Palm oil praised at seminar in Istanbul! Environmental issues ignored

The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) held a seminar in Istanbul to discuss the position and future growth potential of palm oil and its derivatives in the Turkish market. However, the presentations and speeches at the seminar were conducted in a tone that almost glorified the product, ignoring the serious environmental and social harms of palm oil.

At the event, the use of palm oil-based oleochemicals in cosmetics, personal care, and household cleaning products was praised, and participants were informed of a projection that this market would reach a volume of 8.2 billion dollars by 2034. The fact that the amount of palm oil Turkey imported from Malaysia increased by 2.6% in 2024 to reach 905,000 tons was presented as a major success. Yet, this increase also means that the dependency on palm oil and the environmental problems it brings are growing as well.

THE DARK SIDE OF PALM OIL

The expanding palm oil industry worldwide is one of the primary causes of deforestation, particularly in Southeast Asia. Millions of hectares of rainforest are being destroyed in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia to create oil palm plantations. This situation not only deepens the climate crisis but also destroys the natural habitats of many endangered animals such as orangutans, tigers, and rhinoceroses.

News Source: 12punto