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THINK & REACH MAGAZINE
• Digital Graphic Serial Publication with educational activities and cross-curricular connections
• published in English by Think & Reach, Canada.
• Monthly publication
ISSN 2564-2294 (digital)
ISSN 1929-4662 (print)
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ISSN ISSN 2816-5144 (digital) THE GOUNZS
1. Well, I am almost certain that I have eaten some cookies and cakes made with palm oil.
EXPLORATION 1
➢ Where do palm trees grow?
To learn more about this topic, research: «palm trees in the world»
2. What’s wrong with that AntoGounz? Isn’t palm oil a healthy alternative to Trans fats?
3. Trans fats increase the risk of stroke and type 2 diabetes..
4. Palm oil is a very popular oil. Many food companies are using palm oil in their products as it contains a very small amount of trans fats.
5. It is also the cheapest vegetable oil on the market.
6. It does have natural preservative agents that help preserve processed foods. This is another good reason why industrial bakers love it.
➢
EXPLORATION 2
Which oils are vegetable oils? Seed oils? Nuts oils?
To learn more about this topic, research: «edible oils»
8. According to an article published by Ethical Consumer, the food industry uses 72% of palm oil, while only 18% is used in the cosmetics and cleaning industries.
7. It really benefits industrial bakers and others.
9. Biofuels and animal feed register the lowest figures, with a percentage of 10.
(“Palm Oil - What Is It Used for? | Ethical Consumer”)
10. The palm oil industry is one of the fastest growing global industries, because this edible oil is used in large quantities of products.
EXPLORATION 3
➢ What are the future projections for the palm oil market?
To learn more about this topic, research: «palm oil market»
11. You could actually say that the palm fruit is a very precious fruit, because the oil is extracted from palm fruit pulp and inside the fruit, there is the kernel, that can be used to make jewellery and bio charcoal.
➢
EXPLORATION 4
What chemical process is used to convert palm kernel shells into charcoal?
To learn more about this topic, research: «activated charcoal palm kernel»
12. The palm oil industry is undoubtedly very advantageous for the food sector. Nevertheless, it raises serious environmental concerns.
EXPLORATION 5
➢ What are the main constraints of palm trees cultivation?
To learn more about this topic, research: «palm tree cultivation»
13. The main environmental impact of palms is due to palm oil, a widely used vegetable oil that is made from the fruit of oil palm trees. The palm oil industry also has a negative impact on the environment in these areas.
14. This is due to the fact that it drives deforestation in some of the world’s most biodiverse forests, often destroying habitats of already endangered species.
EXPLORATION 6
➢ What is deforestation?
To learn more about this topic, research: «deforestation»
15. As these rainforests are cleared, massive amounts of CO2 are released into the atmosphere, further contributing to climate change.
EXPLORATION 7
➢ How does the release of CO2 contribute to climate change?
To learn more about this topic, research: «CO2 in atmosphere»
16. According to Ecosia (2019), over 20% of the rainforests in Indonesia alone have been deforested and replaced with palm oil plantations.
17. According to the European Palm Oil Alliance, palm oil accounts for 6.6% of cultivated land for oils and fats...
18...While delivering almost 40% of the output.
19. And since global demand for all vegetable oils is climbing steadily, it will not be possible to replace palm oil with other, more sustainable oils (such as rapeseed or sunflower oil) without further increasing deforestation.
20. As we already know, Palm oil is in a vast number of products, according to WWF it is in “close to 50% of the packaged products we find in supermarkets”. Therefore, the palm oil industry provides millions of jobs globally.
EXPLORATION 8
➢ What jobs are available in the palm oil sector?
To learn more about this topic, research: «jobs in the palm oil sector»
21. There are seven main sectors of palm oil production: oil palm producers, processors/traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, investors and environmental and social nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) (Kan 2018).
EXPLORATION 9
➢ How important is activism in the palm oil sector?
To learn more about this topic, research: «Activism in the palm oil sector»
22. Malaysia is currently one of the largest producers and exporters of palm oil in the world, and much of the country’s recent economic and social development is supported by this industry, with almost a million people working in the palm oil industry in Malaysia alone (MPOC).
EXPLORATION 10
➢ What are the economic implications of a workforce of 1 million people in a country like Malaysia?
To learn more about this topic, research: «palm oil labour in Malaysia»
23. Despite the ever-growing financial success of the palm oil industry, concerns about the environmental impact...
24. and labour exploitation have begun to drive many consumers and producers alike away from the product,
25. potentially risking jobs and security in the industry.
26. I know that serious concerns have been raised about the palm oil industry, but it is important to highlight the fact that in Asian and African countries, palm oil is used as one of the main cooking oil.
EXPLORATION 11
➢ What are the health benefits of cooking with palm oil? To learn more about this topic, research:
«health benefits of palm oil»
27. I read about a dish called “Koki”. The koki is a national dish of West Cameroon. It was a vegan dish, long before the term "vegan" was invented, and that dish cannot be made without palm oil.
EXPLORATION 12
➢ If the average Cameroonian eats “Koki” once a week, what could be the monthly and annual consumption of palm oil in Cameroon? Estimate!
28. Oh, I also read about the “Koki”. It definitely is a vegan dish.
29. It is made with black eyed beans and palm oil. The beans are soaked in water for hours, then ground and mixed with palm oil, salt, onions and sometimes chilli
EXPLORATION 13
➢ Some food items like pastas, pizzas, spring rolls, samosas... are well known around the globe. How could the Koki dish could be integrated in western countries?
30. The mixture looks like a thick soup. To get the tasty koki, the mixture is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in a large pan.
31. Hum! This sounds like a good nutritious dish! Beans are an excellent source of B vitamins and fiber, and palm oil contains vitamins A, E and
EXPLORATION 14
➢ What is the role of the following vitamins in our body?
o Vitamin A
o Vitamin B
o Vitamin E
o Vitamin K
32. What about Indonesia? In 2021, Indonesia produced 46.888 million tons of palm oil. Do they also cook with a lot of palm oil?
33. Yes, they do. According to the figures published by Statista.com, 7,95 million metric tons of palm oil were used to make Indonesian dishes.
EXPLORATION 15
➢ With an area of 1,9 million square kilometers, Indonesia is the 14th largest country in the world. What would be the percentage of the land used in Indonesia to produce 46,888 million tons of palm oil ?
To learn more about this topic, research:
«INDONESIA GEOGRAPHY FACTS»
34. Malaysia is the second world largest producer of palm oil. In 2021, the country produced 18,700 million tons of palm oil.
35. According to Statista.com, the domestic consumption of palm oil in Malaysia was 3.37 million metric tons in 2020 2021.
EXPLORATION 16
➢ What was the percentage of palm oil consumption in Malaysia in 20202021?
To learn more about this topic, research:
«palm oil consumption in Malyasia»
36. I heard that Malaysia wants to ban the sales of its palm oil to EU countries.
37. Yes, that’s right. Indonesia and Malaysia are feeling targeted by the EU Deforestation Regulation put in place in 2018.
EXPLORATION 17
➢
How big is the EU market and how does that market impact the world economy?
To learn more about this topic, research: «EU in World Trade»
39. Wow! All the fighting that we’re not seeing!
38. And both countries sued the EU at the World Trade Organisation.
EXPLORATION 18
➢ How are disputes settled at the World Trade Organisation?
To learn more about this topic, research: «World Trade Organisation»
40. I think Indonesia and Malaysia have joined forces to find new markets for their palm oil.
41. And when they do find those markets, we will hear more about that ban.
EXPLORATION 19
➢
How are trade agreements made between countries?
To learn more about this topic, research: «Trade Agreements»
42. Are there sustainable alternatives to palm oil?
43. There are other vegetable oils, like canola, sunflower seeds, coconut... oils, but I am not sure that they have all the properties of palm oil.
EXPLORATION 20
➢ What is the difference between palm oil and the other vegetable oils?
To learn more about this topic, research: «palm oil vs vegetable oils»
44. And the question is: can those biggest world producers of palm oil easily switch from producing palm oil to producing other vegetable oils?
45. That’s a very good question! The know-how, the soil, the culture... These aspects must certainly be examined.
EXPLORATION 21
➢ Some edible oils are extracted from seeds, fruits...What kinds of soils are suited to crops that produce such oils?
To learn more about this topic, research:
«vegetable oils: crops and production»
“Palm Oil - What Is It Used for? | Ethical Consumer.” Ethical Consumer, https://www.facebook.com/ethicalconsumermagazine, 10 July 2019, https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/palm-oil-what-it-used.
Spritzler, Franziska. “Does Palm Oil Have Health Benefits?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 6 Dec. 2021, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/palm-oil#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4.
Ndao, Oumar. “Le Niébé, Ce Haricot Magique !” CNLVC, 6 Apr. 2018, cnlvc.ci/2018/04/06/et-si-on-semettait-au-niebe-ce-haricot-magique/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2022.
“Indonesia: Palm Oil Domestic Utilization for Cooking 2018 | Statista.” Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1096627/indonesia-palm-oil-domestic-utilization-for-cooking/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2023.
“Palm Oil Performance in 2021 and Prospect in 2022.” Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI IPOA), 29 Jan. 2022, gapki.id/en/news/21136/palm-oil-performance-in-2021-and-prospect-in2022#:~:text=For%20Indonesia%2C%20the%20production%20of%20crude%20palm%20oil. Accessed 4 Feb. 2022
“Oil, Palm Explorer.” Ipad.fas.usda.gov, ipad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer/cropview/commodityView.aspx?cropid=4243000.
“Malaysia: Palm Oil Consumption 2021 | Statista.” Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/489441/palmoil-consumptionmalaysia/#:~:text=In%20the%20year%202020%2F21,around%203.37%20million%20metric%20ton s. Accessed 3 Feb. 2023.
“Explainer: Why Malaysia Is Considering a Ban on Palm Oil Exports to the European Union | Reuters.” Reuters, Reuters, 16 Jan. 2023, https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/why-malaysia-isconsidering-ban-palm-oil-exports-european-union-2023-01-13/.
Enerva, Kaycee. “Sustainable Alternatives to Palm Oil: Do They Exist? - Viable Earth.” Viable Earth, https://www.facebook.com/Viable-Earth-101515858464514, 16 Aug. 2022, https://viable.earth/understanding/sustainable-alternatives-to-palm-oil-do-theyexist/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20popular,land%20and%20water%20to%20produce.
“How Big Is Indonesia Actually?” Thalassa Dive Resorts Indonesia, 17 July 2018, www.thalassamanado.com/how-big-is-indonesia/.
