Essential Actions for the Malaysian Palm Oil Industry to Achieve Net Zero
Based on the results and recommendations from the new studies, the pathway towards a net zero palm oil is clear on what actions must be included.
Drawing from the Land-Based Mitigation Measures study, the points below would form the foundation towards net zero palm oil or any vegetable oil for that matter.
Protect Forests and other ecosystems. Reduce peatland degradation.
Improve forest management through Afforestation and Reforestation
BECCS. Carbon sequestration from electricity generation derived by combusting lignocellulosic crop-based biomass
Reduce N2O and CH4.
Enhance carbon sequestration by amending agricultural soils with biochar
All these critical points are present in the production of Malaysian palm oil. The Malaysian government and industry have committed to stopping the expansion in forests and other vital natural ecosystems.
Forest management through Afforestation and Restoration has been in place for decades in Malaysia but a heavy emphasis is being placed on restoring natural habitats through the new 100 Million Tree project.
BECCS Carbon sequestration/reduction of N2O and CH4 is in place through the conversion of biomass and biogases especially from Palm Oil Mill Effluence (POME) into energy to provide power to palm oil mills.
Understanding the importance of these actions in reducing palm oil emissions can be seen through the contribution of emissions from various sectors of agriculture. The FAO has a comprehensive report which details emissions from land use to enteric fermentation to on-farm energy use.
Based on the preliminary data compiled by Dr. Maria Vincenza Chiriacò, Malaysian palm oil emissions can be calculated by multiplying the tonnage produced by the emissions per ton. There is a stark difference in her data from conventional palm oil at 2.85 Mg CO2eq/ ton of palm oil to certified palm oil at 0.45 Mg CO2eq/ton.
Malaysian production was further distinguished with emissions of only 0.38 Mg CO2eq/ton of palm oil.
OIL PALM - A ZERO WASTE CROP
Day by day, palm oil is becoming a world-demand product as it has produced the highest yield as compared to other crops and has a wide range of applications.
How does Malaysian palm oil compare to other vegetable oil crops?
Based on the production numbers reported by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), with an average of 19 million tons produced, emissions from Malaysian palm oil would be approximately 7 million tons per year (19 mln tons x 0.38 Mg CO2/ton). This pales in comparison with Brazilian soy of 384 million tons (133 mln tons x 3.45 Mg CO2/ton) or Canadian canola at 31 million tons (20 mln tons x 1.59 Mg CO2/ton) of emissions based on the most recent production figures.
In the context of COP26 and the urgent need for emission reductions, these figures support what non-profit organisations like the IUCN and WEF have said. Replacing palm oil with soy or rapeseed displaces its environmental impact and, in this situation, increases emissions from other vegetable oils.
As of this writing, almost 90% of Malaysian palm oil has been certified under the national scheme Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) scheme with duplicated certification under voluntary schemes including the Roundtable on Sustainable Oil (RSPO) and International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC).
This achievement towards a low emission vegetable oil is a global first and there is no doubt that the Malaysian palm oil industry is proud of this fact.
However, there is more work to be done if the industry is to truly achieve net zero or carbon neutrality.
Reaching the final milestone of 100% certification under the MSPO is a short-term goal as independent smallholders remain the final group to be certified. A medium-term goal towards net zero would be to implement all available knowledge and technology in downstream activities in mills and refineries where all known sources of emissions in plantation wastes like Empty Fruit Bunches or palm kernel shells are converted from waste to energy.
A net zero emissions vegetable oil from Malaysian palm oil may not make a big difference in the global challenge to mitigate the impacts of climate change. It will however show other industries that where there is a will, there is a way towards achieving net zero emissions.
