palm oil

The prices of cooking oil are rising. Why that could put global security at risk.

Palm oil plantations have led to widespread deforestation in Indonesia. But now some farmers are turning to a different crop — damar, a kind of anti-palm oil, grown in forest-based farms.

India is the world's biggest consumer of palm oil, a crop which threatens the country's water supply and is linked to deforestation. But the government faces little opposition to expand plantations.

If you think there are more dangerous infectious diseases than ever, you're right. One big reason: pushing animals like this one out of their homes.

Hundreds of food companies have promised to keep their suppliers from cutting down forests. A global coalition of environmental groups is watching to see if the companies are keeping their promises.

Ecuador's chocolate is famous, and a sweet spot in an otherwise souring economy. The government is paying a small army of pruners to trim back 120,000 acres of Amazonian cacao farms to boost yields.

In Indonesia, efforts are underway to grow palms in a sustainable way. But that's putting a squeeze on small farmers.

Demand for palm oil is destroying the habitat of endangered Sumatran orangutans. One group is working to rescue, rehabilitate and reintroduce these often-orphaned primates back into the wild.

Two major doughnut chains have bowed to consumer pressure to better police their palm oil purchases. Environmentalists say it's a win for consumers, trees and animals.

An environmental group is blasting Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme for buying palm oil from suppliers who destroy rain forest and peatlands. The group says sustainable palm oil should be used instead.

Under pressure from the New York state comptroller — who oversees one of its largest shareholders — the doughnut chain has agreed to set a goal of using only 100 percent sustainable palm oil to make its doughnuts. Production of palm oil has caused serious deforestation in Indonesia.