Newsreel: Palm oil

This mock news video introduces the second controversy you’ll be exploring on this course: palm oil. The environmental and societal problems caused by palm oil production are making headlines across the globe as the demand for products containing it increases exponentially. There are many complex problems to resolve with this issue and we’ll introduce you to some of them in later Steps.

Welcome to Week 2

This week we will be taking an in-depth look at the complex controversy of palm oil. We’ll start by introducing you to this tropical crop and explaining why its so useful before running through the issues at stake. You’ll discover that although the expansion of palm oil plantations is directly responsible for depriving people of their livelihoods, destroying tropical forests and damaging natural diversity, boycotting products containing it is not the solution. You’ll hear the perspectives of various stakeholders: a government, a lobbying organisation, a local action organisation and a food company before having a chance to reflect on the controversy yourself and form your own opinions about what needs to be done.