Palm Oil Production at a Crossroads: An Historical Lens and the Future of Tropical Sustainability

Описание: Join us for another installment of Inside the Activist's Studio featuring an interdisciplinary conversation with two leading experts whose work bridges science, policy, and history:

Dr. Marc Ancrenaz, Co-Director, HUTAN-Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project, Malaysian Borneo, will share insights from decades of research on orangutans, forest management, and community-centered conservation in Borneo.

Dr. Valeria Giacomin, Assistant Professor, Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University, Italy, will explore how global palm oil supply chains evolved, and what that history reveals about today’s climate, labor, and land-use challenges. Her presentation was exclusive to the live event.

From habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss to the complex historical forces behind plantation expansion, palm oil’s global journey raises urgent environmental and social questions. To build a more sustainable future, we need to understand how these systems became so deeply interconnected.

Together, they will unpack how past and present decisions shape the landscapes, livelihoods, and species at risk today. Expect a lively, thought-provoking discussion that connects on-the-ground conservation with global historical perspective, highlighting how policy shifts, consumer choices, and community-driven initiatives can support more equitable and ecologically sound food systems.

Learn more at palmtopalmoilreduction.org