The best planned sustainable

Transcription

1 Cover Story The best planned sustainable practices would be no more than wishful thinking if these cannot be translated into good agriculture practices. Having spearheaded extensive research and development in oil palm cultivation, Malaysia has long advocated sustainable farming practices. In this, it has struck a balance between commercial and economic needs and preservation of the environment. Malaysia has long turned concept into action for sustainable production of palm oil Bako National Park, Sarawak Photo: MTC 6

2 TREE COVER IN MALAYSIA COMPARED TO SELECTED COUNTRIES Climate is a key determinant in the extent of natural tree cover, which flourishes in the equatorial conditions of Malaysia - uniformly high temperatures, humidity and rainfall. Source: MTC With 185,000 known species of fauna and 12,500 species of flowering plants, Malaysia ranks as one of the twelve mega-diverse countries. Source: FAO, Global Forest Resources Assessment, 2005 Laws including the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972 were already in place when the industry saw a surge in planted area from the 1980s. Unfortunately, opponents of the industry and NGOs who claim to fly the flag of sustainability have failed to take note of legally mandated checks and balances toward sustainable development. The hysteria generated is mainly a distortion and manipulation of facts or good practices long adopted. However, the allegations were firmly refuted during a symposium on Sustainable Resource Development, hosted by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) in London on May 18. NGO representatives at the event eventually acknowledged that their efforts were not targeted at Malaysia whose palm oil polices are more ecofriendly than those of other producers. How could the NGOs have alleged that Malaysian palm oil is not sustainable? Why did they portray palm oil negatively and encourage consumers to avoid such products? Judging by the unsustainable performance of the UK and EU agriculture, it would have been more logical for them to tell consumers to boycott their own farm produce, the sustainability of which is far below that of Malaysian palm oil. Forest cover NGOs have claimed that the destruction of rainforests in Malaysia is due to the expansion of oil palm and that such activities have endangered the existence of some species of flora and fauna. But such accusations cannot be applied to oil palm in terms of agricultural practices in the UK and the percentage of Malaysian land devoted to forestry, agriculture and oil palm. Overall green cover, including untouched forests and agriculture areas, 7

3 occupies a stunning 76% of Malaysia s land mass of 32 million ha. This is far greater than the green cover of which most developed economies can boast. Yet, the loudest noise is made by those from nations that have long devastated their own green cover and are actively contributing to global warming by emitting various pollutants from industries and wasteful lifestyles. Forests, including some of the world s oldest virgin rainforests, account for 60% of Malaysia s land mass. According to FAO data, the UK has less than 12% of land under forest, with the rest having been converted to agriculture. Agricultural land in UK makes up 70% of the total land area. Despite Malaysia s emergence as the world s largest producer and exporter of palm oil, it has brought less than 19% of the land mass under agricultural crops. Of this, two-thirds or only 4 million ha are under oil palm plantations. This has not led to reduced biodiversity and loss of fauna and flora under oil palm cultivation as several NGOs have claimed. If forest conservation for environment sustainability is truly their aim, they should campaign for agricultural land to revert to forest EU and UK agriculture would be their most appropriate target in view of abuse of land by planting rapeseed for bio-fuel, when this could be converted to forest. The energy balance for rapeseed bio-fuel is negative, (more energy is spent to generate one unit of bio-fuel energy, besides contributing to more carbon dioxide emission). The EU or UK should ideally follow the Malaysian standard of 50% of land under forest cover, by converting agricultural land into forest to generate conditions of higher conservation and biodiversity. The goal should be to reduce agricultural land use to less than 20% as practised by Malaysia. Reducing global hunger With the world population projected to grow from 6.5 billion in 2005 to 8 billion by 2028, demands on all food commodities are expected to strain global land resources. Managing hunger has emerged as a major challenge for all including the FAO and WHO. Fats and oils are macro nutrients that must be provided in sufficient quantities and at affordable prices to ensure a healthy diet. Fat is a concentrated form of energy which is recommended at the minimum level of at least 20% calories. Unfortunately this target is not being readily met in the poorer economies. The palm oil industry is meeting the challenge to provide a suitable and sustainable edible oil supply. It is difficult to imagine those global commodities markets that are not adequately supplied by palm oil. It is in this context the oil palm shows most promise as a sustainable crop. With only 0.4% of the world s population, Malaysia produces 11% of Photo: IJMP, Cede Prudente 8

4 The Carbon Cycle The carbon cycle illustrates how plants and animals of the rainforest rely on each other for survival. Fast growing young trees convert carbon dioxide to organic matter via photosynthesis. In turn, carbon dioxide is released by living organisms into the atmosphere through respiration. the global vegetable oils as well as accounts for 29% of export trade in oils and fats. This is carried out on 1.84% (4 million ha) of the total area (216 million ha) under global oilseeds cultivation. Oil palm has been demonstrated to be the most efficient and biologically superior oilbearing crop in terms of land utilisation efficiency and productivity. Average oil yields are 3.66 tonnes/ha/year, while that of other oilseed crops pale in comparison (soybean, 0.36 tonnes/ha/year; rapeseed, 0.60 tonnes/ha/year; sunflower seed 0.46 tonnes/ha/year). Only 9.2 million ha of agricultural land need be devoted to oil palm to produce 31.8% of the global fats and oils output. For a similar output, soybean cultivation requires million ha. Thus, if the target is to feed the growing world population and better utilise available land for cultivation, it makes good sense to look at palm oil as a sustainable commodity. In addition, research strategies have focused on improving yields, projecting an output of up to 6 tonnes/ha/year within the next decade. Scientific evidence The acreage under Malaysian oil palm has released approximately 85 million tonnes of oxygen through photosynthesis and related activities. In contrast, the entire agriculture land of 17 million hectares in the UK has generated only 43.5 million tonnes of oxygen or half that of Malaysian oil palm cultivation. Carbon dioxide levels are already at their upper limits of acceptability in the Western Hemisphere due to the use of more fossil fuel and the lack of adequate green cover. Oil palm s carbon dioxide absorption/sequestering power amounts to 117 tonnes versus 60 tonnes for the UK s entire range of agricultural crops. It should therefore come as no surprise that the oil palm is unsurpassed in its ability to generate oxygen and effectively absorb carbon dioxide for the benefit of the world population. 9

5 Cover Story Sustainable Oil Palm Development For any development to be sustainable, it should be: economically viable socially acceptable environmentally compatible technologically appropriate Economic productivity In 2004, the UK received Euro 4.06 billion for subsidies to support its agriculture sector, which earned Euro billion per year. This produced an earning of Euro 1,448/ha, of which Euro 238 was the subsidy component, leaving net revenue of Euro 1,210/ha per year. In the same year, the Malaysian palm oil industry earned Euro 6.53 billion per year or Euro 1,687/ha of revenue yearly, which exceeded the UK agricultural unit earnings. If purchasing power parity is applied to revenue, the Malaysian palm oil industry is far superior to that of UK agriculture in terms of the sustainability indicators. Without the subsidy, EU agriculture would be totally unsustainable. The subsidy contributes to environmental damage due to the over-use of fertilisers and pesticides, and the inexorable destruction and removal of forests. Compared to the major annual oilseed crops planted in the US and the EU, each hectare of oil palm produces 10 times more oil with fewer resulting emissions and pollutants. Combining such natural efficiency and a productive lifespan of years ensures a sustainable and steady supply of an essential food commodity that feeds millions. The sustainability of the Malaysian palm oil industry is therefore obvious, and it can be safely claimed that cultivation is comparatively superior to any large scale agriculture in the tropics or the temperate countries in terms of sustainability parameters. The plantation industry is professionally managed, with many companies being listed on the Malaysian stock market, and practising corresponding requirements of corporate governance and corporate responsibility. Demonstrated commitment While it cannot be emphasised enough that Malaysian palm oil is produced using sustainable practices, the industry is open to collaboration to enhance its high 10

6 standards. To underscore its seriousness, Malaysia has launched a Palm Oil Wildlife Conservation Fund with an anticipated outlay of RM20 million. This will fund ideas and proposals to enhance biodiversity linked to palm oil production worldwide. NGOs, meanwhile, are calling for plantations to join the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which has yet to establish official certification procedures. Malaysian palm oil should mostly qualify within currently acceptable parameters of sustainability. Any call for the boycott of unsustainable palm oil would be premature and difficult to implement in the absence of certification. After all, there are no sustainable oilseed products from the EU, raising the question as to why these are not being boycotted. A river flowing through the dense forest of Taman Negara, Malaysia s oldest and most famous national park The RSPO is a novel idea, supported by the Malaysian palm oil industry, but its implementation should be further researched for consensus between the participating suppliers and buyers. Indeed, the challenge is now for other oilseed and food crop producers to take up the concept of a Sustainability Roundtable. It will be interesting to see if they can achieve sustainable standards of production already achieved in Malaysia. Dr Yusof Basiron CEO, MPOC This is a revised version of a paper presented at the MPOC symposium. Photo: MTC 11