Palm Oil

The oil palm tree is native to West Africa. It is an important tree for forest-dependent communities, their cultures and their economies. However, large-scale oil palm monocultures for industrial production (oil and agrofuels) have been driving deforestation and land grabbing in Southeast Asia. More recently, oil palm monocultures are also driving destruction in Africa and Latin America.

Articles 4 April 2024

New revelations in a palm oil scandal in the DRC: Urgent actions need to be taken in the mediation process

An alliance of organizations have demanded that European governments pause the mediation process and provide the communities access to the land documents and legal support to defend their interests.

Action alerts 20 November 2023

PHC Congo: European development banks must be held accountable for broken mediation process

Collective statement, 20 November 2023

Action alerts 24 February 2023

DR Congo: Undermined by violence, a development bank mediation process requires immediate government action

Other information 16 January 2023

Palm Oil Company, Police and Military Conduct Massive, Violent Rampage Against Villagers in the DR Congo

In September 2022, two large contingents of national police and military were dispatched to oil palm plantation concession areas of the Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC) in Lokutu and Boteka.

Bulletin articles 11 October 2022

What ‘Plantations’ Really Mean

This bulletin highlights materials and analysis related to communities’ struggles against industrial tree plantations. It also pays homage to communities in DRC struggling to get their lands back from an oil palm company since colonial times. Their courageous struggle showcases the multiple layers of oppression and violations that result from the plantation model.

Other information 11 October 2022

Meeting of the Mesoamerican Network Against Oil Palm in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Mexico

We share the final statement where they express their demands and claims.

Bulletin articles 23 March 2022

A Century of Agro-Colonialism in the DR Congo

Many oil palm plantations’ concessions in West and Central Africa were built on lands stolen from communities during colonial occupations. This is the case in the DRC, where food company Unilever began its palm oil empire. Today, these plantations are still sites of on-going poverty and violence. It is time to end the colonial model of concessions and return the land to its original owners.