Development and characterisation of palm oil and palm fat substitutes of sustainable resources

The African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) represents one of the most important oil crops. Its current cultivation in monoculture plantations results in severe ecological and socio-economic imbalances. First approaches towards sustainability certifications of palm oil are deemed to disregard substantial environmental and social aspects involved in palm oil provision. Despite their rising demand, sufficient amounts of sustainable substitutes are not yet available. This doctoral thesis presents sustainable alternatives to palm mesocarp oil and kernel fat obtained from unexploited waste material (Mangifera indica L.), multipurpose tree species (Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill., Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.), and palms cultivated in sustainable farming systems (A. aculeata). In addition, Elaeis oleifera (Kunth) Cortés and interspecific Elaeis hybrids showed high potential for diversifying current oil palm cultivation. Without further modifications, the proposed alternatives provide liquid, semi-solid, and/or solid lipids to substitute commercial palm oil and kernel fat in Elaeis-based products.