• Is palm oil sustainable?
  • Production of palm oil that complies with voluntary sustainability standards is growing at a faster rate than conventional production. Standard-compliant production increased by 110% from 2008 to 2016, while conventional production increased by 2%.
  • How much oil is extracted from palm kernels?
  • The oil palm produces bunches containing many fruits with the fleshy mesocarp enclosing a kernel that is covered by a very hard shell. The FAO considers palm oil (coming from the pulp) and palm kernels to be primary products. The oil extraction rate from a bunch varies from 17 to 27% for palm oil, and from 4 to 10% for palm kernels.
  • Which countries produce palm oil?
  • Now, Indonesia and Malaysia make up over 85% of global supply but there are 42 other countries that also produce palm oil. Smallholder shows the harvested palm fruit, Musim Mas palm oil plantation, Sumatra, Indonesia ? James Morgan / WWF-International
  • What fatty acids are in palm oil?
  • Palm oil, like all fats, is composed of fatty acids, esterified with glycerol. Palm oil has an especially high concentration of saturated fat, specifically the 16-carbon saturated fatty acid, palmitic acid, to which it gives its name. Monounsaturated oleic acid is also a major constituent of palm oil.
  • Is palm oil a saturated fat or a monounsaturated oleic acid?
  • Palm oil has an especially high concentration of saturated fat, specifically the 16-carbon saturated fatty acid, palmitic acid, to which it gives its name. Monounsaturated oleic acid is also a major constituent of palm oil. Unrefined palm oil is a significant source of tocotrienol, part of the vitamin E family.
  • Does oil palm produce more oil than other crops?
  • However, oil palm generally produces more oil per area than other oil crops, is often economically viable in sites unsuitable for most other crops and generates considerable wealth for at least some actors. Global demand for vegetable oils is projected to increase by 46% by 2050.