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Tracking Guatemalan Palm Oil from Producer to US Consumer
Topics: Economic Geography
, Food Systems
, Land Use and Land Cover Change
Keywords: globalization, corporate actors, supply chain transparency, teleconnections, palm oil, latin america Session Type: Virtual Paper Day: Wednesday Session Start / End Time: 4/7/2021 01:30 PM (Pacific Time (US & Canada)) - 4/7/2021 02:45 PM (Pacific Time (US & Canada)) Room: Virtual 30
Authors:
Calli VanderWilde, University of Michigan
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Abstract
Guatemala projected to become the world’s third largest palm oil producer by 2030 and expansion is threatening extensive, biologically diverse forest systems including the second largest remaining tropical forest in the Americas. Guatemalan palm oil is being consumed across the globe, including in the U.S. Supply chain analysis offers a framework to link production-to consumption but has prioritized sector-based studies rather than individual corporations. This paper tracks the supply chain of the largest producers of palm oil in Guatemala to consumers in the U.S. using a method known as TRACAST (TRAcking Corporate Actors across Space and Time). The paper identifies and explores deforestation hotspots that emerging from this mapping using remote sensing techniques. The research effectively reconnects consumption with production and identifies governance structures and fruitful leverage points for change.
Tracking Guatemalan Palm Oil from Producer to US Consumer