Unpacking Oil Palm: 80 million

From chocolate and shampoo to food, palm oil can be found in a range of packaged goods on the supermarket shelves and is used throughout industry. Its versatility makes it difficult to replace yet its production remains controversial due to high greenhouse gas emissions, the extensive deforestation carried out in Southeast Asia in the 1990s to make way for oil palm plantations, and habitat loss for a range of endangered species.  So how can the oil palm industry become more sustainable? In this episode Alice Hope and Sue Nelson visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to meet palm house manager Will Spoelstra, who offers insight into the plant.  
  
UKCEH scientists Dr Julia Drewer and Professor Niall McNamara share insights from their research in Malaysia to improve soil quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Plus Sue and Alice hear from the Malaysian partners in that research – Dr Reza Azmi from the Social Enterprise Wild Asia - about how this trial is helping small-scale producers adopt more sustainable practices to support livelihoods and the environment. Finally the conversation shifts to Africa, where the oil palm originated from, as Dr Nick Cowan explains how lessons learned in Asia are being applied to new regions.

Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope

Producer: Rachael Buchanan

Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Find out more:

Building a sustainable future for oil palm in West Africa  
 
Wild Asia  

Innovations in Practice : The Pathway to Nature-Positive, Low-Carbon Palm Oil