From seed to megawatt: The Sustainable Oil Palm Cycle

When we think of oil palm, we often associate it with the production of cooking oil, known as palm oil. However, this plant plays an even wider role in our daily lives than we might think.

Palm cultivation

Originally from West Africa, the oil palm is grown in tropical and subtropical regions, such as the Brazilian Amazon. Its oil-rich fruit is the main raw material for a variety of products used in the food, cosmetics, hygiene and biofuel industries, among others.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), global palm oil production is mainly concentrated in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, accounting for 87% of world production, estimated at around 70 million tons per year. (source: https://fas.usda.gov/data/production/commodity/4243000)

The Expansion of Oil Palm in Brazil

Oil palm cultivation arrived in Brazil in the 17th century, brought by the Portuguese, but it was from the 1970s onwards that its production gained prominence, driven by government incentives and the growing demand for vegetable oils. Brazil is currently the world's tenth largest producer of palm oil, with production concentrated mainly in the states of Pará, Bahia and Amazonas. (source: Palm Oil | USDA Foreign Agricultural Service)

Grupo BBF, the largest oil palm producer in Latin America, began planting in the Amazon region in 2008, in the state of Roraima. The company currently cultivates more than 75,000 hectares in the northern region of Brazil, with plantations in São João da Baliza (RR) and in four agricultural hubs in Pará, in the municipalities of Acará, Concórdia do Pará, Moju and Tomé-Açu.

São João da Baliza - RR (Grupo BBF)

Sustainable cultivation

Oil palm cultivation in Brazil is governed by one of the strictest pieces of legislation in the world, established by the Federal Government through decree 7.172/2010, which determines the Agroecological Zoning of Oil Palm. This zoning allows planting only in degraded areas of the Amazon until December 2007, guaranteeing the preservation of forests.

Grupo BBF follows a sustainable cycle in its cultivation:

• Choosing seeds: The first step is the careful selection of high-quality seeds. Grupo BBF works with seeds that have the best genetic design available on the national and international market;
• Continuous pre-sowing care: at this stage, the seeds are carefully planted by the hands of the women farmers and receive continuous monitoring during their first life cycles;
• Nursery: The germinated seedlings are transplanted and given the necessary care for 9 months;
• Sustainable cultivation in the planting area: once the plant has been formed, it is definitively planted in the field, restoring the soil in degraded areas of the Amazon;
• Constant monitoring: the seedlings receive proper management in the planted areas until they reach the adult stage - this process takes around 4 years.

Second life of waste

A crucial stage in the sustainable palm cycle is the transformation of extraction residues into biomass, which is used to generate clean energy. Organic waste is also composted, reducing the use of petrochemical fertilizers and helping to neutralize the carbon footprint.

Palm oil products

Palm oil is a versatile ingredient with many applications. In the food industry, it is present in:

• Margarine, creams and ice cream: Palm oil adds texture and creaminess to products.
• Cookies, chocolates and fillings: Its crunchy texture and neutral flavor make it ideal for these products.
• Cooking oil: This is a vegetable oil with a high smoke point, ideal for frying.

Palm oil and its derivatives are used in the cosmetics industry:

• Soaps, shampoos and moisturizing creams: Palm oil has moisturizing and emollient properties.
• Lipsticks, shower gels and toothpaste: Palm oil derivatives serve as foaming and stabilizing agents.
• Combing creams and other hair products: Palm oil helps moisturize and protect hair.

Palm oil is also an important raw material for the production of biofuels:

• Biodiesel: A substitute for fossil diesel used in vehicles and power generators.
• SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) and HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil): these are renewable alternatives to fossil fuels used in aviation and land transportation, respectively, and can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to petrochemicals.

Renewable Energy Generation

The biomass resulting from oil palm is used to generate clean energy, as is the case at the Grupo BBF Thermoelectric Plant located in São João da Baliza (RR). The hybrid plant avoids burning around 43 million liters of fossil fuel a year in the Amazon region. Replacing fossil diesel saves the population and the environment from emitting thousands of tons of carbon into the atmosphere. In addition, with this TPP, the company has a complete cycle in its operation: it plants, harvests, crushes the fruit, produces biofuels and generates electricity, which also transforms the resulting biomass into energy and disposes of part of the waste from its operation in an appropriate and productive manner. A completely sustainable model aligned with energy and environmental benefits.

Innovation and Sustainability

From cultivation to clean energy generation, the palm oil extraction process exemplifies how innovation can go hand in hand with sustainability. Grupo BBF , with its 25 thermoelectric plants in operation, uses biofuels such as biodiesel, biomass and vegetable oil from oil palm, making a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions. In addition to generating clean electricity for more than 110,000 residents of the communities served by the Isolated Systems in the northern region.

Socio-economic development

In addition to its contribution to environmental preservation, oil palm generates thousands of jobs and income for local communities, since its cultivation cannot be mechanized, promoting socio-economic development in the areas where it is grown. Grupo BBF , through its Family Farming program, encourages around 400 families in the state of Pará, providing technical assistance, seedlings and guaranteeing the purchase of the fruit at competitive prices.

The oil palm cycle, from the seed to the generation of renewable energy, demonstrates the plant's potential for sustainable development. The commitment to innovation and social responsibility guarantees a promising future for palm oil production in Brazil.