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RSPO Africa leaders Elikplim Dziwomu Agbitor, Edem Asimadu and Victor Yuh Tamanjong during the RSPO Africa Supply Chain Forum 2026 in Nairobi, where they discussed sustainable palm oil production. [James Wanzala, Standard]
African countries are rapidly expanding palm oil production to cut costly imports, but the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) warns the growth could come at a high environmental and social cost.
Speaking at the RSPO Africa Supply Chain Forum 2026 in Nairobi, RSPO Head of Africa Market Transformation Elikplim Agbitor said Africa was emerging as a new frontier for palm oil production because of favourable climate conditions, available arable land and a growing labour force.
"If we do not bear sustainability at every step of the development process, we may be able to meet regional demand for palm oil in the future, but at what cost to the planet and people?" said Agbitor.
