Hi Barbara! Thanks for the question. In Dr. Davis’ study, he estimates that traditionally farmed oil crops are responsible for 1-3 grams of carbon dioxide for every thousand calories produced. The emissions related to chemically synthesized dietary fats would vary depending on where the carbon is coming from — for example, Dr. Davis estimates that using natural gas feedstock and standard electricity, the emissions would be less than 1 gram of carbon dioxide for every thousand calories. But, if carbon captured from the air was used, along with non-emitting sources of electricity, the overall emissions from the dietary fats could be close to zero. Dr. Davis told me that he’d like to participate in a more comprehensive analysis of the potential impacts of this path beyond only emissions — so a thorough answer to your question may be available at some point down the line. Thanks again for asking!

Palm oil plantations are ALREADY mega corporations: mammoth mono crops tended by very few people over massive areas, utilizing huge amounts of herbicides and pesticides.

All palm oil poses a risk of deforestation. It is simply not true that Thai palm oil production does not now or might not in the future lead to deforestation.

Also, which would you choose, sustainable farming or megacorporation lab dependency? Further, mega corporations are a larger component of carbon emissions than small family farms and co-ops. Would you rather drive more pollution potential toward a stronger lobbying group already fighting against climate change policy? I would not.