Abstract
Oil palm provides an important source of edible oils and fats, accounting for >30% of total global production and >55% of the international trade in these foodstuffs. The palms produce fresh fruit bunches, comprising several hundreds of small fruitlets, which are compressed and steamed to extract the oil. Soil nutrients in oil palm estates become depleted after decades of heavy harvesting and require fertilisers. Liquid palm oil mill effluent, solid empty fruit bunches and other residues can have deleterious environmental impacts and require careful management.The problems of residue disposal and soil nutrient impoverishment can be linked and managed by composting the oil palm mill residues and distributing the biofertiliser produced back to the plantation. Using case studies from West Malaysia we present an early stage practical tool for the planning of the distribution component of such a cycle. The computer-based tool uses multiple field-based and remote sensing data sources to integrate the effects of local soil conditions, transport distances, environmental protection and management priorities and then models customised distribution plans. The tool operates at plantation level and can be augmented with detailed local data, but the approach is extensible and potentially applicable to regional or national planning.
Highlights
Oil palm (Elaeis gunineensis, Jacq.) is an important source of edible oils and fats, accounting for over 30% of total global production (European Palm Oil Alliance, 2016) and over 55% of the international trade in these foodstuffs
Using case studies from West Malaysia we present an early stage practical tool for the planning of the distribution component of such a cycle
Anyaoha et al (2018a) report that upon harvesting empty fruit bunches (EFB), processing fruitlets causes minimal waste if it is undertaken through traditional approaches involving manual separation compared to industrial scale
Summary
Oil palm (Elaeis gunineensis, Jacq.) is an important source of edible oils and fats, accounting for over 30% of total global production (European Palm Oil Alliance, 2016) and over 55% of the international trade in these foodstuffs. The oil palm tree produces large fruit bunches, each of which consist of several hundreds of small (50–100 g) fruitlets. The species originated and was first cultivated in West Africa, which was the main source of palm oil before the Second World War. The semi-artisanal production there came from tall palms, the height of which complicated harvesting. Bunch yields and oil contents have been increased manyfold. Anyaoha et al (2018a) report that upon harvesting empty fruit bunches (EFB), processing fruitlets causes minimal waste if it is undertaken through traditional approaches involving manual separation compared to industrial scale. The recommendation is to integrate manual and industrial scale where fruitlets from the latter is passed on to the former to minimise waste generation
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