The Life Cycle Approach for Sustainable Development of the Oil Palm Industry
Sustaining the development of the Malaysian oil palm industry is crucial because the exports of palm oil and palm-based products bring in substantial revenue (RM 14.2 billion in 2008) to the country. The basic challenge confronting the Malaysian oil palm industry is how to sustain development and global competitiveness in the face of stagnating productivity, increasing production costs and the scarcity of environmentally suitable land for expanding oil palm cultivation. In addition, the industry now has to fulfill expectations of palm oil importing countries regarding environmental performance.