Palm Oil Event in Poland, 28 February 2020

What is palm oil from a science perspective? Why is it the most commonly used vegetable fat in the world? Why is it often used by food and cosmetics manufacturers? Can we limit the negative impact of the production of this raw material on the environment? Get the facts, fake news and ask questions to the experts.

Palm oil – production and consumption

Palm oil has the reputation of being harmful to health, and the cultivation of oil palm is considered a process that damages the environment. Emotions are rising rapidly in the numbers associated with its production and consumption. According to statistics, annually 66 million tons of palm oil is produced worldwide. Oil palm plantations cover 27 million ha – almost as much as the area of ​​Poland. In 2017, our country received – in the form of raw material and in finished products – 445,000. tons of this fat *. Palm oil can be found in food (margarine, cakes, bread, etc.) and feed, household products and cosmetics (soaps, surfactants, shampoos), and is also used for the production of biofuels.

Meeting #CiekawiNauki – facts and discussion of experts

The purpose of the #CiekawiNauki – Palm oil in the environment and food meeting is to present the topic in a broad perspective. We will present facts and scientific statistical data. Experts from the Gdańsk University of Technology, the European Palm Oil Alliance and the Polish Coalition for Sustainable Palm Oil will participate.

The discussion will revolve around three subject:

• palm oil production technology and its properties. Specialists will discuss the concepts of refining and hydrogenation and indicate the differences between these processes. We will learn the reasons why palm oil is such a popular raw material in the food industry.
• health effects of palm oil consumption. We will learn, among others: which diseases can be caused by excessive consumption of fats, including palm oil, and which compounds present in its composition may affect our health; how to recognize on the product label whether palm oil contains trans isomers.
• environmental protection. Representatives of EPOA and WWF Polska will indicate the greatest threats associated with the unsustainable cultivation of oil palm (deforestation, loss of rainforests, extinction of species of orangutans, elephants, etc.). They will show what sustainable palm oil production is and show products containing certified raw material.

As an interesting fact: palm oil as such will be shown – each participant will be able to see up close samples of crude oil, refined oil, as well as individual palm oil fractions.

Speakers
The meeting will be attended by: dr inż. Agata Sommer and dr inż. Karol Parchem ( Department of Chemistry, Technology and Food Biotechnology – Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology ), mgr inż. Agata Studzińska and mgr inż. Grzegorz Muszyński (Olenex on behalf of the European Palm Oil Alliance ) and prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Krygier (former Head of the Department of Fat Technology and Food Concentrates SGGW, member of the Scientific Council of the Polish Coalition for Sustainable Palm Oil ) and mgr Marta Grzybowska ( WWF Polska on behalf of the Polish Coalition for Sustainable Palm Oil).

The conversation will be led by Maciej Dzwonnik, PG spokesperson.

* data comes from WWF Polska report ” Palm oil in Poland ” and from the website https://www.wwf.pl/ekonsumpcja/olej-palmowy

CiekawiNauki – Palm oil in the environment and food 

When?  February 28 (Friday), 18:00

Where? Gdańsk University of Technology, Novum Auditorium

Admission : free, limited number of places.

REGISTRATION :  www.bilety.pg.edu.pl

Admission to the event is possible after showing the ticket: printed or on the screen of the mobile device.