Raging fires across Sumatran rainforests, orphaned orangutans in Borneo and exploited migrant labour on plantations in some of the remotest parts of Malaysia. These are the images that dominate the story of palm oil.
But while oil palm plantations continue to spread voraciously in south-east Asia – in just a decade their number has tripled in the region – investors have also been turning their attention to Africa and Latin America.
Palm oil offers these regions the promise of economic growth and global recognition – a chance for less developed countries to work with international companies to produce one of the most common ingredients in the world.
But the reality for communities can sometimes be starkly at odds with the promise of a better future. In our series on the new frontiers of palm oil we’ll be exploring what’s happening on the ground.
We start with a short documentary filmed in south-eastern Liberia, where communities are divided over the development of what is set to become the largest palm plantation in the poverty-stricken country. After that we will travel on to other parts of Africa and Latin America, looking at the environmental, economic and social impact of palm oil on local communities.
If you have a story you think we should cover about palm oil’s new frontiers, let us know by filling in the form below. And if you’re in London in November and would like to attend our seminar, Africa the new palm frontier, you can register your interest in attending here.
