The socioecological benefits and consequences of oil palm cultivation in its native range: The Sustainable Oil Palm in West Africa (SOPWA) Project

Pashkevich, MD; Marshall, CAM; Freeman, B; Reiss-Woolever, VJ; Caliman, J-P; Drewer, J; Heath, B; Hendren, MT; Saputra, A; Stone, J; Timperley, JH; Draper, W; Gbarway, A; Geninyan, B; Goll, B; Guahn, M; Gweh, AN; Hadfield, P; Jah, MT; Jayswen, S; Jones, T; Kandie, S; Koffa, D; Korb, J; Koon, N; Rocha, R

Journal article

The socioecological benefits and consequences of oil palm cultivation in its native range: The Sustainable Oil Palm in West Africa (SOPWA) Project

Abstract:: The global discourse on palm oil has long been polarized between environmental controversies and nutritional concerns. Amid these debates, a growing body of scientific literature has begun to emphasize the positive health implications of palm oil when consumed appropriately. This study aims to systematically evaluate recent scientific evidence (2020–2025) regarding the health benefits of palm oil consumption in humans, with particular focus on its bioactive constituents. Employing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach, this qualitative research is structured using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocol. Data collection involved comprehensive searches in the ScienceDirect database using Boolean operators and targeted keywords such as “palm oil consumption,” “human health,” “tocotrienol,” “carotenoids,” and “fatty acids.” From an initial 1,240 articles, screening and eligibility filtering based on open access, relevance, and publication period (2020–2025) yielded 22 peer-reviewed articles for final analysis. Thematic coding and qualitative content analysis were employed to identify patterns and extract findings. The results reveal that palm oil's tocotrienols, carotenoids, and balanced fatty acid profile contribute significantly to cardiovascular health, antioxidant defense, neuroprotection, and improved lipid profiles. These findings challenge prevailing negative perceptions and highlight the need for context-driven nutritional recommendations. In conclusion, the health benefits of palm oil are evident when consumed within dietary limits and derived from minimally processed sources. Future research should focus on long-term clinical trials and population-specific metabolic responses to strengthen existing evidence

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Pashkevich, M. D., Marshall, C. A. M., Freeman, B., Reiss-Woolever, V. J., Caliman, J.-P., Drewer, J., Heath, B., Hendren, M. T., Saputra, A., Stone, J., Timperley, J. H., Draper, W., Gbarway, A., Geninyan, B., Goll, B., Guahn, M., Gweh, A. N., Hadfield, P., Jah, M. T., … Rocha, R. (2024). The socioecological benefits and consequences of oil palm cultivation in its native range: The Sustainable Oil Palm in West Africa (SOPWA) Project. Science of the Total Environment, 926, 171850–171850.

MLA Style

Pashkevich, MD, et al. “The Socioecological Benefits and Consequences of Oil Palm Cultivation in Its Native Range: The Sustainable Oil Palm in West Africa (SOPWA) Project.” Science of the Total Environment, vol. 926, 2024, pp. 171850–50.

Chicago Style

Pashkevich, MD, CAM Marshall, B Freeman, et al. 2024. “The Socioecological Benefits and Consequences of Oil Palm Cultivation in Its Native Range: The Sustainable Oil Palm in West Africa (SOPWA) Project.” Science of the Total Environment 926: 171850–50.
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