CIRAD Launches Comprehensive Roadmap for Eco-friendly Oil Palm Farming

CIRAD has developed a ten-year roadmap to advance sustainable oil palm cultivation, emphasizing landscape restoration, biodiversity preservation, and supporting farmers in adopting more eco-friendly practices.

Originating in the Gulf of Guinea, oil palm has been cultivated there for millennia. In 2022, global palm oil production reached approximately 79 million tonnes, with Indonesia and Malaysia as the leading producers. The primary consumers of this palm oil include Indonesia, India, the European Union, and China.

Oil palm contributes 36% of global vegetable oil and fat production while using less than 10% of the land dedicated to oil crops. Despite its high yield potential in tropical regions, the industry is confronted with significant ecological challenges, including deforestation and biodiversity loss, as well as social issues like the violation of workers' rights and land grabbing.

To tackle these challenges, CIRAD has developed a ten-year roadmap aimed at guiding farmers and industrial plantations towards more sustainable production practices. This roadmap is centered around four key ambitions that steer CIRAD's initiatives:

1. Facilitate the Agroecological Transition: CIRAD is dedicated to driving the agroecological transition of oil palm cultivation by focusing on the restoration of degraded landscapes. This involves promoting biodiverse, zero-deforestation plantations and developing knowledge and tools to support this transition.

2. Advocate for Sustainability and Inclusiveness: In response to environmental and social challenges, CIRAD proposes new development models that enhance the sustainability, inclusiveness, and attractiveness of the oil palm sector. These models aim to integrate plantations into local territories while ensuring fair wages and decent jobs for producers.

3. Advance Knowledge for Future Oil Palms: CIRAD continues to innovate in oil palm genetic improvement, with research focused on genetic diversity, disease resistance, and climate resilience. The goal is to breed oil palms that meet the evolving needs of farmers and consumers.

4. Promote Red Oil Consumption for Sustainable Food Systems: CIRAD is working to strengthen red oil supply chains in Africa by leveraging existing biodiversity and addressing the needs of both farmers and consumers. The objective is to produce vitamin-rich oil that helps combat nutritional deficiencies and supports sustainable food systems.

CIRAD has a team of 89 scientists dedicated to achieving these goals, spanning 10 research disciplines, including genetics and sociology.

Their research efforts have already led to the development of varieties resistant to the three major oil palm diseases.

Oil palm cultivation worldwide reveals significant figures: In many West and Central African countries, 75% of oil palm plantations are managed by smallholders. In 2022, global production reached approximately 79 million tonnes, with Indonesia contributing 59% and Malaysia 24%. The majority of this production, 68%, was used for food and in refined products. Key consumers include Indonesia, which uses 17 million tonnes, India with 8 million tonnes, the European Union at 7 million tonnes, and China, which consumes 6 million tonnes.