
Palm Oil Grace Morton RPI EcoEd Research Program Middle School Research Program Spring 2012
Palm Oil • Introduction • Palm Oil is in almost EVERYTHING • Palm oil production is a major factor in deforestation in Indonesia • Developing palm oil plantations releases carbon and inhibits its reabsorption • Palm oil consumption is unhealthy
Palm Oil • Stakeholders • Animals • Indigenous Peoples • Plantation Owners • Consumers • Companies • Harvesters and Processers
Palm Oil • Every year over 1,800,000 hectares of forest is burned to make way for palm oil plantations • Palm oil is used in a variety of food products, personal care products, cosmetics and pet foods • Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm tree.
Palm Oil • Overview of Research • Online sources • Scientific Articles • The EcoEd Group • Smart People (my dad)
Palm Oil • Animals Effected • Orangutans • Tigers • Elephants • Rhinoceros • Leopards • Various small monkeys • Banteng (an Ox)
Palm Oil • Carbon • Indonesia releases more greenhouse gases than any country besides China and the US. • Carbon is usually stored in ‘carbon sinks’ such as the forest • Carbon is released when the forest is burned to make way for palm oil plantations
Palm Oil • Biofuel • Biofuels are used as a substitute for petroleum based fuels • Palm oil can be used to manufacture biofuel • Fortunately, a lot of other materials can be used for the production of biofuels
Palm Oil • Human Health • Palm oil is loaded with polyunsaturated fat • Polyunsaturated fat is a particularly bad type of trans fat
Palm Oil • Solutions • Herakles Farm • Labeling • More Sustainable Oils • Alternative Products
Palm Oil • Solutions • Herakles Farm
Palm Oil • Solutions • Herakles Farm • Labeling
Palm Oil • Solutions • Herakles Farm • Labeling • More Sustainable Oils
Palm Oil • Solutions • Herakles Farm • Labeling • More Sustainable Oils • Alternative Products
Palm Oil • conclusions