Scientists reveal the untapped potential of palm oil

 

From Ahmad Ibrahim

The Oils and Fats International Congress (OFIC), a brainchild of Malaysian scientist Augustine Ong, never fails to mesmerise participants with new scientific evidence regarding the many virtues of palm oil.

This year, OFIC 2024, held from Oct 22-23, attracted about 500 participants from around the world, and the papers presented confirmed the untapped economic potential of this wonder crop.

Ong, an ever-passionate palm oil scientist, remains committed to spreading positive scientific facts about palm oil.

This year, he has again assembled the world’s prominent scientific minds to further corroborate palm oil’s unrivalled position as the world’s leading edible oil. The world should take notice.

Loh Teck Peng, a Malaysian scientist working at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, provided convincing scientific evidence on the economic prospects of palm oil in various business areas, including energy and pharmaceuticals.

Professor Denis Murphy of the United Kingdom presented well-researched facts on the superior carbon sequestration power of the oil palm.

A world struggling to combat climate change cannot ignore this. Many at the conference suggested showcasing such climate-positive evidence at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) meetings.

Palm oil, one of the most widely used vegetable oils, has significant untapped economic potential.

Its vast applications extend beyond traditional uses in food products and cooking oils, and scientific research has highlighted several avenues for economic growth related to palm oil.

Palm oil has potential in the production of biofuels, especially biodiesel. It is already a major feedstock for biodiesel production, and advancements in technology are making the conversion process more efficient.

Research into second-generation biofuels using waste from palm oil production, such as empty fruit bunches and palm kernel shells, could create a more sustainable energy source, reducing carbon emissions.

Palm oil is a key source for oleochemicals, which are used in various industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and cleaning products.

Scientific advancements have uncovered more efficient ways to process palm oil into high-value oleochemicals, which can be used in biodegradable plastics, surfactants, lubricants, and more.

Expanding the oleochemical industry can increase the economic value of palm oil while reducing reliance on petrochemicals.

With the global push towards reducing plastic waste, palm oil-based bioplastics offer a sustainable alternative.

Advances in biopolymer science have made it possible to derive biodegradable plastics from palm oil derivatives, which can be used in packaging, cutlery, and other single-use products.

This provides an opportunity for palm oil-producing countries to capture new market segments in the sustainable materials industry.

Palm oil is rich in tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E that has potent antioxidant properties.

Research indicates that tocotrienols from palm oil may offer health benefits, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Ong, who remains alert at 90, is a living testament to this; he religiously takes tocotrienols every morning.

The development of nutraceuticals and functional food products derived from palm oil could tap into the growing wellness and health-conscious consumer markets.

The palm oil industry generates large amounts of biomass waste, including palm kernel cake, fronds, and trunks.

Science-driven innovations have shown that these by-products can be used for various economic purposes, including animal feed, organic fertilizers, and bioenergy production.

Further investment in technologies that convert waste into valuable products can unlock new revenue streams and create a circular economy within the palm oil sector.

If managed sustainably, palm oil plantations have potential for carbon sequestration.

There is increasing interest in using oil palm plantations as carbon sinks, which could open up opportunities for palm oil producers to participate in carbon credit markets.

Sustainable practices that align with environmental standards also enable companies to attract green investments and improve their global market competitiveness.

Palm oil derivatives, particularly red palm oil, are being studied for their medicinal properties.

A blend of red palm oil and olive oil, P90, was launched at this year’s OFIC.

As the beauty and health industries continue to shift towards natural ingredients, there is an opportunity for palm oil to serve as a sustainable base for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and Loh provided substantial scientific evidence for this.

There is no denying that the palm oil industry has the potential to contribute even more significantly to the global economy, while also addressing sustainability and environmental concerns.

Malaysia and Indonesia, the major producers of palm oil, should work together to intensify communication of this potential to the world. - FMT

Ahmad Ibrahim is a professor at the Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy Studies at UCSI University and an associate fellow at the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies at Universiti Malaya.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.