Palm Oil Production Process

The global oil palm industry started growing in the 16th century. At first, palm groves only served the residents of Nigeria and West Africa until Europeans started an export trade system in the 16th century. The export trade system grew more profitable in the 19th century.

Oil Palm Plantations and Harvesting

The production of palm oil starts with oil palm plantations and the growth of palm fruits. To start an oil palm plantation, they plant a certain number of seedlings that grow into palm trees and begin bearing fruit in the third year, with the yield increasing as the years pass. However, palm trees produce fewer fruits when they reach 25 years of age and older.

Palm Oil Extraction Process

The next step in producing palm oil from oil palms is sterilizing or cooking the fruits. At this stage of oil palm production, they use high-temperature wet-heat treatment on the fruits. Sterilization treatment uses pressurized heat, while the cooking method uses hot water. Smallholder oil palm plantations often use cooking because they cannot generate steam.

Negative Environmental Impacts of the Palm Oil Industry, Deforestation

The high demand for palm oil increased the acres of palm oil plantations and other oil crops. Oil palm plantations grow on extensive areas of tropical forests with diverse species of trees.

Loss of Biodiversity

Expansion of oil palm agriculture over intact forest landscapes can affect downstream biodiversity. When cultivators of major oil crops destroy tropical forests, they also destroy the homes and habitats of many plant and animal species.

Can digital innovation support global environmental sustainability

This is a million-dollar question. What is certain is that, over the past few years, sustainability has become one of the most relevant topics in many sectors. The increasing perishment of the planet has raised many questions about our future. Constant debates are in progress worldwide, and companies and people have committed to finding the best solution to achieve sustainability. Innovation and digital transformation appear to be significant strategies that involve disparate sectors and markets.

Impact of Avocados on the Environment

1. High water consumption

Cultivating an avocado plantation, usually in tropical climates, requires a considerable amount of water. One kilogram of avocado requires 0.75 tons of water. When comparing this water consumption to other fruits like bananas, it is about seven times more than they need. 

A study measured water consumption rates of avocados, bananas, and pineapples and found that a kilogram of avocado requires 40 times more water than a kilogram of pineapple1. Other studies conducted in regions used for avocado plantations show that they experience water scarcity due to the excessive amount of water used to farm avocados. 

Avocado trees cannot be grown on a large commercial scale without irrigation. Fortunately, irrigation reduces the necessary water intake by 20%. 

Despite the attempts at regulating the amount of water consumed by avocado fruits, its impact on the surrounding environment is undeniable. It is a leading cause of water scarcity in some regions. 

2. Deforestation

The increase in the demand for avocados globally led to massive avocado production. Farmers require large portions of land to produce enough for the increased global markets for avocados. However, these demands cause damage to the environment. 

Avocado producers contribute to deforestation while trying to acquire more land space for avocado farming. They often burn forests and cut down trees to make space for more avocado trees. A report by Global Forest Watch states that 98% of deforestation in Mexico occurs because of agricultural expansions.  

The report also shows the number of tree covers lost to fire. In 2021, Mexico lost about 340Kha of land to fire outbreaks. This record is relatively normal given that about 3.8Mha of land was lost to fire eruptions in 2011. Also, over 40,000 deforestation alert reports were recorded in Mexico between the 26th of July 2022 and the 2nd of August 2022.

In return for cutting down forest trees, we experience intense climate change. Also, avocado cultivation can't atone for the loss of the other trees cut down because the avocado tree absorbs minimal amounts of carbon. 

3. Monoculture

Monoculture is the practice of farming one crop repeatedly. Avocado production is a monoculture crop that harms the soil by striping the earth of its nutrients. It also reduces the organic matter in the soil and can cause soil erosion. 

To combat the loss of soil nutrients, farmers use synthetic fertilizers to produce crops. The herbicides used to maintain the health of avocado trees cause long-term damage to the soil. It also puts pollinators at risk of extinction, like the Monarch butterfly in Mexico. 

Avocado monoculture also alters the microbial landscape of the soil, leading to poor crop growth. Heavy industrialization causes avocado monoculture crops and plantations to leave a heavy trail of carbon and water footprints in the environment.

4. High carbon footprint

This refers to the greenhouse gas  emissions caused by humans and other activities. Avocado is a heavily imported crop to the US, producing a significant carbon footprint during transportation.

Research by It's Fresh! found in 2017 that two avocados emit 846g of Co2. A Mexican avocado makes a long polluting journey to parts of the world where it is consumed, traveling over 5000 miles to reach the UK. These significant food miles all add to the negative impact of avocados on the environment. 

In the long run, C02 emissions exacerbate global warming and climate change. The heightened demand for avocados will only damage the environment more. 

5. Non-biodegradable packaging

Producers use non-biodegradable packaging to protect avocados during transportation. Non-biodegradable packaging includes plastic bags and boxes lined with plastic. These materials are not recyclable, increasing the state of plastic pollution in the area. 

6. Socio-Economic Problems

The global demand for avocado fruit hurts the local food security of major producing countries.

Environmental Impacts of Ocean Acidification On Marine Ecosystems

Ocean acidification harms marine species in various ecosystems. It harms many marine species that rely on carbonate-based shells and those with high sensitivity to acid. Acidification also affects the complex food webs in the ocean. For instance, other marine species high on the food web feed on the ones with high sensitivity. 

Calcifying organisms are marine animals that use calcium carbonate to build their shells and skeletons. These marine species include coral reefs, plankton, oysters, etc. Ocean acidification breaks existing shells and skeletons and makes creating a new one challenging because of the ocean's limited calcium carbonate. 

Their shells become weak and vulnerable to damage from external factors, which weakens their recovery rates. For example, sea urchins help protect coral reefs from algae. However, they can't in acidic coastal areas because their weak protective shells make them more vulnerable to predators.

It also disrupts the food web because calcifying organisms prey on other animals. Some fish species are vulnerable to ocean acidification. Fish eggs and larvae might find it challenging to grow, develop, and survive in acidic oceans. An example is the clownfish larvae, which showed a reduced sense of smell in acidic marine environments, leading to risky swimming behaviors.

Negative Environmental Impacts of the Palm Oil Industry, Deforestation

The high demand for palm oil increased the acres of palm oil plantations and other oil crops. Oil palm plantations grow on extensive areas of tropical forests with diverse species of trees.

House West House : Brown University's Environmental House

West House is one of Brown’s Environmental Program Houses (along with our up-the-block neighbor North House), well known for it’s vegetarian food community. Residents and out-of-house members make up a fun and loving group committed to environmentalism, eating locally, social justice, building community, and – some of us more than others – strawberry yogurt.

Stop by any of our open dinners to get to know us better! Every Thursday @ 6:30 (during the school year), we meet at North House (111 Brown Street) and open our community up to the world with enticing dishes of lentils, squash, and quinoa. No invite is necessary – and we will serve as many as we can until the food runs out. If you show up late, you might miss the food – but certainly not good company!

We are located at 91 Brown Street, on the corner of Brown St. and Meeting St.

Want to know more? Here’s What We Do.

The Environment’s Role in Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth is an inward journey that involves deepening self-awareness, a connection to a higher purpose, and a pursuit of inner peace and enlightenment. Though one might perceive spiritual growth as purely internal, the environment plays an instrumental role in shaping this voyage.