Sustainable Development of the Palm Oil Industry via Process Improvement and Product Diversification

Palm oil has been a key driver for economic development in producing countries in Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia and Indonesia, and the rapid growth of the palm oil industry has played an important role in the Malaysian economy. The sustainability concept is having a huge impact in the palm oil industry as it faces unprecedented scrutiny from governments, regulators, investors, and consumers in terms of how its business practices, supply chain, and products impact the environment. This paper gives an overview of recent research developments in refining processes and product diversification. Recent technologies for the preparation of oils, fats, and their derivatives using palm oil as a starting material are discussed. Research in the following areas is reviewed: (1) development of low free fatty acid crude palm oil; (2) refining process improvements to reduce 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol and glycidol levels; (3) development of new palm-based emulsion products; and (4) production of palm-based functional lipids. Continuous improvements in our understanding of the refining process of this major edible oil will play an important role in the sustainable development of the palm oil industry. Safety and health issues related to palm oil products are also closely related to the sustainable development of the palm oil industry.