A New York-based technology startup has developed a much-needed lab-grown alternative to palm oil, which has been responsible for the deforestation of some of the world’s most diverse forests and the habitat destruction of numerous endangered species for years.
C16 Biosciences, a US-based technology startup, has developed “Palmless,” a yeast-based alternative to palm oil. The product was recently commercialized in an effort to “decrease the world’s reliance on palm oil,” according to Shara Ticku, CEO of the company.
The alternative employs a strain of yeast known as metschnikowia pulcherrima, or MP. According to Chris Chuck, professor of bioprocess engineering at the University of Bath, and his team, MP is not picky and can be fed grass and food waste.
While typical palm oil production can take up to seven years, ‘palmless’ production is said to require “less than seven days from start to finish.”
Palm oil dominates the market with more than 40% of global vegetable oil consumption
Palm oil continues to dominate the market, accounting for more than 40% of global vegetable oil consumption. The tasteless, colorless, and odorless oil is popular with both cosmetic and food manufacturers. Its appeal stems from the fact that it does not alter the taste or appearance of the product, instead acting as a natural preservative.
What makes its use problematic is the widespread and considerable deforestation it causes. The tree may thrive in low-lying, hot, humid environments near the equator, with 85 percent of the tree growing in Indonesia and Malaysia, home to endangered species such as the Orangutan, pygmy elephant, and Sumatran rhino.
Palm oil conservation occupied 28.7 million hectares of land in 2020, a ninefold increase from 3.3 million hectares in 1970.
According to the BBC, Ticku, the founder of C16 Biosciences, came up with the idea for Palmless in 2013, while visiting Singapore and being compelled to wear a mask owing to the hazardous air caused by Indonesia’s burning rainforests.