MALAYSIA – Can Palm Oil Ever Be Sustainable?

Over our travels we have crossed one of the heartland countries for the controversial palm oil industry – Malaysia. In today's deep dive, Bec and Lotta discuss the environmental and ethical issues levelled at Big Oil Palm, trying to answer the question of whether palm oil can ever be a truly sustainable product. We also have the privilege of hearing from renowned Malaysian economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram on this episode. Bec interviews him about the colonial roots of the rubber and oil palm industries. Enjoy listening! Full bio for Professor Jomo: Jomo Kwame Sundaram is a Research Adviser, Khazanah Research Institute, Fellow, Academy of Science, Malaysia, and Emeritus Professor, University of Malaya. He was UN Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, Assistant Director General, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Founder-Chair, International Development Economics Associates (IDEAs) and President, Malaysian Social Science Association. Jomo has authored and edited over a hundred books, written many academic papers and media articles, besides translating 12 volumes. He has received the 2007 Wassily Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought, several honorary doctorates and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Award in Social Sciences for 2026.Important links: Sites of Displacement photo essay by Australian academic Christine Horn