Microalgae produces alternative to palm oil

As the oils produced from the microalgae are edible and have reportedly superior properties to those found in palm oil, the newly discovered method led by scientists led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) would serve as a healthier and greener alternative to palm oil.

Compared to palm oil, the oil derived from the microalgae contains more polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. The microalgae produced oil developed in collaboration with scientists from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, also contains fewer saturated fatty acids, which have been linked to stroke and related conditions.

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Palm oil is the world’s most utilised vegetable oil. It features in around half of all consumer products and plays a central role in a large range of industrial applications. Farmers produced 77 million tonnes of palm oil for the global market in 2018, and that is expected to grow to 107.6 million tonnes by 2024. However, the rapid expansion of oil palm plantations is blamed for massive deforestation in several countries, destroying habitats and endangering native wildlife.