Oil palm cultivation presents India with a dual opportunity to address edible oil self-sufficiency while contributing to carbon sequestration and climate goals. Currently importing 8.9 million tonnes annually, India meets less than five percent of its edible oil needs domestically. The National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm initiative aims to bridge this critical gap while reducing import dependency. Crucially, India's approach differs from problematic global practices by restricting expansion to degraded and underutilised land rather than forests. Governed by Indian Palm Oil Sustainability standards, this climate-smart strategy allows agricultural development and forest conservation to coexist.
