Liberia: Smallholder Farmers Are Secret Ingredients to Sustainable Palm Oil Production

Sep 19, 2022 | Observer
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While smallholder palm oil farmers risk living in poverty, the US$282 billion palm oil industry creates huge profits for companies. The pivotal role of smallholders in the palm oil sector, currently contributing to around 30% of global production, is often overlooked in the sustainability agenda, as policies tend to focus on large industrial plantations.  And with their contribution to palm oil production expected to grow, smallholders play an increasingly central role in rural economic development and preserving biodiversity, according to Solidaridad. With palm oil as a crucial ingredient in the diet of the poorest people on earth, and its widespread presence in products like margarine, shampoo, and biodiesel, the commodity is here to stay. Supply chain-wide smallholder inclusion is crucial for sustainable palm oil production.