Amidst the continued allegations premised on the sustainability of the palm oil industry arising mostly from nationalistic sentiment to protect their edible oils industry, palm oil producers acknowledged that the sustainability issue cannot be ignored and they have to level up their game for the longer term.
“We are still not as strong as the western world and therefore I believe that these countries should be properly taken care of...to promote this wonder oil,” Solvent Extractors’ Association of India president Atul Chaturvedi said on the second day of the virtual Malaysian Palm Oil Trade Fair and Seminar 2021 organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council .
Another speaker, Vimal Shah, chairman of Bidco Group, said besides looking east , the industry should also look at the African continent. “Among the palm oil export destinations in 2021 are Mozambique, Madagascar, South Africa, Angola, and Namibia,” he said. “We have already shown that we have a competitive oilseed when it comes to yield per hectare. That’s already an advantage that the industry has,” he said.