Oilseed crops such as oil palm, coconut palm, and soybeans are contributing to species extinction on a larger scale than previously recognized. According to a new study, this accounts for roughly 1.5 percent of global biodiversity loss. This trend is primarily driven by rising demand and cultivation of these crops.
Oils derived from sources like coconut, palm, and soybeans are used across a broad spectrum of applications, spanning cosmetics and makeup, margarine and spreads, pharmaceuticals, and animal feed. The consumption and farming of these oil-producing crops are continuously expanding, which impacts the environment. But what exactly are these effects?
A research team led by Stefan Pfister, a professor of quantitative sustainability assessment at ETH Zurich, explored this question. Specifically, the researchers examined how the increasing cultivation and use of oilseed crops threaten plant and animal species worldwide. This marks the first global study dedicated to this issue.
“From an environmental protection standpoint, biodiversity loss is every bit as urgent a problem as climate change,” says Pfister, explaining the study’s motivation. In their work, the researchers analyzed global data on production, trade, and land use spanning several decades, integrating multiple models to assess the biodiversity impact of oilseed crops.
The team began by creating global maps of oilseed cultivation using satellite imagery, agricultural statistics, and global datasets on croplands.
They also calculated the extent to which various forms of land use endanger plant and animal species. For this, they applied species loss ratios that indicate how much arable land contributes to global species decline, depending on the region and agricultural intensity.
The researchers also aimed to highlight the impact of oilseed cultivation throughout the entire global supply chain, Pfister explains. To achieve this, Pfister and his team linked the collected data to a global economic model that describes international supply chains—from farming and processing to the final product. This illustrates, for example, how soy from Brazil is used as animal feed in China or Europe, ultimately supporting high levels of meat consumption.
Finally, the team analyzed how factors such as consumer behavior, population growth, and agricultural efficiency contribute to increasing biodiversity loss.
The study examined 19 oilseed crops. “Three of them caused particularly significant damage: oil palm, soybeans, and coconut palm,” says Shuntian Wang from Pfister’s team. Together, they account for about 75 percent of biodiversity loss attributed to oilseed farming.
At the same time, the research reveals a clear trend: between 1995 and 2020, biodiversity loss increased by roughly 80 percent. However, this is not primarily due to global population growth.
“Per capita consumption is the main driver of biodiversity loss. Yet much of this impact occurs thousands of kilometers away from the end consumer,” says Wang.
Tropical regions are especially affected, where the use of agricultural land leads to significant biodiversity loss. This is not only because oilseed crops like oil palm and coconut palm are exclusively grown in these areas, but also because these regions support high biodiversity and generally yield less per unit of land. As a result, there is often a need to expand farmland, which can lead to ecosystem destruction, such as deforestation.
These systems are often far removed from the factors driving demand: as the Pfister team’s study shows, more than half of the consequences are linked to consumption in other countries. The European Union, China, and the United States together account for over 80 percent of these external impacts. While the EU primarily imports palm oil, China’s influence is mainly tied to soy for animal feed.
Unfortunately, halting biodiversity loss overnight is not feasible. Long-term use of agricultural land also puts pressure on ecosystems. “Even without new deforestation, the effects of current agriculture will persist,” says Pfister.
To address existing challenges, we need greener production methods, reduced deforestation, and agricultural practices that protect soil and the environment. Changes in our consumption patterns are also necessary. However, global markets make it difficult to find simple solutions, as demand can quickly shift to other regions. “A key lever is investing in improving production quality and protecting ecosystems in producing countries,” says Pfister.
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