I was a young boy in the 1st standard of my School while I learnt a big lesson of life from my Dad. When people criticise you and try to pull you down, you don’t have to get depressed but rather be happy that you have that much value for them to give so much importance in life. When there are controversies all around us on various people & subjects, it becomes our prime responsibility to drill down to the facts, than blindly joining the flow of opinions. Especially in today’s era when we are continually being bombarded with information through various means & media, it is imperative for us to be all the more careful on what to accept and what not to.
In the new normal times post Covid when most of us have learnt working remotely yet efficiently from home, it was indeed a privilege to be a part of the Online Bloggers Meet on “Dispelling Myths About Palm Oil” organised by the MPOC (Malaysian Palm Oil Council) led by none other than Dr. Bhavna Shah, Country Representative for India & Sri Lanka – Malaysian Palm Oil Council, which comes under the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities of Malaysia. This event was very well co-ordinated and supported by Ms. Avni from MPOC along withMs. Priyanka Patel & Mr. Rauf Sayed from Unbox Concepts.
Post the warm welcome and a round of introduction, the very objective & context of this session was simply laid down by Dr. Shah with a classic real life illustration about a 14 years old student way back in 1997 who worked on a Science Project called Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO). This chemical is so caustic that it led to corrosion & rusting of many metals. Thousands of Americans died because of its accidental ingestion, significant quantity present in acid rain, excised tumours of terminal cancer patients etc. It also led to bloating, excessive urination, sweating and burns while in gaseous form. The group of 43/50 students consulted on this unrecognised killer concluded on only one opinion i.e. to ban it immediately. The small disclaimer of this project read “This chemical substance is known as H2O”, what in general is known as Water.💧This is an excerpt from “How gullible are we?” by Nathan Zohner who conducted this Science Project.
Many facts & realities could be easily misled or misinterpreted, if they are either not presented in the right perspective or purposely undermined for various other reasons. Misleading scientific facts may lead to horrendous impact on the society at large because the general response is to go by the flow. While we hear so much controversies about the Palm Oil, the significant drop of its demand while HORECA was shut down during the pandemic says it all. A Why Why Analysis would probably help us identify all factors contributing to the problem, thereby landing on the root cause.
While negative campaigning has become a trend today to promote own products, MPOC as a matter of policy never puts down any brand or product for promoting their own. As a matter of fact a major percentage of oil requirement today is being fulfilled by Palm Oil. The economics of Demand – Supply theory very well applies here to prove it. Some promote zero oil consumption but the fact remains that oil in a certain amount is essential for a healthy human body.
Despite of having a limited land for a small country like Malaysia, 63% of forest coverage is being maintained which is well within the statutory norms. Moratorium has also been issued to prohibit cleaning of natural forest lands and peat lands for oil palm or pulpwood. On the technological front, many proactive initiatives are being taken to change the plantation which is not going to yield good results few years down the line, thereby making it sustainable. Blockchain technology and traceability is used to raise the level of trust in the palm oil industry. While Certification is being issued through MSPO (Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil) council, CPOPC (Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries) are also working hard towards the sustainable practices & trade impediments.
On one hand we hear the hue & cry against Palm Oil while on the other there has been tremendous moves towards cultivation of Oil Palms in countries like South America by clearing of Amazon forests without much shout out. In India, states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh & North East are engaged for the same in line with campaigns like “Aatmanirbhar”, “Vocal for Local” & “Swadeshi”. However, limitations like fragmented land holdings, non availability of good water supply at all places poses an impediment.
Labelling plays a vital role in acceptance of ingredients and products by the consumers. With the changing norms, labelling laws & rules implemented by local authorities, appropriate labelling is mandatory. FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) certification calls for stringent adherence to the food standards while dietary guidelines are issued by National Institute of Nutrition to ensure safe and nutritional products are being supplied in the market.
Because of its manifold benefits and great success in the Global platform, Palm Oil has drawn attention and criticism from all over. While some claim that this oil is cheap and hence unhealthy, some target at the environmental issues that might erupt because of the deforestation to cultivate oil palm. The above mentioned facts share a testimony of Palm Oil as a clear winner to zip all voices that arise to mislead and defame this profitable business. Rather than getting carried away by the rumours around, it would be diligent enough to analyse the facts & figures that are real. For more details on Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), please visit their website on https://www.mpoc.org.in
Pics Courtesy: MPOC Website & Unbox Concepts
Weekend Special Cooking - Satyajeet David 