The Oil Palm

In recent years, anti-Palm Oil campaigners have launched a new effort to brand palm oil as ‘socially unacceptable’. NGOs use a clear playbook that they have used with other products: even Prince Harry has been part of this debate. Read more about why these attempts are unjust and inaccurate

Making Palm Oil ‘Socially Unacceptable’ - The Oil Palm The campaign against palm oil is ever-evolving. In the 1980s and 1990s, the US soybean lobby campaigned on health grounds. Since 2000, the campaign shifted to environmental concerns, largely supported by the rapeseed and sunflower industries in Europe and led by radical Green NGOs. In...

Discover the secret of success of young and promising athlete Pieter-Jan Hannes, and his wins during an important competition in Belgium

Part III - The Day Of The Race - The Oil Palm Discover the secret of success of young and promising athlete Pieter-Jan Hannes, and his wins during an important competition in Belgium!

A recent report by the Center for International Forest Research (CIFOR) looked at the uptake of sustainable Palm Oil and the impact for small farmers. The result shows how complex it is, and how Western NGOs are pushing for more expensive Western standards that are out of reach for small farmers. A better way forward would be to take into account national standards. Read more about national sustainability policy and goals here:

Sustainable Palm Oil the Norm? A Loaded Term - The Oil Palm The Center for International Forest Research recently asked the question: “What will it take to make sustainable palm oil the norm?” This is a question that NGOs often ask, and it’s often unqualified. When NGOs ask, it’s a loaded question. It’s directed at Western companies...

Expert agronomist Pierre Bois d’Enghien wonders how the world’s major purchasers will support the livelihoods of small farmers in the wake of problems rising with RSPO’s New Planting Procedure (NPP) towards certifying small farmers’ plants. Palm Oil certification is a problem for small farmers, and major companies and NGOs alike need to show greater support to small farmers. Read more here:

Will Major Purchasers Support Small Farmers? - The Oil Palm There is a real test brewing for the world’s major purchasers at November’s RSPO Roundtable and General Assembly. It is this: do these companies support the livelihoods of small farmers? This test is about the problems that new planting procedure (NPP) under the RSPO have...

How can RSPO be improved? Belgian agronomist Pierre Bois D'Enghien writes on RSPO and the problems of working across multiple continents. Many RSPO rules do not work correctly across all countries. Read Pierre Bois D'Enghien analysis and proposals in order to overcome these obstacles and improve the environmental, social and economic outcomes of RSPO here:

RSPO: Room for improvement - The Oil Palm RSPO is generally considered the ‘gold standard’ for palm oil certification. There are good reasons for this. The organisation and its processes have been in place for more than ten years. It has a broad range of stakeholder input. It has ‘brand recognition’ among producers,...

French Chef David Martin continues his culinary journey by bringing you his new recipe, revisiting the Alloco african dish. Chef Martin’s latest creation is an ideal vegetarian recipe, healthy and tasty, that you can easily make at home. Not only is the Chef sharing with you his latest recipe, he also teaches you about his cooking techniques using Malaysian red Palm Oil, oil that is 100% trans fat free.
Watch the video here:

Chef David Martin’s cooking recipes – Alloco my way French Chef David Martin continues his culinary journey by bringing you his new recipe, revisiting the Alloco african dish. Chef Martin’s latest creation is ...

Since 2012, the French Government has attempted to place a tax on Palm Oil using various means. The latest attempt, as part of the Biodiversity Bill, was defeated in July 2016 but now the threat is returning. The French Government has introduced a Sustainability Criteria Commission to look into criteria of the production of vegetable oils and Palm Oil. This Commission is launched in the context of a plan to ‘review’ taxes on Palm Oil and other oils. To learn more about this Commission and why it matters, read our blog here:

The Next Palm Oil Challenge in France - The Oil Palm Every year since 2012, Socialist Party politicians in France often supported by the French Government have attempted to place a tax on Palm Oil products. The most recent attempt was defeated in July 2016, thanks to a strong campaign from producing countries. However, French lawmakers...

Belgian champion runner Pieter-Jan Hannes has invited fellow athletes to an energetic and nutritious home-cooked lunch with pasta, vegetables, tomato sauce and palm oil. Ideal meal before a race. Watch and learn more about this ideal meal for a champion here:

Part II - The day before the race Curious to know what a champion runner eats before a race? One of the most promising Belgian athletes, Pieter-Jan Hannes, invites his fellow athletes for an ...

Early in September, French Chef David Martin discussed with Malaysian Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong and a delegation of Malaysian leaders, about the benefits of Palm Oil for France.
Chef Martin shared with the Malaysian delegation his Food Truck experience in Paris and his take on French consumers' views on Palm Oil. To learn more about the Minister’s visit to Paris and the chef’s upcoming Food Truck Tour, read here:

Chatting About France and Palm Oil with Ministers, MPs, and Chefs - The Oil Palm Lunch with Malaysian Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong led to a lot of interesting conclusions… How do French consumers feel about palm oil? Do Malaysians follow the French media debate? And where is my Food Truck going next? When you work in the food...

In addition to hard training, Athlete Pieter-Jan has a secret weapon up his sleeve in terms of nutrition: Palm Oil. ‘It contains more vitamins than most vegetables and fruits and actually it is better in a varied diet than its alternatives’. Read more here:

The secret weapon in the diet of Olympic athlete Pieter-Jan Hannes - The Oil Palm Pieter-Jan Hannes wants to shine in August at the Olympic Games in Rio. In addition to hard training, this 1500m runner from Antwerp has a secret weapon up his sleeve in terms of nutrition. “Red palm oil”, Pieter-Jan Hannes reveals, is his secret to running....