Measured greenhouse gas budgets challenge emission savings from palm-oil biodiesel

In the article a team of researchers headed by Ana Meijide from the Division Agronomy show that using palm oil from first rotation plantations where forests had been cleared for oil palm cultivation actually leads to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions compared to using fossil fuels. However, there is potential for carbon savings in plantations established on degraded or agricultural land. In addition, emissions could be reduced by introducing longer rotation cycles or new oil palm varieties with a higher yield.

Link to the article in Nature Communications
Link to the press release of the University of Goettingen

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