Sustainable Oil Palm cultivation through a One Health perspective: Linking biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and public Health
Researchers from the Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security at Universiti Putra Malaysia have published a study in Agricultural Systems examining oil palm cultivation through a One Health perspective,…
Source: Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, UPM · September 27, 2026 at 12:02 AM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 27 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
Researchers from the Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security at Universiti Putra Malaysia have published a study in Agricultural Systems examining oil palm cultivation through a One Health perspective, linking biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and public health.
Market Impact
The study, published on September 26, 2026, highlights how conventional monoculture oil palm expansion has been linked to deforestation, biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions, ecosystem degradation, and pollution. These environmental changes can increase the risk of zoonotic diseases by disrupting natural ecosystems and increasing contact between humans and wildlife, underscoring the need for approaches that consider connections between environmental, animal, and human health.
The interdisciplinary literature review covers ecology, environmental science, epidemiology, agroforestry, and sustainability research. It summarizes the environmental, social, and health impacts of conventional oil palm cultivation and assesses sustainable alternatives including Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil, and Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification schemes, ecological restoration, and agroforestry practices within a One Health framework.
The review finds conventional oil palm plantations contribute to habitat fragmentation, biodiversity decline, ecosystem disruption, and pollution. These changes may affect disease dynamics by altering interactions among hosts, pathogens, and vectors, potentially increasing the risk of zoonotic disease emergence. Monoculture plantations generally support fewer species and weaken natural ecological processes that help regulate disease transmission.
In contrast, more diverse ecosystems can support disease regulation by maintaining balanced ecological interactions, although the relationship between biodiversity and disease risk varies depending on context.
Agroforestry systems can improve biodiversity, ecosystem health, and livelihood diversification for rural communities. The study concludes that transforming oil palm landscapes into multifunctional and sustainable systems is essential for balancing agricultural productivity with environmental protection and public health goals.
The article includes a conceptual framework illustrating how oil palm production systems influence ecosystem transformation, ecological functions, and One Health outcomes. The research was authored by Rival, Ancrenaz, Guizol, Lackman, Burhan, Fabre, Sulaiman, Djama, and Roger.