INDUSTRIAL CROP - OIL PALM

An industrial crop is a crop grown to produce goods to be used in the production sector, rather than food for consumption. Industrial crops impact the economy by providing a product which lessens the need for imports.

OIL PALM
1. ORIGIN & STRUCTURE

Elaeis (from Greek, meaning "oil") is a genus of palms containing two species, called oil palms. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African oil palm Elaeis guineensis (the species name guineensis referring to its country of origin) is the principal source of palm oil, it is native to west and southwest Africa, occurring between Angola and Gambia. The American oil palm Elaeis oleifera (from Latin oleifer, meaning "oil-producing") is native to tropical Central and South America, and is used locally for oil production.

The palm bears its fruit in bunches varying in weight from 10 to 40 kg. The individual fruit ranging from 6 to 20 gm, are made up of an outer skin (the exocarp), a pulp (mesocarp) containing the palm oil in a fibrous matrix; a central nut consisting of a shell (endocarp); and the kernel, which itself contains an oil, quite different to palm oil, resembling coconut oil.

2. PRINCIPLES OF PRESERVATION AND PROCESSING METHODS


· Destruction of enzymes (a complex organic substance which in solution produces fermentation and chemical changes in other substances apparently without undergoing any change itself) in the raw material and contaminating micro-organisms by heat (sterilization) during processing;

· Elimination of as much water as possible from the oil to prevent microbial growth (bacterial activity, or disease-causing germs) during storage. The oil therefore has a long shelf life due to its low moisture content.

· Proper packaging and storage of the extracted oil to slow down chemical deterioration (rancidity).

The method used to extract vegetable oil depends on the type of raw material available. Raw materials may be grouped according to the part of the plant that contains the fat or oil (seed, bean, nut or fruit). The main difference in raw materials is the moisture content. Raw materials with low moisture content include seeds and beans and some nuts, which are dried on harvest. Palm fruit, olive fruits and some coconuts are processed wet.

Only seeds, nuts and fruits that contain considerable amounts of edible oil are used for small-scale oil extraction. Other types (for example maize) may contain edible oil, but the quantities are too small for economic processing on a small-scale. However, not all oil-rich seeds and fruits have edible oil; some contain toxins (poisons, usually of bacterial origin) or have unpleasant flavours; these are used only for varnishes, paints, etc. Others, (for example castor oil) need very careful processing to make them safe for use as medicines. These are not suitable for small-scale processing.

Palm fruit contains about 56 percent oil (25 percent on a fresh fruit bunch basis) which is edible with no known toxins. It is thus suitable for small-scale processing.


3. OIL PALM PRODUCTION IN MALAYSIA

• Economics

In 2012, the Malaysian palm oil industry employed an estimated 491,000 workers.
Malaysia's Sime Darby is the largest listed palm oil company globally, based on plantation area and fresh fruit bunch production. The company was created through a Malaysian government initiated merger in December 2006. The world's second-largest oil palm plantation company, Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FELDA), is also based in Malaysia. Felda Global Ventures Holdings is the world's third largest palm oil company by planted acreage, controlling over 850,000 ha of land in the country, including approximately 500,000 ha that it leases and manages for smallholders.

• Research Institutions

INDUSTRIAL CROP - OIL PALM

An industrial crop is a crop grown to produce goods to be used in the production sector, rather than food for consumption. Industrial crops impact the economy by providing a product which lessens the need for imports.

OIL PALM
1. ORIGIN & STRUCTURE

Elaeis (from Greek, meaning "oil") is a genus of palms containing two species, called oil palms. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African oil palm Elaeis guineensis (the species name guineensis referring to its country of origin) is the principal source of palm oil, it is native to west and southwest Africa, occurring between Angola and Gambia. The American oil palm Elaeis oleifera (from Latin oleifer, meaning "oil-producing") is native to tropical Central and South America, and is used locally for oil production.

The palm bears its fruit in bunches varying in weight from 10 to 40 kg. The individual fruit ranging from 6 to 20 gm, are made up of an outer skin (the exocarp), a pulp (mesocarp) containing the palm oil in a fibrous matrix; a central nut consisting of a shell (endocarp); and the kernel, which itself contains an oil, quite different to palm oil, resembling coconut oil.

2. PRINCIPLES OF PRESERVATION AND PROCESSING METHODS


· Destruction of enzymes (a complex organic substance which in solution produces fermentation and chemical changes in other substances apparently without undergoing any change itself) in the raw material and contaminating micro-organisms by heat (sterilization) during processing;

· Elimination of as much water as possible from the oil to prevent microbial growth (bacterial activity, or disease-causing germs) during storage. The oil therefore has a long shelf life due to its low moisture content.

· Proper packaging and storage of the extracted oil to slow down chemical deterioration (rancidity).

The method used to extract vegetable oil depends on the type of raw material available. Raw materials may be grouped according to the part of the plant that contains the fat or oil (seed, bean, nut or fruit). The main difference in raw materials is the moisture content. Raw materials with low moisture content include seeds and beans and some nuts, which are dried on harvest. Palm fruit, olive fruits and some coconuts are processed wet.

Only seeds, nuts and fruits that contain considerable amounts of edible oil are used for small-scale oil extraction. Other types (for example maize) may contain edible oil, but the quantities are too small for economic processing on a small-scale. However, not all oil-rich seeds and fruits have edible oil; some contain toxins (poisons, usually of bacterial origin) or have unpleasant flavours; these are used only for varnishes, paints, etc. Others, (for example castor oil) need very careful processing to make them safe for use as medicines. These are not suitable for small-scale processing.

Palm fruit contains about 56 percent oil (25 percent on a fresh fruit bunch basis) which is edible with no known toxins. It is thus suitable for small-scale processing.


3. OIL PALM PRODUCTION IN MALAYSIA

• Economics

In 2012, the Malaysian palm oil industry employed an estimated 491,000 workers.
Malaysia's Sime Darby is the largest listed palm oil company globally, based on plantation area and fresh fruit bunch production. The company was created through a Malaysian government initiated merger in December 2006. The world's second-largest oil palm plantation company, Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FELDA), is also based in Malaysia. Felda Global Ventures Holdings is the world's third largest palm oil company by planted acreage, controlling over 850,000 ha of land in the country, including approximately 500,000 ha that it leases and manages for smallholders.

• Research Institutions