Comment Share Posted on Monday August 24th at 11:02 a.m.

What has palm kernel got to do with New Zealand snow sports you might ask?

Well, Greenpeace claims that Fonterra is importing 25% of the world supply of Palm Kernel to feed New Zealand's dairy herd.

So what?  Well, the argument goes something like this:

1. Tropical rainforest are being cut down for the planting of palms for the production of palm oil.
2. Palm kernel is a by-product of this process.
3. Palm kernel is then imported into God's-own as supplment feed for the dairy industry.
4. Cutting down rain forests is suspected to add to climate change. (Not Global Warming which is a crock of cow poo)
5. Climate change is causing more extreme weather patterns and incidence.
6. THE SNOW IS MELTING!! (...or is that just an early spring?)

Federated Farmers is rejecting claims that the importation of palm kernel extract for dairy feed is contributing to the destruction of rainforests. However, are they, or are they not paying for this by-product? Surely this then creates it's own industry which is directly related to the cutting down of the rain forest.

Palm kernel imports went from 0.4 tonnes in 1999 to 455,000 tonnes in 2007 and then to 1.1 million tonnes in 2008.

Federated Farmers spokesman John Hartnell says they have been working with biosecurity officials over what seems to be a large amount of uncertified palm kernel entering New Zealand. He says they are concerned that letting contaminated palm kernel into the country could affect agriculture, horticulture or the timber industry. Greenpeace NZ climate campaigner Simon Boxer also said it was a "scandal" that Fonterra was feeding its dairy cows a product that was directly contributing to the destruction of the world's remaining rainforests - and climate change.

Wilmar International, the company supplying kernel to RD1 to sell, was the world's largest trader of palm oils and kernel and had a bad reputation for rainforest destruction, he said.

But Fonterra sustainability manager John Hutchings told Radio New Zealand Wilmar International was a reputable company.
"They've been working very hard to ensure that all of their mills and plantations are RSPO - Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil - certified, and they have almost completed that task."

Hutchings said palm kernel was an important feed supplement when grass was in short supply.

Last week chocolate maker Cadbury bowed to public pressure and removed palm oil from its chocolate recipe.  Good on you Cadbury!! Although I did get a taste for Whitakers while I was boycotting you.

Freedom of the press I say!! A full investigation is needed!! So how GREEN do you feel now kiwis, knowing that every glass of milk that you drink helps clear more tropical rainforrest in Indonesia and Malaysia!!

Save our snow and boycott milk... and butter... and cheese and yoghurt... oh sod it.  Bloody Extremists Greenpeace what did you bring this up in the first place for.

Ignorance is bliss.

References: Greenpeace, TVNZ, Sunday Star Times