Is the search for a real alternative to palm oil over?

It’s the most widely consumed oil in the world. It shows up on the ingredients list of potato chips, pizza and soap. But it’s also associated with ecological degradation as it’s a major driver of deforestation. This has motivated researchers to investigate the manufacture of palm oil with the aim of finding a more ethically acceptable alternative. And a team in Scotland may have finally succeeded.

In pizza, nut butters and even deodorants and toothpaste — palm oil is everywhere! Because of its smooth texture and neutral odour, as well as its ability to act as a natural preservative, this ingredient, mainly produced in Malaysia and Indonesia (which account for 85 per cent of world production, according to the WWF), has long been of interest to manufacturers, who also prize it for its low cost of production, which means that the final product can be priced affordably. But there is a downside. And the downside has to do with the environment and the ecological destruction that the manufacture of palm oil engenders. Representing 40 per cent of all vegetable oils produced in the world, its production is responsible for a significant amount of deforestation.

Between 2011 and 2013, some six million hectares of forest were burned for oil palm plantations, reports National Geographic. This is equivalent to the surface area of Ireland. To cultivate these species of plants, forest land needs to be cleared in order to establish a new crop. Not only does this create dense fire smoke, it also destroys the habitat and food resources of animals such as orangutans. In addition to soil pollution, oil palm cultivation reduces the level of biodiversity of a primary tropical forest by at least 90 per cent, according to the WWF. For example, it nibbles away at the living space of elephants, rhinoceroses and tigers. Deforestation is also responsible for 15-20 per cent of all human greenhouse gas emissions.

Which is why Scottish researchers at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, have been working on developing a healthier, greener alternative. According to a press release, they managed to create one that is free of flavouring and chemical preservatives, as well as being free of coconut, which is often considered an alternative to the more classically used oils. The replacement is based on a byproduct generated by the linseed industry. The scientists also added rapeseed oil and natural fibres. The result has the consistency of mayonnaise and has been dubbed “PALM-ALT.”

This isn’t the first time that scientists have taken up the challenge of finding a more ethically acceptable substitute for palm oil. Earlier this year, start-up C16 Biosciences unveiled a process for fermenting food waste to extract a liquid that could replace palm oil. The New York-based company dubbed its discovery “palmless.” That innovation was based on the principle of a synthetic oil obtained through the action of a yeast strain that drives the fermentation process. Bill Gates has invested no less than twenty million dollars in the project….

Tags: palm oil, deforestation, vegetable oils, Indonesia, Production, Malaysia