Search results

The Malaysian oil palm has seen steady progress. Started in Malaysia as an ornamental plant, it has turned into a huge industry. Oil palm production has yielded unlimited economic profits and is currently an emerging Malaysian economic sector. Malaysia currently accounts for an overwhelming contribution to the production and export of palm oil worldwide, which is 39% and 44%, respectively. From around 4.49 million hectares of land, a massive 17.73 million tons of palm oil and 2.13 tons of palm kernel oil were produced. It has been widely use as food products, cosmetics, livestock feed, as well as in bioenergy industry. This is in line with the fast-growing global demand for the palm oil products. Nevertheless, it is currently experiencing a period of slow or less growth in terms of contributing naturally to gross national productivity. Issues such as extreme weather, aging trees, and plant diseases are most prominent among the natural factors that are hindering the growth of the industry. The global pandemic of COVID-19 is also contributing to the current slow growth of palm oil sector. Malaysia has a crucial role to play in meeting the growing global need for oils and fats, as Malaysia is one of the palm oil and palm oil products' major producers and exporting countries.

This study assesses postreplanting oil palm farming risks, analyzes seed procurement parameters, investigates seed institutions' performance factors and develops a framework for improved sustainability.

Incorporating data from 219 smallholder farmers in designated replanting areas, our study comprehensively evaluates seed supply performance, examining the roles of stakeholders and identifying potential risks in seed management. We assess these risks using the Risk Priority Number (RPN) methodology and Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) techniques.

The results show that the timing and quantity of oil palm seed supply have a relatively small impact on postreplanting failure risk. To mitigate this risk, focus on monitoring seed purity using high-quality Tenera oil palm-type seeds and early detection technology. Encourage seed-producing cooperatives to become legal seed producers for an inclusive system and consider smallholders' variety preferences.

This study’s significance lies in its comprehensive assessment of the risks associated with oil palm replanting on smallholder plantations, detailed analysis of critical parameters in seed procurement, investigation into the performance of palm oil seed institutions across various dimensions and development of a strategic framework to strengthen inclusive seed institutions for sustainable oil palm farming. This strategy holds valuable potential for the development of oil palm in Indonesia, particularly in expediting the smallholders' replanting program.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-10-2023-0811

Placing expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesia in the context of the global land grab, this paper analyzes the contemporary extent and early historical periods of plantation expansion via the theory of accumulation by dispossession (ABD).

After reviewing the empirical debate about the land grab, this paper examines the importance of ABD to understand the land grabs in general and for oil palm plantations in Indonesia in particular. Rather than a new phenomenon of the last four decades of neoliberalism, ABD has a history of several centuries.

Accumulation by dispossession (ABD) is a powerful and appropriate lens by which to understand the land conversion and social displacement occurring in Indonesia. Building on historical understanding of ABD, this paper applies the theory to the Indonesian oil palm case, making the case that the multiple and uncertain sequences of engagement with oil palm expansion are reflective of a broader struggle against dispossession.

ABD is not just a global financial process of corporate-led neoliberalization but also shaped importantly by domestic state and local elites. These elites have shaped ABD differently in colonial, authoritarian, and neoliberal periods.

Palm oil has consistently been a staple ingredient in the Malaysian diet. Despite various promotional efforts throughout the years, the health aspects of palm oil have often been undervalued, leading consumers to overlook its benefits. This study has two objectives: (1) to explore consumer behaviour in purchasing decisions for food products containing palm oil in an emerging market and (2) to examine consumer awareness of palm oil as an ingredient in various edible products related to health.

A quantitative methodology that utilises a self-administered questionnaire was adopted for data collection. The conceptual framework and hypotheses were tested using partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modelling (SEM) on a dataset of 342 respondents.

The findings revealed that three hypotheses – attitude, subjective norms (SNs) and perceived health benefits – positively impact the intention to purchase palm-oil-based food products. Additionally, results indicate that Malaysian consumers practice sustainable consumption when purchasing palm-oil-based food products.

There is a need for a greater understanding of the importance perceived health benefits have in influencing consumers' consumption of food products containing palm oil in an emerging market such as Malaysia. This research study addresses the gap in existing knowledge.

The economic importance of palm oil produced by its producers in food requirement, income generation, production and consumption has led to a significant increase in its demand over the years. Thus, this chapter evaluates the effects of palm oil price fluctuations on the welfare of palm oil producers in Nigeria based on annual time series data (1980–2018). In achieving its objectives, the study employs Autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL). The result establishes the presence of a long-run relationship in the welfare of palm oil producers. The long-run estimates show that palm oil prices had a positive but insignificant relationship with the welfare of palm oil producers. In the short-run estimates, palm oil price and the exchange rate had adverse and significant effects on the welfare of palm oil producers, while the inflation rate positively and significantly influenced welfare. Therefore, the welfare programme should adopt policies that will stabilise the palm oil price and other foodstuffs to increase the standard of living of palm oil producers and raise their literacy levels.

Technology acceptance is a measure of that technology’s usefulness. Oil palm is one of the biggest contributors to Indonesia’s revenues, thus fueling its economy. Using remote sensing would allow a plantation to monitor and forecast its production and the amount of fertilizer used. This review aims to provide a policy recommendation in the form of a strategy to improve the added value of Indonesia’s oil palm and support the government in increasing oil palm production. This recommendation needs to be formulated by determining the users’ acceptance of remote sensing technology (state-owned plantations, private plantation companies and smallholder plantations).

This review’s methodology used sentiment analysis through text mining (bag of words model). The study’s primary data were from focus group discussions (FGDs), questionnaires, observations on participants, audio-visual documentation and focused discussions based on group category. The results of interviews and FGDs were transcribed into text and analyzed to 1) find words that can represent the content of the document; 2) classify and determine the frequency (word cloud); and finally 3) analyze the sentiment.

The result showed that private plantation companies and state-owned plantations had extremely high positive sentiments toward using remote sensing in their oil palm plantations, whereas smallholders had a 60% resistance. However, there is still a possibility for this technology’s adoption by smallholders, provided it is free and easily applied.

Basically, technology is applied to make work easier. However, not everyone is tech-savvy, especially the older generations. One dimension of technology acceptance is user/customer retention. New technology would not be immediately accepted, but there would be user perceptions about its uses and ease. At first, people might be reluctant to accept a new technology due to the perception that it is useless and difficult. Technology acceptance is the gauge of how useful technology is in making work easier compared to conventional ways.

Therefore, technology acceptance needs to be improved among smallholders by intensively socializing the policies, and through dissemination and dedication by academics and the government.

The social implications of using technology are reducing the workforce, but the company will be more profitable and efficient.

Remote sensing is one of the topics that people have not taken up in a large way, especially sentiment analysis. Acceptance of technology that utilizes remote sensing for plantations is very useful and efficient. In the end, company profits can be allocated more toward empowering the community and the environment.

Palm oil is widely used in the food industry; however, there are two main controversies connected to its use, namely, its nutritional value and the environmental consequences deriving from its crop. In Italy, the use of palm oil has recently been criticized, insomuch that some important bakery companies decided to substitute it, creating a real food marketing case. Through a focus on biscuits, this study is aimed at profiling consumers with regard to palm oil issue to better comprehend if the presence of this ingredient truly influences their food purchases and if they care about the nutritional and environmental aspects, highlighting the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on consumers' consumption.

A questionnaire was administered to 243 subjects in Italy, in order to apply a cluster analysis.

The findings show the presence of three main kinds of consumers: (1) compromise finders (sensitive to cost savings but trying to privilege palm-oil free food), (2) brand-loyal consumers (palm oil does not influence their preferences) and (3) healthsensitives (the presence of palm oil profoundly affects their choices), who represent the majority of our sample. The results and implications are discussed.

Research on palm oil is essentially focused on chemistry, natural sciences or on its industrial uses: this study analyzes the consumer point of view by applying a different methodology compared to existing studies.

The agriculture industry has a considerable impact on Malaysia’s economy, as seen by its contribution of roughly 8.2% of gross domestic product in 2018 and its potential to absorb 11.09% of Malaysian labor in the same year. This study aims to simulate rising output in a system model of sustainable and profitable crude palm oil (CPO) supply chain management (SCM) and to formulate policy solutions to build sustainable and profitable SCM of Malaysian CPO.

This research included both primary and secondary data. This study used the dynamic system model to simulate palm oil land expansion, replanting policies and environmentally friendly growing techniques.

This study’s findings suggest that the dynamic system model of Malaysia’s CPO’s sustainable and profitable SCM is valid when its structure and performance are tested. The fifth scenario provides the best results, with the most significant net benefit value compared to the other scenarios.

The ideal policy alternative is replanting sustainable agricultural practices without burning technologies during new land clearing to achieve the best net advantages.

Farmers in Colombia have faced economic instability due to a long-lasting armed conflict. An attempt to support the rural community has been through the creation of productive alliances – a strategic association between small-scale producers and anchor companies with the assistance of the private and public sectors. By closely examining the Association of Guarupay Palm Growers (ASOPAY)'s financial cash flows, this study investigates the challenges faced by small-scale agribusinesses in an emerging economy.

This study addresses the situation of ASOPAY, an oil palm productive alliance formed by families displaced by the Colombian armed conflict and relocated in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains. By closely examining ASOPAY's financial flows, the article sheds light on the economic incentives enhancing the cohesion of the small-farmers’ association.

A key finding is the critical role played by institutional efforts focused by promoting policies to enhance producers income. In addition, technological transfers made through technical assistance programs may improve the association's profitability by enhancing agronomic practices, while decreasing palm mortality and disease incidence.

The relatively small sample used in the study might rise concerns regarding the generalization of the outcomes. However, the authors implemented strategies to overcome these limitations by incorporating the inputs from experts on the oil palm supply chain in Colombia and from experts in rural development.

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the financial success of small farmers in post-conflict zones.

This paper sets out to report on a study of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) as an instance of “partnered governance” oriented to advance sustainable development in a supply chain. After briefly discussing the conceptualization of partnered governance, its social organizational features, and its drivers, the paper aims to outline the history and structure of RSPO and then to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and level of legitimation of this innovative governance structure. The paper points out several of the limitations as well as potentialities of partner governance arrangements such as that of RSPO.

The paper shows through a focused multi‐method case study how the RSPO developed as consumer‐oriented businesses partnered with civil society organizations and palm oil producers to address what was seen as a long‐term threat to rain forests, on the one hand, and to financial interests, on the other.

In the case of deforestation caused by oil palm expansion, national government intervention was absent and international regulation could not be mobilized. While the RSPO's system of partnered governance may have many shortcomings, the paper stresses that there are few real alternatives that have been as successful in addressing this type of sustainability issue. A major structural problem with such partnerships for sustainability is that their emergence and development typically depend on powerful players.

The originality/value of the paper lies in its identification of several of the strengths and weaknesses of partnered governance based on a focused case study, and suggests ways in which partnered governance can be developed and optimized in addressing sustainability issues.