An early Friday morning, earlier this month, I met with Wilfrido Marcillas and his daughter Camilla, Palm Done Right farmers in Quevedo, Ecuador. It is a joy to be in the field and hear their stories. And it is crucial for understanding their challenges and needs. A farmer his entire…
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Early summer my attention was drawn to an article with the title “How palm oil became the world’s most hated, most used fat source”, written by Jonathan E. Robins, associate professor of global history at Michigan Technology University. The article was published right after the launch of his book Oil Palm, covering ten years…
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In July 2000, the UN’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre recognized 17 megadiverse countries which hold the majority of Earth’s species and high numbers of endemic species. The term megadiverse has been awarded to those countries that have at least 5,000 of the world’s plants as endemics and have marine ecosystems…
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Most of us use multiple cosmetic products daily. These products nourish our skin, make us feel good and help us get that special glow when we’re getting ready for the day. Many of the ingredients essential for making these products are derived from palm (kernel) oil. So, whether we realize…
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“A zoo is a place that combines the idea of preserving the environment and the role that humans play in that preservation,” says Dr. Amy Harrison-Levine, Director of Field Conservation Programs at Denver Zoo. I interviewed her earlier this year as we engaged in a partnership between Denver Zoo and…
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I have to admit, I never gave much thought to the candles I burned in my home. Until Palm Done Right brand partner Way Out Wax launched their organic palm wax candles. Although my candles burned fast, dripped excessively and released black smoke, I still continued my routine candle buying behavior. When…
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Written by Monique van Wijnbergen In a recent article the oil palm was presented as a Shiva of the modern consumer economy, “a great creator and a great destroyer”. The article explains how oil palm created and continues to create wellbeing for millions of people by contributing to developing local economies and eradicating…
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(December 29, 2020) Last month I was invited to do two presentations at my son’s school. The theme was “Sustainable Development”, with a focus on how we can create positive impact working from new business and collaboration models. The goal: to inspire these 17-year-old students as they choose the next…
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(November 30, 2020) David Attenborough’s recent documentary “A Life on Our Planet” offers the sobering view of the decline of our planet during his generation’s lifetime. The burden of conventional agriculture on nature and its diversity of species is astounding. Yet, the documentary also presents solutions for reversing agricultural damage…
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