Palm oil and palm kernel oil are produced by the palm tree or African palm tree (Elaeis guineensis, Arecaceae or the Palmae family). Fruits are grouped in a bunch (compound spike) that grows at the base of the palm leaf axis. The majority of the ?natural? palm trees in Africa are in fact anthropic, i.e. favoured by human. Currently, the African palm tree exists in a wild state in Africa, semi-wild in Brazil and in a cultivated state in the inter-tropical humid zone, including Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania (Pacific).Growth and production are best when rainfall is abundant, above 1,800 or 2,000 mm/year, and when the atmospheric humidity is high, ideally above 75%. Most of the planted palm trees are grown between 10� and 10� where the climate vegetation is lowland tropical forest.Latin America possesses a local palm tree, the American palm tree (Elaeis malanococca or E. oleifera), which is used locally for illumination and for cooking. American palm trees can be used for cross breeding with African palm trees to improve some qualities, such as oil composition, disease resistance and reduction of the growth in height.
