Article
Economics
Dominic Rowland, Giacomo Zanello, Edy Waliyo, Amy Ickowitz
Summary: There is a need for a more diverse range of metrics to measure the social impacts of oil palm, as well as more explicit accounting for study context and gendered effects. Time allocation is an important determinant of well-being, maternal and child nutrition, women's empowerment, and gender equality.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Siwarote Boonrasri, Parichat Thipchai, Pongdhorn Sae-Oui, Sarinthip Thanakkasaranee, Kittisak Jantanasakulwong, Pornchai Rachtanapun
Summary: This research investigates the effects of free fatty acid content in vegetable oil on the properties of silica-filled SBR/BR rubber blends. The results show that increasing free fatty acid content improves the viscosity and hardness of the sulfur-vulcanized rubber, leading to enhanced mechanical properties and abrasion resistance, while maintaining good processability.
Article
Forestry
Muhammad Syafiq Yahya, Sharifah Nur Atikah, Izereen Mukri, Ruzana Sanusi, Ahmad Razi Norhisham, Badrul Azhar
Summary: The suitability of different agricultural land-use types for supporting bird biodiversity was investigated in Peninsular Malaysia. The study found that agroforestry orchards have greater bird species richness and abundance compared to oil palm and rubber tree plantations. The findings suggest that incorporating diverse native fruit trees into large-scale monoculture plantations could improve bird conservation and ecosystem services.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Geography
H. Manjari Jayathilake, Johanness Jamaludin, Jose Don T. De Alban, Edward L. Webb, L. Roman Carrasco
Summary: Rubber and oil palm cultivation in Southeast Asia is causing significant harm to biodiversity and natural habitats. The expansion of these crops is resulting in the destruction of forests and other croplands, with rubber plantations being converted to oil palm at an increasing rate. This slow readjustment of land use could have indirect impacts on tropical and sub-tropical environments. It is important to implement sustainable measures that address both oil palm and rubber cultivation to prevent further displacement and threats to natural habitats.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Anton Potapov, Ina Schaefer, Malte Jochum, Rahayu Widyastuti, Nico Eisenhauer, Stefan Scheu
Summary: Changes in land use in tropical ecosystems lead to an increase in invasive earthworm abundance and a decrease in diversity. Earthworm communities in rubber and oil palm plantations are less diverse and dominated by the invasive species Pontoscolex corethrurus.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Anan Polthanee, Arunee Promkhambut, Satit Aditto, Avakat Phasouysaingam
Summary: The study compares the impacts of traditional swidden-based farming, rubber-based farming, and swidden-rubber-based farming on household food security in northern Laos. Results show that households practicing rubber-based farming have the lowest food security level, while those practicing swidden-rubber-based farming have a higher level of food security.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Inggit Lolita Sari, Christopher J. Weston, Glenn J. Newnham, Liubov Volkova
Summary: Indonesia has been facing significant deforestation in recent years, mainly due to the expansion of oil palm and rubber plantations. Accurate land cover maps are crucial for policymakers to track and manage land change effectively. This study developed discrimination indices using a combination of optical and radar images, resulting in improved accuracy in distinguishing between native forest and oil palm and rubber plantations. The new mapping method achieved an overall accuracy of 92% and will support Indonesia's forest monitoring system.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Ramos, Tamara R. Hartke, Damayanti Buchori, Nadine Duperre, Purnama Hidayat, Mayanda Lia, Danilo Harms, Stefan Scheu, Jochen Drescher
Summary: The study reveals the threat to canopy spider communities in agricultural systems and emphasizes their importance in maintaining ecological balance and providing biological control functions.
Editorial Material
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rebecca K. Runting, Jessie A. Wells
Summary: As oil palm plantations expand, they replace once biodiverse tropical forests. To achieve a better balance between biodiversity and oil palm production, it is crucial to plan landscapes strategically. 'Set-asides' can be an effective approach.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Chao Jin, Xin Liu, Tianyun Sun, Jeffrey Dankwa Ampah, Zhenlong Geng, Jing Ji, Gang Wang, Haifeng Liu
Summary: Using fossil fuels in engines has led to energy shortages, carbon emissions, and environmental pollution. Methanol is considered a potential alternative fuel, but its use in diesel engines is hindered by poor auto-ignition properties and low heating value. Blending methanol with vegetable oil, particularly palm oil, has been proposed as a solution. Experimental results indicate stable microemulsions can be formed using methanol and palm kernel oil, with tetrahydrofuran as the most effective co-solvent. Palm kernel oil has a higher affinity for methanol compared to palm oil. Conductivity tests confirm the stability of the microemulsion. This study provides valuable insights for preparing carbon-neutral fuels in diesel engines.
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Niracha Koeipudsa, Ratana Chanthateyanonth, Philippe Daniel, Pranee Phinyocheep
Summary: In this study, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were extracted from oil palm trunk biomass and used to reinforce rubber nanocomposites. The addition of low concentration of CNC significantly improved the tear strength of the composites.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Hussein M. Hamada, Alyaa A. Al-Attar, Bassam Tayeh, Fadzil Bin Mat Yahaya, Yazan I. Abu Aisheh
Summary: Cement production leads to high energy consumption and the generation of harmful gases. This study investigates the use of palm oil clinker and ultrafine palm oil fuel ash as alternative materials in concrete production. The study utilizes the response surface method to optimize the density and water absorption properties of concrete. The results show a decrease in density and an increase in water absorption when using palm oil clinker as a replacement for coarse aggregate, and a decrease in water absorption when using ultrafine palm oil fuel ash as a partial cement replacement. The study recommends further use of ultrafine palm oil fuel ash due to its high pozzolanic property.
AIN SHAMS ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jaime Andres Cifuentes-Espinosa, Laurene Feintrenie, Claudia Monzon-Alvarado, Birgit Schmook, M. Azahara Mesa-Jurado
Summary: The study applies a Social-Ecological System (SES) approach to examine the barriers and levers to sustainable development in a palm oil production system. It explores whether oil palm plantations will be renewed by growers and identifies the conditions for sustainable palm oil production in the future.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Studies
Teodoro Semeraro, Aurelia Scarano, Angelo Leggieri, Antonio Calisi, Monica De Caroli
Summary: Climate change has significant impacts on agriculture, affecting food productivity, increasing production costs, and reducing ecosystem services. However, adopting new agricultural technologies and preserving agroecosystems can increase agriculture's resilience and mitigate the negative effects of climate change.
Review
Agronomy
Gen Hua Yue, Bao Qing Ye, May Lee
Summary: The oil palm, originating from Africa, is the most productive oil crop species, with a current global plantation area of over 23 million ha. Despite its potential, the average oil yield of the oil palm is only at 3.8 tons/ha/year. Traditional breeding methods have improved oil yield, but they are limited by a long selection cycle. Molecular breeding using novel technologies may accelerate genetic improvement and promote sustainability by reducing the need for deforestation and expanding oil palm plantations.
MOLECULAR BREEDING
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Marvin Joseph F. Montefrio, David A. Sonnenfeld, Valerie A. Luzadis
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2015)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Marvin Joseph F. Montefrio
AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN VALUES
(2020)
Article
Sociology
Kwok Yingchen, Marvin Joseph F. Montefrio, Edson Tandoc
Summary: There is a contradictory dynamic in how Instagram both promotes excessive consumption and health anxieties. Consumers try to navigate the double bind between indulgence and discipline. Researchers analyze food posts on social media to demonstrate the diversity and complexity of this phenomenon.
FOOD CULTURE & SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Xiyao Fu, Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, Marvin Joseph F. Montefrio
Summary: This paper examines the connection between reproductive plans and choices and climate change among young people in China, and finds that many young Chinese express concerns about the wellbeing of their potential children in a climate-changed future. However, they do not prioritize climate change highly among other factors that might influence reproductive choices. Comparatively, Chinese who are more alarmed about climate change report lower levels of reproductive concerns and more positive future visions than a similar group of US-Americans.
ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geography
Marvin Joseph F. Montefrio, Xin Run Lee, Elwin Lim
Summary: This paper explores the complexities of aesthetic politics in urban geographies using the case of community gardens in Singapore. The findings suggest that community gardeners in Singapore are able to negotiate and resist aesthetic expectations with varying degrees of agency and strategy.
Article
Anthropology
Marvin Joseph F. Montefrio
Article
Sociology
Marvin Joseph Fonacier Montefrio, Richard Wilk
FOOD CULTURE & SOCIETY
(2020)
Article
Sociology
Marvin Joseph F. Montefrio, Jeremy C. De Chavez, Antonio P. Contreras, Dennis S. Erasga
FOOD CULTURE & SOCIETY
(2020)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Marvin Joseph Fonacier Montefrio, Harng Luh Sin
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
(2019)
Article
Geography
Marvin Joseph Fonacier Montefrio, Alaine Taylor Johnson
JOURNAL OF RURAL STUDIES
(2019)
Article
Geography
Wolfram H. Dressler, Will Smith, Marvin J. F. Montefrio
JOURNAL OF RURAL STUDIES
(2018)
Article
Anthropology
Marvin Joseph F. Montefrio
JOURNAL OF PEASANT STUDIES
(2017)
Article
Geography
Wolfram Dressler, Jessica de Koning, Marvin Montefrio, Jennifer Firn
Article
Geography
Marvin Joseph F. Montefrio
JOURNAL OF RURAL STUDIES
(2016)
Article
Development Studies
Marvin Joseph F. Montefrio, Wolfram H. Dressler