The environmental impacts of palm oil in context

Delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires balancing demands on land between agriculture (SDG 2) and biodiversity (SDG 15). The production of vegetable oils and, in particular, palm oil, illustrates these competing demands and trade-offs. Palm oil accounts for ~40% of the current global annual demand for vegetable oil as food, animal feed and fuel (210 Mt), but planted oil palm covers less than 5-5.5% of the total global oil crop area (approximately 425 Mha) due to oil palm's relatively high yields. Recent oil palm expansion in forested regions of Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, where >90% of global palm oil is produced, has led to substantial concern around oil palm's role in deforestation. Oil palm expansion's direct contribution to regional tropical deforestation varies widely, ranging from an estimated 3% in West Africa to 50% in Malaysian Borneo. Oil palm is also implicated in peatland draining and burning in Southeast Asia. Documented negative environmental impacts from such expansion include biodiversity declines, greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. However, oil palm generally produces more oil per area than other oil crops, is often economically viable in sites unsuitable for most other crops and generates considerable wealth for at least some actors. Global demand for vegetable oils is projected to increase by 46% by 2050. Meeting this demand through additional expansion of oil palm versus other vegetable oil crops will lead to substantial differential effects on biodiversity, food security, climate change, land degradation and livelihoods. Our Review highlights that although substantial gaps remain in our understanding of the relationship between the environmental, socio-cultural and economic impacts of oil palm, and the scope, stringency and effectiveness of initiatives to address these, there has been little research into the impacts and trade-offs of other vegetable oil crops. Greater research attention needs to be given to investigating the impacts of palm oil production compared to alternatives for the trade-offs to be assessed at a global scale.

The environmental impacts of palm oil in context

Delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires balancing demands on land between agriculture (SDG 2) and biodiversity (SDG 15). The production of vegetable oils and, in particular, palm oil, illustrates these competing demands and trade-offs. Palm oil accounts for ~40% of the current global annual demand for vegetable oil as food, animal feed and fuel (210 Mt), but planted oil palm covers less than 5-5.5% of the total global oil crop area (approximately 425 Mha) due to oil palm's relatively high yields. Recent oil palm expansion in forested regions of Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, where >90% of global palm oil is produced, has led to substantial concern around oil palm's role in deforestation. Oil palm expansion's direct contribution to regional tropical deforestation varies widely, ranging from an estimated 3% in West Africa to 50% in Malaysian Borneo. Oil palm is also implicated in peatland draining and burning in Southeast Asia. Documented negative environmental impacts from such expansion include biodiversity declines, greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. However, oil palm generally produces more oil per area than other oil crops, is often economically viable in sites unsuitable for most other crops and generates considerable wealth for at least some actors. Global demand for vegetable oils is projected to increase by 46% by 2050. Meeting this demand through additional expansion of oil palm versus other vegetable oil crops will lead to substantial differential effects on biodiversity, food security, climate change, land degradation and livelihoods. Our Review highlights that although substantial gaps remain in our understanding of the relationship between the environmental, socio-cultural and economic impacts of oil palm, and the scope, stringency and effectiveness of initiatives to address these, there has been little research into the impacts and trade-offs of other vegetable oil crops. Greater research attention needs to be given to investigating the impacts of palm oil production compared to alternatives for the trade-offs to be assessed at a global scale.

The purification and properties of NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase from ox-heart mitochondria

The purification of NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase from ox heart mitochondria is described. The molecular weight from gel filtration, sedimentation equilibrium and gel electrophoresis is 90000+/-4000, and there are two subunits in the molecule each of which binds NADPH with enhancement of the coenzyme fluorescence. The amino-acid composition is reported, and the absorption coefficient, A1/280%, estimated from dry weight measurements is 11.8 cm-1.

Activation and inhibition of rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase by transition-metal ions

The paper reports a comparative study of the effects of Mn2+, Ni2+ and Co2+ on the reaction of ADP with phosphoenolypyruvate when catalysed by K+-activated rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase. The activation and subsequent inhibition that occurs as the bivalent ion concentration is increased is taken as evidence that the substrates of the enzyme are phosphoenolypyruvate, uncomplexed ADP and free bivalent cation. Kinetic constants for the binding of the bivalent cation to the enzyme are reported.

A kinetic study of pig liver pyruvate kinase activated by fructose diphosphate

The paper reports a study of the reaction between phosphoenolpyruvate, ADP and Mg(2+) catalysed by pig liver pyruvate kinase when activated by fructose diphosphate and K(+). The experimental results are consistent with two non-sequential mechanisms in which the substrates and products of the reaction are phosphoenolpyruvate, ADP, Mg(2+), pyruvate and MgATP. Pyruvate release occurs before ADP binding. Two Mg(2+) ions are involved, though the two Mg(2+)-binding sites cannot be occupied simultaneously. An isomerized enzyme complex forms before release of MgATP. Values were determined for the Michaelis constants of the reaction. Apparent MgATP inhibition constants are also given.

A kinetic study of Baker's-yeast pyruvate kinase activated by fructose 1,6-diphosphate

The paper reports a study of the kinetics of the reaction between phosphoenolpyruvate, ADP and Mg(2+) catalysed by yeast pyruvate kinase when activated by fructose 1,6-diphosphate and K(+). The experimental results indicate that the reaction mechanism is of the Ordered Tri Bi type with the substrates binding in the order phosphoenolpyruvate, ADP and Mg(2+). Direct phosphoryl transfer takes place in the quaternary complex, with pyruvate released before MgATP. A dead-end enzyme-pyruvate complex is also indicated. Values have been determined for the Michaelis, dissociation and inhibition constants of the reaction. Several of the rate constants involved have also been evaluated.