African governments and agribusiness leaders have been urged to place sustainability at the centre of the continent’s expanding palm oil industry as production accelerates to meet growing regional consumption and increasing global demand. The call was made during the RSPO Africa Supply Chain Forum 2026 held in Nairobi, where policymakers, producers and industry stakeholders examined how Africa can strengthen food security and agricultural competitiveness without compromising environmental integrity or community livelihoods.
The discussions come at a pivotal moment for Africa’s agricultural sector. Demand for palm oil continues to rise across the continent, driven by population growth, urbanisation and expanding food processing industries. Despite being the crop’s historical home, Africa remains a net importer of palm oil, relying heavily on supplies from Southeast Asia to meet domestic demand. According to industry estimates, narrowing this production gap presents a significant opportunity to strengthen agricultural value chains, improve rural incomes and reduce import dependency.
Speaking during the forum, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Head of Africa Market Transformation Elikplim Agbitor said Africa possesses considerable comparative advantages for expanding sustainable palm oil production, including favourable climatic conditions, extensive arable land and a growing labour force. However, he cautioned that future expansion should avoid repeating environmental and social challenges experienced in other producing regions.
According to Agbitor, sustainable production must balance economic growth with environmental stewardship and social inclusion. He noted that while increased production offers an opportunity to improve food security and create employment, poorly managed expansion could accelerate deforestation, biodiversity loss, land degradation and disputes over land rights.
The RSPO’s sustainability framework is built around three interconnected pillars; People, Planet and Prosperity, which seek to protect workers’ rights, conserve ecosystems and promote responsible business practices throughout palm oil supply chains. Although membership of the certification body remains voluntary, producers and companies seeking RSPO certification are required to comply with internationally recognised sustainability standards covering environmental management, labour conditions, traceability and community engagement.
The emphasis on certification reflects broader shifts in global commodity markets, where buyers increasingly require evidence that agricultural products are sourced responsibly. European and international regulations are placing greater scrutiny on supply chains linked to deforestation and human rights, creating both compliance challenges and commercial opportunities for African producers seeking access to premium export markets.
Smallholder farmers remain central to Africa’s palm oil economy. According to the RSPO, independent smallholders account for approximately 70 percent of the continent’s palm oil production, making their inclusion essential if sustainability objectives are to be achieved at scale.
Recognising this reality, the organisation has developed a dedicated certification standard tailored specifically for independent smallholders, reducing barriers to participation while supporting improved agricultural practices. Through its Smallholder Support Fund, the RSPO has invested more than US$800,000 across Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania and Sierra Leone to help farmers organise into certified producer groups, strengthen technical capacity and improve access to sustainable supply chains.
Improving smallholder productivity carries wider economic implications beyond certification. Higher yields from existing farmland can reduce pressure to convert forests into agricultural land while increasing rural incomes and strengthening domestic food processing industries. Access to certified markets may also enable farmers to capture higher-value contracts from multinational food manufacturers increasingly seeking sustainably sourced commodities.
For African governments, the debate extends beyond environmental protection to questions of industrial policy and economic resilience. Palm oil supports multiple sectors including food manufacturing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and bio-based industrial products. Expanding domestic production could reduce import bills, improve trade balances and create new employment opportunities across processing, logistics and export value chains.
However, achieving these gains will require stronger governance frameworks, land-use planning and investment in agricultural extension services. Industry analysts argue that sustainable intensification, raising productivity on existing farmland rather than expanding into ecologically sensitive areas, will be critical to ensuring long-term sector growth while protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services.
The Nairobi forum also highlighted the growing alignment between sustainable agriculture and Africa’s broader climate commitments. Nature-positive farming practices, responsible land management and improved supply chain transparency are increasingly recognised as important components of national climate strategies while contributing to rural development and food system resilience.
As African countries continue pursuing agricultural transformation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and wider industrialisation strategies, sustainable palm oil production is likely to become an increasingly important test of whether economic growth, environmental protection and social inclusion can be advanced simultaneously. The discussions in Nairobi suggest that future competitiveness in the sector may depend not only on expanding production, but on ensuring that growth is underpinned by credible sustainability standards capable of meeting evolving domestic and international market expectations.
