With all the press surrounding palm oil in Malaysia – its boon to the national economy, its increasing demand worldwide, its razing and takeover of tropical forest and its reliance on migrant labor – it can be difficult to get a clear picture of the industry.  The facts are all…

Palm oil production has been making headlines for its widespread destruction of land, air, water and life, both animal and human, for many years. These days, many people are only aware of the palm oil industry because of its devastating effects on the environment and contributions to climate change –…

The largest sovereign wealth fund in the world has just excluded two Malaysian conglomerates from its investment portfolio due to risks of “severe environmental damage.” Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) dropped the two companies, construction firm IJM Corporation Berhad and multi-industry conglomerate Genting Berhad, on August 18 over their…

Consistent increases in Malaysian palm oil production recently caused national stockpiles to reach their highest peak since last November. Expanding rapidly, the industry is vital to the Malaysian economy and accounts for 5-6% of the country’s GDP. The growth of Malaysian palm oil, however, is coupled with growing destruction. The…