Malaysia Palm Oil demonstrates that an all-round beneficial relationship between commerce, land and people is indeed achievable. It takes a serious, on-going commitment to producing palm oil in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible way.

Palm oil economics need not be bad for the environment, nor exploit communities. There can be peaceful co-existence where the oil palm supports both economic and environmental outcomes.

In Malaysia, oil palm cultivation directly supports the livelihood of 570,000 people and has played a key role in poverty eradication. The industry provides utilities, housing and medical facilities and welfare for plantation workers. Plantation estates are also the social nuclei of many rural communities and often lead to the development of townships.

Malaysian oil palm plantation practices support the ecosystem biodiversity and species diversity through crop diversification, agroforestry, analogue forestry and good agricultural ethics. Flora and fauna studies in established plantations have recorded rich, flourishing populations of mammal, bird, insect and plant life.

As the world’s demands for palm oil grows, so will the oil palm industry; and with it, so must the responsible custodianship of people, planet and profits.