Lifesaving fuel tank

Abstract

To date, as an oil yielder, palm oil takes second place only to coconut and stands above rapeseed, sunflower, groundnut, and cottonseed. Under good agricultural management, a hectare of oil palm yields about 5–7 tons of oil per annum. The oil palm is economically important for its oil and has become one of the major oil crops in the world. For a long time it was the “poor man's cooking oil,” but with the fossil fuel reserves fast depleting, it has become a much sought-after “green fuel.” The oil palm yields about a threefold more oil than coconut, sevenfold more oil than rapeseed, and almost a tenfold more than soybean. Palm oil and palm kernel oil can be used both for edible (90 percent) and nonedible (10 percent) purposes. Palm oil can also be used for frying meat, fish, and vegetables and for making salad dressing, margarines, shortenings, vanaspati, ice cream, confectioneries, and other emulsion-based products. As far as nonedible use is concerned, the oil is mainly used in the cosmetic industry (soap manufacturing) and also indirectly as oleo chemicals. Carotenoids, vitamin E, and sterols are minor components of crude palm oil that can be pretreated and encapsulated for pharmaceutical applications. The focus of this chapter is on research and development, which would ensure the sustainability of oil palm as a plantation crop. There is also an emphasis on plant breeding and selection of superior varieties and the potential of biotechnological interventions in the production of premium products. The need to manage oil palm in adjusting to a fast-changing environment is also highlighted.