Malaysia and Indonesia bolster defence of palm oil industry to west

Countries form European Palm Oil Council in attempt to counter criticism of industry's environmental record
Rikke Bruntse-Dahl guardian.co.uk 20 May 11;

Malaysia and Indonesia, which together account for about 90% of the world's palm oil production, have launched a joint PR offensive to defend the industry's environmental record.

Late last week, ministers from the two countries agreed to finalise plans for a European Palm Oil Council (EPOC) by the end of this year, to defend the trade of palm oil to the European Union and counter the "anti-palm oil campaign". The industry has been accused by environmental groups of destroying biodiversity and causing social conflicts, deforestation and climate change.

In a joint communique, the countries said: "This body will provide the industry [with] a collective platform to represent both countries on public debates that relate to palm oil issues such as sustainability, energy security, public health, address NGOs' anti palm-oil campaigns, non-aligned lobby groups, media, journalists and feedbacks of Members of the European Parliament."

In another move to promote palm oil to the western market, Bernard Dompok, minister of plantation industries and commodities in Malaysia and Dr Suswono Asyraf, minister of agriculture in Indonesia, will visit Washington DC next week. They will discuss barriers to palm oil trade with the US secretaries of agriculture and energy, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US secretary of commerce and US-ASEAN business.

Dompok told the Borneo Post the initiative was "a continuation of a similar mission to the EU in November 2010".

"When we were doing our joint mission, we met some members of parliament who didn't know what an oil palm tree looks like. I think we should really work together and talk to them as a team," he said.

Critics are sceptical the new push will quell the fears related to palm oil production. Friends of the Earth's biofuels campaigner, Kenneth Richter, said: "No amount of PR will alter the facts about palm oil. The UN says it's one of the leading drivers of deforestation in south-east Asia – trashing rainforest and wildlife. Just last month evidence surfaced that IOI – one of the biggest Malaysian palm oil producers – is involved in illegal deforestation and land rights conflicts."

Gurmit Singh, founder of the centre for environment, technology and development, Malaysia (CETDEM), an environmental NGO, said: "The truth is, both sides are over-generalising – the palm oil industry as well as the NGOs in the north. NGOs need to be careful not to tar all palm oil producers with the same brush – not all palm oil plantations have caused deforestation and loss of biodiversity.

"What is needed is not more pro- or anti-palm oil PR, but accountability and transparency and an effective chain of custody for palm oil. Everyone – NGOs, palm oil producers and the media – has the responsibility to report the truth and ultimately the consumer will decide."