Preface

The palm oil industry is one of the oldest and most prominent in the world and has garnered a lot of attention from scientists, manufacturers, businessmen, environmental activists, and consumers alike. There have been inventions, innovations, and new discoveries as well as controversies, debates, and conflicts associated with this industry.

Palm oil is popular because it offers superior yield at a lower production cost than other cooking oils. Thus, there is a noteworthy production of and demand for palm oil on the rise. It appears that palm oil plantations are rapidly spreading across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, although this comes at the expense of the depletion of tropical forests. Nevertheless, the palm oil industry being a sustainable and economically viable industry, discussions and implementations on remedying this situation are constantly ongoing. Regulatory frameworks are being developed and improved to make the palm oil industry more "green" and environmentally friendly.

This book examines the basics of the palm oil industry as well as the processes and procedures involved. It is organized into two sections that include chapters written by experts in the field. It is a useful resource that examines the palm oil industry from various perspectives, providing a holistic overview of the subject.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to the contributing authors for their excellent chapters. Also, my heartfelt appreciation goes to the staff at IntechOpen, especially Author Service Manager Ms. Blanka Gugic for her valuable assistance and support.

I hope this book will be one of many to be published about palm oil and the industry itself. It is important that the gaps and voids are recognized and duly addressed for the betterment of the industry as well as the livelihood of individuals who rely on it.

> **Dr. Viduranga Y. Waisundara** Deputy Principal, Australian College of Business and Technology, Kandy Campus, Kandy, Sri Lanka

**1**

Section 1

The Basics of Palm Oil

Section 1
