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Founder of the platform, with more than 11 years of experience in marketing within the oils and fats industry.
Palm oil is widely used as a vegetable oil. It is used in many industries such as food, personal care products, and biofuels. Palm oil production has seen a significant increase globally, from 24 million tons in 2000/2001 to 77 million tons in 2022/2023, to meet the increasing demand for vegetable oils.
This increased demand is due to several factors, including population growth, urbanization, and increasing recognition of the health benefits of natural oils.
To meet the environmental, social and economic challenges facing the industry, and ensure its competitiveness in an ever-changing market, you must prioritize innovation.
The deployment of innovative technologies, processes and business models can make the industry more environmentally sustainable and efficient.
While oil palm trees can withstand short periods of drought, stress due to extended drought usually leads to a reduction in flowering and a reduction in the production of fresh oil palm bulbs in the next harvest cycles.
With advances in technology, it is now possible to improve irrigation application decisions by analyzing field data in real time.
New technologies, such as the Internet of Things and sensors, combined with economies of scale, may provide effective solutions for providing water to farms, helping to stabilize production.
Despite widespread recognition of the importance of digital technology in the management of oil palm plantations, the lack of reliable Internet connectivity has hindered significant progress in this field.
With digital transformation and the evolution of wireless broadband networks, companies can take advantage of information and communication technology to improve production efficiency.
Incorporating biotechnology into palm oil extraction processes could be a paradigm shift for the industry.
Using innovative biotechnological processes, producers can address many of the challenges facing current extraction processes, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
For example, enzymes can break down the cell walls of palm fruits, improving the efficiency of oil extraction without affecting the quality of crude palm oil.
Some companies have started, such as Sime Darby Plantation, the world's largest certified producer of sustainable palm oil, is deploying this technology on an industrial scale.
The complete operations of oil laboratories using enzymes show a 0.7% increase in oil recovery, indirectly reducing the exploitation of natural resources.
By adopting innovation, the palm oil industry can contribute significantly to the adoption of renewable energy, especially in light of its role as one of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Using technologies such as biogas generators to produce electricity from industrial wastewater generated by palm oil plants is one of the innovative solutions.
When these wastes are decomposed in the absence of oxygen, methane is formed, a warm gas with a 25 times stronger effect than carbon dioxide if released into the atmosphere.
Biogas generated in palm oil plantations can be exploited as a renewable energy source to produce electricity if captured correctly.
Although biogas-based power plants exist in many farms, their full potential has yet to be realized, possibly due to the high costs of establishing substations and high-voltage transmission lines in rural areas where palm oil plants are usually located.
But if the industry can take advantage of this source, it will not only contribute to reducing carbon emissions, but will also provide reliable and sustainable energy to rural areas.
The palm oil industry can explore innovative business models as well as technological advancement.
Adopting circular economy principles, aimed at reducing waste and maximizing resource efficiency in product and process design, is a promising approach.
This can be achieved through biorefinery techniques, which convert agricultural waste such as palm trunks, palm leaves, empty honey, and palm kernel cake into bioethanol.
Bioethanol has an 86% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline and has a high octane number, boosting engine performance.
Moreover, when palm kernel cake is used as a raw material to produce bioethanol, Dried Distillation Beans with Dissolved Solutions (DDGS), a by-product with a high protein content, can replace corn and soybeans in poultry feed without negatively affecting its performance.
To stay competitive in an ever-evolving market, the palm oil industry must prioritize the implementation of innovative solutions to meet the challenges it faces.
By adopting innovative technologies, processes and business models, the industry can improve its environmental sustainability and operational efficiency.
Additionally, innovation can help address environmental and social concerns associated with palm oil production, making it a more sustainable and ethical industry.
Source: Daily Express
