices for producing and sourcing palm oil, and it has the buy-in of most of the global industry. Companies can certify their products with the RSPO label to demonstrate to consumers they are part of these efforts. Nearly 20% of global palm oil is RSPO-certified. The world's top palm oil producers have big climate promises. Indonesia aims for net-zero emissions by 2060, while Malaysia wants to get there by 2050, leaning heavily on transforming its palm sector. Major buyers like Unilever, Nestlé, and Ferrero have pledged to buy 100% sustainably sourced palm oil within the next two years. Still, critics argue that global demand and enforcement gaps could undermine these ambitions. [Edited By Brian Maguire | Euractiv's Advocacy Lab ]
NDTV
2 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
India Become Top Buyer Of Malaysia's Oil Palm Seed
Kuala Lumpur: India has emerged as Malaysia's largest importer of germinated oil palm seeds, with demand surging as the country accelerates efforts to boost domestic palm oil production and reduce import dependency. India imported 3.03 million tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia in 2024, representing 17.9 per cent of Malaysia's total palm oil exports and making it the top destination for Malaysian palm oil. "There has been a noticeable increase in demand for Malaysian oil palm seeds, particularly from India," Malaysian Palm Oil Board Director General Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir told PTI, citing India's push to expand domestic production. India aims to rapidly expand palm oil cultivation to 1 million hectares by 2025-26 and achieve nearly 2.8 million tonnes of crude palm oil production by 2029-30 under its National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm scheme. The country currently has about 370,000 hectares under palm oil cultivation as of mid-2025, focusing particularly on northeastern states and island regions. The seed trade, however, remains largely informal, with supplies conducted on an ad hoc basis through one-off consignments without formal contracts or long-term agreements, Kadir noted. Most transactions happen through business-to-business arrangements where Malaysian exporters provide quality planting materials and technical expertise. "Malaysia welcomes this development as it reflects confidence in the quality of our seeds and our longstanding partnership with India," he said. The development comes even as Malaysia's palm oil exports to India have moderated following New Delhi's recent reduction in tariffs on crude palm oil. Kadir said India's tariff adjustments are part of broader policy measures to manage domestic supply and keep cooking oil prices affordable for consumers. "While Malaysia has seen some moderation in export volumes to India, we remain a key and reliable supplier, and the Indian market continues to be a priority," he said. Malaysia is engaging stakeholders to strengthen its position in food manufacturing and hospitality segments where demand remains strong, while promoting sustainable palm oil certified under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil standard. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board has developed new high-yield varieties through breeding programs that can potentially produce over 30 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches per hectare annually, nearly double Malaysia's national average of 15.47-16.73 tonnes recorded between 2020-2023. The improved varieties also have slower height growth, extending economic lifespan from 25 years to over 30 years while facilitating harvesting operations. Current Malaysian commercial seeds are suitable for cultivation in India with proper farming practices and adequate irrigation, Kadir said, noting the materials have performed well under tropical conditions similar to many Indian regions with sufficient rainfall. Research efforts are underway to develop climate-resilient varieties with improved drought tolerance, though none have been commercially released yet, he added.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
With surging demand, India emerges as Malaysia's largest importer of germinating oil palm seeds
India has emerged as Malaysia's largest importer of germinated oil palm seeds, with demand surging as the country accelerates efforts to boost domestic palm oil production and reduce import dependency. India imported 3.03 million tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia in 2024, representing 17.9% of Malaysia's total palm oil exports and making it the top destination for Malaysian palm oil. If India gives land, we will work together to produce palm oil here, says visiting Malaysian Minister "There has been a noticeable increase in demand for Malaysian oil palm seeds, particularly from India," Malaysian Palm Oil Board Director General Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir told PTI, citing India's push to expand domestic production. India aims to rapidly expand palm oil cultivation to one million hectares by 2025-26 and achieve nearly 2.8 million tonnes of crude palm oil production by 2029-30 under its National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm scheme. The country currently has about 3,70,000 hectares under palm oil cultivation as of mid-2025, focussing particularly on northeastern States and island regions. Malaysia looks for new markets for palm oil as EU threatens with stricter ecological regulations 'The seed trade, however, remains largely informal, with supplies conducted on an ad hoc basis through one-off consignments without formal contracts or long-term agreements,' Mr. Kadir noted. Most transactions happen through business-to-business arrangements where Malaysian exporters provide quality planting materials and technical expertise. "Malaysia welcomes this development as it reflects confidence in the quality of our seeds and our longstanding partnership with India," he said. The development comes even as Malaysia's palm oil exports to India have moderated following New Delhi's recent reduction in tariffs on crude palm oil. Mr. Kadir said India's tariff adjustments are part of broader policy measures to manage domestic supply and keep cooking oil prices affordable for consumers. "While Malaysia has seen some moderation in export volumes to India, we remain a key and reliable supplier, and the Indian market continues to be a priority," he said. Malaysia is engaging stakeholders to strengthen its position in food manufacturing and hospitality segments where demand remains strong, while promoting sustainable palm oil certified under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil standard. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board has developed new high-yield varieties through breeding programmes that can potentially produce more than 30 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches per hectare annually, nearly double Malaysia's national average of 15.47-16.73 tonnes recorded between 2020-2023. Palm oil imports in May jump 87% to six-month high in India, dealers say The improved varieties also have slower height growth, extending economic lifespan from 25 years to more than 30 years while facilitating harvesting operations. 'Current Malaysian commercial seeds are suitable for cultivation in India with proper farming practices and adequate irrigation,' Mr. Kadir said, noting the materials have performed well under tropical conditions similar to many Indian regions with sufficient rainfall. 'Research efforts are under way to develop climate-resilient varieties with improved drought tolerance, though none have been commercially released yet,' he added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India becomes Malaysia's top oil palm seed buyer as domestic palm oil production expands
Kuala Lumpur, India has emerged as Malaysia 's largest importer of germinated oil palm seeds , with demand surging as the country accelerates efforts to boost domestic palm oil production and reduce import dependency. India imported 3.03 million tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia in 2024, representing 17.9 per cent of Malaysia's total palm oil exports and making it the top destination for Malaysian palm oil. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Project Management MCA Healthcare CXO Technology Public Policy Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics Digital Marketing Leadership Product Management Management Degree others Data Science Data Science MBA Cybersecurity Others Design Thinking Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details "There has been a noticeable increase in demand for Malaysian oil palm seeds, particularly from India," Malaysian Palm Oil Board Director General Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir told PTI, citing India's push to expand domestic production. India aims to rapidly expand palm oil cultivation to 1 million hectares by 2025-26 and achieve nearly 2.8 million tonnes of crude palm oil production by 2029-30 under its National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm scheme. The country currently has about 370,000 hectares under palm oil cultivation as of mid-2025, focusing particularly on northeastern states and island regions. Live Events The seed trade, however, remains largely informal, with supplies conducted on an ad hoc basis through one-off consignments without formal contracts or long-term agreements, Kadir noted. Most transactions happen through business-to-business arrangements where Malaysian exporters provide quality planting materials and technical expertise. "Malaysia welcomes this development as it reflects confidence in the quality of our seeds and our longstanding partnership with India," he said. The development comes even as Malaysia's palm oil exports to India have moderated following New Delhi's recent reduction in tariffs on crude palm oil. Kadir said India's tariff adjustments are part of broader policy measures to manage domestic supply and keep cooking oil prices affordable for consumers. "While Malaysia has seen some moderation in export volumes to India, we remain a key and reliable supplier, and the Indian market continues to be a priority," he said. Malaysia is engaging stakeholders to strengthen its position in food manufacturing and hospitality segments where demand remains strong, while promoting sustainable palm oil certified under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil standard. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board has developed new high-yield varieties through breeding programs that can potentially produce over 30 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches per hectare annually, nearly double Malaysia's national average of 15.47-16.73 tonnes recorded between 2020-2023. The improved varieties also have slower height growth, extending economic lifespan from 25 years to over 30 years while facilitating harvesting operations. Current Malaysian commercial seeds are suitable for cultivation in India with proper farming practices and adequate irrigation, Kadir said, noting the materials have performed well under tropical conditions similar to many Indian regions with sufficient rainfall. Research efforts are underway to develop climate-resilient varieties with improved drought tolerance, though none have been commercially released yet, he added.
News18
2 days ago
- Business
- News18
India becomes Malaysias top oil palm seed buyer as domestic cultivation expands
Last Updated: Kuala Lumpur, Jul 21 (PTI) India has emerged as Malaysia's largest importer of germinated oil palm seeds, with demand surging as the country accelerates efforts to boost domestic palm oil production and reduce import dependency. India imported 3.03 million tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia in 2024, representing 17.9 per cent of Malaysia's total palm oil exports and making it the top destination for Malaysian palm oil. 'There has been a noticeable increase in demand for Malaysian oil palm seeds, particularly from India," Malaysian Palm Oil Board Director General Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir told PTI, citing India's push to expand domestic production. India aims to rapidly expand palm oil cultivation to 1 million hectares by 2025-26 and achieve nearly 2.8 million tonnes of crude palm oil production by 2029-30 under its National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm scheme. The country currently has about 370,000 hectares under palm oil cultivation as of mid-2025, focusing particularly on northeastern states and island regions. The seed trade, however, remains largely informal, with supplies conducted on an ad hoc basis through one-off consignments without formal contracts or long-term agreements, Kadir noted. The development comes even as Malaysia's palm oil exports to India have moderated following New Delhi's recent reduction in tariffs on crude palm oil. Kadir said India's tariff adjustments are part of broader policy measures to manage domestic supply and keep cooking oil prices affordable for consumers. 'While Malaysia has seen some moderation in export volumes to India, we remain a key and reliable supplier, and the Indian market continues to be a priority," he said. Malaysia is engaging stakeholders to strengthen its position in food manufacturing and hospitality segments where demand remains strong, while promoting sustainable palm oil certified under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil standard. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board has developed new high-yield varieties through breeding programs that can potentially produce over 30 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches per hectare annually, nearly double Malaysia's national average of 15.47-16.73 tonnes recorded between 2020-2023. The improved varieties also have slower height growth, extending economic lifespan from 25 years to over 30 years while facilitating harvesting operations. Current Malaysian commercial seeds are suitable for cultivation in India with proper farming practices and adequate irrigation, Kadir said, noting the materials have performed well under tropical conditions similar to many Indian regions with sufficient rainfall. Research efforts are underway to develop climate-resilient varieties with improved drought tolerance, though none have been commercially released yet, he added. PTI LUX DR DR view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 13:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
