Is Africa open for investment in the palm oil sector?
The message is clear: Africa is open for investment in the palm oil sector, but will only welcome investments that comply with these principles. These apply as much to local producers as to international investors. One of Africa¡¯s challenges is that it consumes around 15% of global palm oil production, far more than it produces.
Will oil palm production increase in the Congo Basin?
Land area allocated to oil palm increased by 40% in the Congo Basin and five additional top-producing countries in Africa between 1990 and 2017. Without intervention, future production increases in the region will likely come from expansion rather than intensification due to low crop and processing yields, possibly at the expense of forest.
Can palm oil mills reduce deforestation in the Congo Basin?
Sustainability strategies initiated by companies and aimed at certifying palm oil mills are unlikely to be effective at curbing deforestation in the Congo Basin. Smallholder farmers are an engine of growth in the regions palm oil sector, and recent evidence suggests they are actively clearing forest to expand.
Where can oil palm be grown in the Congo Basin?
Most of the roughly 280 million hectares (Mha) of additional land suitable for oil palm in the Congo Basin are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo (60%), Cameroon (11%) and the Republic of Congo (10%). Many heavily forested countries in the Congo Basin are setting national targets to increase production to meet national and regional demands.