In Southeast Asia, an unusual collaboration between Copenhagen Zoo and the partially Danish-owned United Plantations (UP) is underway to create a more sustainable production of palm oil. Solutions are sought in nature itself. Instead of using chemical pesticides against pests, leopard cats, black cobras, and owls are deployed to kill rats. In laboratories, 'beneficial' insects are cultivated to control outbreaks of harmful insects. Additionally, corridors of rainforest are planted between the palms, providing wild animals with space to live and move from one place to another. However, the question remains: Is there a sustainable balance between economy and ecology?
In collaboration with Copenhagen Zoo and with support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, we have produced a documentary film, "Palm Oil in the Land of Orangutans," and a YouTube documentary game, "Plantation," incorporating elements of role-playing and gamification. By presenting proposals for new potential solutions to the planet's environmental and resource challenges through scientific methods, the project aims to encourage viewers to engage with and reflect on the possibilities of reconciling consumption, business, and sustainability.
The documentary film will premiere at CPH:DOX in March 2024.
Director and Cinematographer: Dan Säll
Producer: Ulrik Gutkin
Editor: Line Schou
Ass. producer & fundraiser: Marianne Abildgaard