Sustainable palm oil production : challenges and opportunities
Publicación:
Revista Palmas; Vol. 28 Núm. especial, (2007); 107-119
0121-2923
Revista Palmas; Vol. 28 Núm. especial, (2007); 107-119
0121-2923
Abstract
Sustainable agriculture necessitates an appropriate balance between economic viability, environmental responsibility and social acceptability. Consumer demands for food, feed, fiber and fuel are growing with population and economic development. Given that almost all-best land is already under cultivation, improving the productivity and profitability of the existing agricultural systems while preserving ecosystem health presents a key challenge. Tree crop based agricultural production systems all around the world are basically managed by agro-foresters who have developed efficient use of soil, water and air resources to make them enhance the productivity of the crop for the benefit of the environment and its inhabitants. Efficient agro-forestry cleans up the air by fixing large amount of CO2 and gives out O2, improves hydrological cycles through the ?rain-forest effect?, stabilizes soil through protective and robust root systems, recycles an ample supply of leaf litter, and provides a closed canopy that becomes a favorable bio-diverse habitat for many plants and animals. One such agro-forest regimen is the advanced sustainable oil palm plantation system for it provides 37 million tons of palm oil and palm kernel oil combined, which represents 35% share of the 8 major edible oils, from a land bank of mere 9 million harvested hectares. La agricultura sostenible necesita un balance apropiado entre su viabilidad económica, responsabilidad ambiental y aceptabilidad social. La demanda de alimentos, comida para animales, fibras y combustibles está creciendo con la población y el desarrollo económico. Puesto que casi toda la mejor tierra está ya bajo cultivo, el mejoramiento de la productividad y de la rentabilidad de los sistemas agrícolas existentes, preservando a su vez la salud de los ecosistemas, representa un reto fundamental para los empresarios. Los sistemas mundiales de producción agrícola arbórea son manejados principalmente por empresarios agroforestales, quienes han desarrollado un eficiente uso de los recursos de suelo, agua y aire para aumentar la productividad de la cosecha en beneficio del medio ambiente y de sus habitantes. Una eficiente tecnología agroforestal presta servicios ambientales, como limpieza del aire fijando grandes cantidades de CO2 y liberando O2, mejoramiento de los balances hídricos, estabilización del suelo a través de sistemas radiculares robustos que lo protegen, reciclamiento de un amplio suministro de hojarasca, y provisión de un bosque denso que se convierte en un hábitat biodiverso favorable para el desarrollo de muchas plantas y animales. Un régimen agroforestal como el descrito es el mismo de un sistema avanzado de una plantación de palma sostenible que provee al mundo 37 millones de toneladas de aceites de palma y de palmiste sumados, las que representan 35 por ciento de participación dentro de los ocho principales aceites comestibles, y que se obtiene del uso de un banco de tierras correspondiente a no más de nueve millones de hectáreas.
Sustainable agriculture necessitates an appropriate balance between economic viability, environmental responsibility and social acceptability. Consumer demands for food, feed, fiber and fuel are growing with population and economic development. Given that almost all-best land is already under cultivation, improving the productivity and profitability of the existing agricultural systems while preserving ecosystem health presents a key challenge. Tree crop based agricultural production systems all around the world are basically managed by agro-foresters who have developed efficient use of soil, water and air resources to make them enhance the productivity of the crop for the benefit of the environment and its inhabitants. Efficient agro-forestry cleans up the air by fixing large amount of CO2 and gives out O2, improves hydrological cycles through the ?rain-forest effect?, stabilizes soil through protective and robust root systems, recycles an ample supply of leaf litter, and provides a closed canopy that becomes a favorable bio-diverse habitat for many plants and animals. One such agro-forest regimen is the advanced sustainable oil palm plantation system for it provides 37 million tons of palm oil and palm kernel oil combined, which represents 35% share of the 8 major edible oils, from a land bank of mere 9 million harvested hectares.
Palabras clave:
aceite de palma
sostenibilidad
viabilidad económica
desarrollo sostenible
tendencias
comercio internacional
aceite de palma
sostenibilidad
viabilidad económica
desarrollo sostenible
tendencias
comercio internacional