💚 AI-Grown Oils 🌴
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
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Stay impactful,
Happy Wednesday 👋
Deforestation is one of our most pressing environmental challenges.
Every year we cut down millions of trees primarily for oils, including palm and cocoa.
But what if these oils never had to touch a rainforest?
Well, thanks to AI and a bunch of scientists, we can now grow palm oil and cocoa butter in a lab … in just 30 days!
Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:
- Why lab-grown oils could be the next big climate solution 🌴
- Oceans take center stage at the annual climate change conference 🌊
- How scientists turned seeds into the next plant-based meat 🌻
- Discussion of the week: reducing unnecessary consumption 💬
- And more… 💚
🌴 Researchers Develop Lab-Based Oils That Could Replace Deforestation-Linked Crops
1️⃣ The big picture: Researchers at the Paris-based biotech company, SMEY, have created lab-grown alternatives to major tropical oils — including cocoa butter, palm oil, and shea oil — using AI-guided yeast fermentation. By combining AI analytics with a large digital library of non-GMO yeast strains, the company can produce high-quality oils in just 30 days, compared to the years required for conventional farming. Their AI platform, SMEY.AI, models each strain’s metabolic potential and selects the optimal candidate. This cuts R&D time by an estimated 96%, enabling rapid creation of new oil formulations tailored to cosmetics, food, or chemical industries.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Tropical crops such as palm, cocoa, and shea are some of the world’s biggest drivers of deforestation. Forests across Southeast Asia, West Africa, and Latin America are being cleared to make way for plantations — pushing wildlife toward extinction and contributing to massive carbon emissions. AI-grown oils could significantly reduce global deforestation, cut carbon emissions, and help companies comply with the strict new EU laws taking effect in December 2025, which will penalize companies whose supply chains contribute to forest loss.
3️⃣ What’s next: Experts don’t predict lab-grown oils will replace traditional crops anytime soon, but they could strengthen supply chains by reducing our reliance on current agricultural systems. If the technology is scaled successfully, AI-produced palm and cocoa butter could help significantly reduce deforestation and fight climate change. SMEY already markets Noyl Silk, a fermentation-derived cosmetic oil, and plans to launch Noyl Cocoa next. Their initial focus is on beauty and oleochemicals in North America and Europe, but they aim to expand globally.
📢 More Good News…
✈️ The new type of jet fuel that can significantly cut emissions:
- Researchers have developed a method to convert municipal solid waste (ordinary trash) into low-carbon jet fuel via gasification, a process that converts feedstock pellets into liquid hydrocarbon
- The process can produce jet fuel with 14.1 grams of CO2 equivalent per MJ of fuel energy produced compared to ~89 g for fossil fuels, an 84% emissions reduction. One ton of municipal waste could displace more than 170 kilograms of CO2 under optimal conditions and divert a lot of trash from our landfills.
- The study shows a realistic pathway to cleaner aviation and, with technological refinement and policy support, future flights could be partly powered by yesterday’s trash.
🌊 Oceans take center stage at the annual climate change conference:
- The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) is officially underway in Brazil, and the ocean has taken center stage of discussion.
- For the first time, Brazil is explicitly including the ocean in its climate impact plan – known as Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Brazil also seeks to ratify the The High Seas Treaty by the end of the year, which would enable Marine Protected Areas areas currently lacking governance frameworks.
- These moves send a powerful signal to the world: climate change cannot be solved without recognizing the critical role oceans play in regulating climate, absorbing carbon, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining livelihoods.
🌻 How scientists turned seeds into the next plant-based meat:
- Brazilian and German researchers have developed a plant-based meat alternative using sunflower flour, offering a sustainable, non-GMO, and protein-rich option for vegan diets.
- By refining sunflower flour to remove husks and phenolic compounds, the team created a neutral-tasting base that can be shaped into burger patties. The product is enriched with tomato powder, spices, and a blend of sunflower, olive, and linseed oils, providing healthy fats and essential minerals such as iron, zinc, magnesium, and manganese.
- This innovation leverages widely available sunflower crops and highlights the potential of alternative proteins for sustainable food systems.
💬 Discussion of the Week: Reducing Unnecessary Consumption
Welcome to our new section, where we spark meaningful discussions about everyday topics that can create a real positive impact in our lives!
This week’s discussion topic: What’s one way you reduce unnecessary consumption in your life?
- Have you changed your relationship to buying new things?
- What criteria help you decide whether something is truly needed?
- What’s a simple “buy less” rule or mindset others can adopt?
Let’s share our favorite ways to help make more intentional living the default!
For our founding community members, keep the conversation going in our forum here.
Want to join our community when we reopen? Just reply to this email—I’d love to personally add you to our waitlist so you’ll be the first to know all about it 💚
🤝 Important Awareness Events At a Glance
🧑🤝🧑 November 17–21, Anti-Bullying Week:
- Anti-Bullying Week focuses on addressing the serious consequences of bullying, which can lead to psychological harm, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
- The week encourages communities to foster positive behaviors and build inclusive environments where individuals feel safe and respected.
⛰️ November 17, National Take a Hike Day:
- National Take a Hike Day is thought to have been established in the early 2000s by outdoor enthusiasts and environmental advocates, alongside the American Hiking Society to encourage people to get outside and explore the great outdoors.
- Over the years, National Take a Hike Day has grown in popularity, with more people taking to the trails each November.
- The day has also become a platform for environmental advocacy, with organizations using it to raise awareness about the importance of preserving natural landscapes and maintaining hiking trails for public use.
🚽 November 19, World Toilet Day:
- World Toilet Day works to raise awareness for the importance of proper sanitation in human waste management.
- This is an important issue in many places around the world and so fighting for access to clean water for everyone is key.
Related: You can discover all the 97 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for November 2025!
📜 These Days in History
🎩 November 19, 1863: Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous speech known as the Gettysburg Address. Delivered after the end of the civil war at a cemetery dedication, it is considered the most iconic speech in US history.
⚖️ November 20, 1945: The Nuremberg Trials began in Germany, where Nazi leaders were investigated and charged with crimes against humanity. This trial helped set a precedent for the consequences of committing atrocities.
💭 Quote of the Day
“Whatever you are, be a good one.”
― Abraham Lincoln; 16th President of the US
Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society!
Stay impactful 💚
