The report on oil palm compiled for the 2007 Paris International Agricultural Fair
All you need to know about oil palm
What you need to know
The oil palm, Elaeis guineensis , originated in Africa and is widely cultivated throughout the tropics, particularly in Asia.
Since time immemorial, it has provided man with food, materials and skincare or hygiene products.
Oil palm is a crop that will be unavoidable in future.
It is the leading vegetable fat source, ahead of soybean, and produces two oils simultaneously: palm oil and palm kernel oil (PKO). Some 80% of palm oil is used in the human diet and the remainder to produce derivatives for industrial use.
Malaysia and Indonesia account for 86% of the palm oil produced worldwide.