The Palm Oil Industry Is Being Disrupted By Kratom Farming & It’s A Good Thing

Throughout Southeast Asia, palm oil is one of the largest crops being cultivated. Throughout these areas, Kratom is also being planted and harvested; however, its environmental impact is much more favorable, giving it a better reputation. In the past decade or so, the palm industry has been the subject of great scrutiny, especially its negative environmental impact. As palm oil can negatively impact wildlife, natural resources, and indigenous communities, Kratom may play a part in curbing the unparalleled rainforest destruction caused by the palm oil industry.

Palm Oil: What Is It?

Palm oil is one of the most popular and versatile types of vegetable oils available. It is not only popular in native areas, but Western countries have a high demand for this product. Many food products list palm oil as a key ingredient, most common for those that have been highly processed. It is also a popular additive for beauty and health products. According to one study, this increased demand has revealed that per person, a whopping 17 pounds of palm oil is used each year. As it is so popular, the crop has become highly profitable, providing more incentive to plant more crops, which now could be affected by Kratom farming.

The Problem

The skyrocketing demand for palm oil is ruining rainforests around the world. Entire, diverse ecosystems are being wiped out for the sole purpose of planting extensive monoculture crops of oil palms. The oil palm requires an incredible amount of resources for them to thrive and large plots of land. Any wild-growing methods or ecologically safe harvesting tactics can not be utilized to keep up with this demand, which is why large industrial operations have been growing in number.

Within a tropical rainforest, the diversity of plant and animal life is extreme. These are the most biodiverse places on the planet, with thousands of different species within a single square-meter area. The various types of trees and animals all support endangered wildlife species, and if the forests continue to be destroyed, these species could be wiped out altogether. The Sumatran tiger and orangutan are among two of these species. As these places are also home to indigenous communities, they are being left resourceless and starving as the palm oil plantations wipe out their homes and food sources.

Understanding Kratom

Kratom is considered a medicinal plant that has been grown and harvested by indigenous communities in Southeast Asia for centuries. Over time western researchers have gained an intense interest in this plant, looking into its potential benefits. During the harvest, individual leaves are chosen to further refine into Kratom powder. The remainder of the tree is left intact, so they continue growing and strengthening for the next harvest. After the leaves are plucked, they are left to dry and then ground down into a powder. In many areas throughout Southeast Asia, oil palm trees are not far from the Kratom trees.

Competition

As palm plantations are so lucrative, producers are lured in by the potential for financial gain. However, at the same time, Kratom is another crop that is proving to be lucrative, and the methods used for its farming are much more environmentally friendly. The agricultural model used for Kratom farming protects the land, while palm oil crops do the opposite.

In contrast to the monoculture plantations of oil palms, Kratom is planted widely among the rainforests. As the trees are dispersed throughout their rainforest homes, they can continue to get the proper nutrients from their natural soil. Along with wild planting, some farmers are growing small crops on their property. These farmers can expect adequate compensation for the work with fair trade practices in place. These business practices allow Kratom farmers to grow their crops while supporting their families and communities, ensuring that future generations can continue to profit from a healthy land supply.

There are three primary differences between Kratom and oil palm plantations outlined below.

1. Healthier Land

When Kratom is harvested, the land surrounding it is left untouched. The leaves are picked individually, and the entire tree is left intact so that it continues to grow stronger for more years to come. As the trees do not need to be cut down, the surrounding rainforest can be left unchanged. The soil remains rich, and biodiversity can continue to flourish.

Even for the small farmer plantations in backyards, these crops are planted among other food crops. Families and communities can still acquire what they need while also infusing nutrients back into the soil. The farming methods are ecologically sustainable at a micro-level.

2. Abundant Animal Life

Unlike oil palm plantations that wipe out entire animal habits, Kratom farming leaves the forest standing so that habitats can remain. With their habitats left untouched, animals can grow, mate, and graze the land, making the soil more nutrient-dense.

3. Indigenous Community Stability

When large western companies infiltrate small communities in Southeast Asia to create oil palm plantations, the inhabitants are often left to flee their land and seek home and resources elsewhere.

As fair-trade Kratom business practices prevent farmers from being driven from their land, they can stay and make a living. As their traditions are the backbone of their culture, all efforts must be made to preserve these communities.

Buy Ethical

When it comes to purchasing Kratom you need to make sure that you are doing so ethically. Always buy from a reputable source that can guarantee they are practicing fair trade business. By doing this, you ensure that the communities and ecosystems around the world are maintained.