The global oil palm industry started growing in the 16th century. At first, palm groves only served the residents of Nigeria and West Africa until Europeans started an export trade system in the 16th century. The export trade system grew more profitable in the 19th century.

The production of palm oil starts with oil palm plantations and the growth of palm fruits. To start an oil palm plantation, they plant a certain number of seedlings that grow into palm trees and begin bearing fruit in the third year, with the yield increasing as the years pass. However, palm trees produce fewer fruits when they reach 25 years of age and older.

The next step in producing palm oil from oil palms is sterilizing or cooking the fruits. At this stage of oil palm production, they use high-temperature wet-heat treatment on the fruits. Sterilization treatment uses pressurized heat, while the cooking method uses hot water. Smallholder oil palm plantations often use cooking because they cannot generate steam.

The high demand for palm oil increased the acres of palm oil plantations and other oil crops. Oil palm plantations grow on extensive areas of tropical forests with diverse species of trees.

Expansion of oil palm agriculture over intact forest landscapes can affect downstream biodiversity. When cultivators of major oil crops destroy tropical forests, they also destroy the homes and habitats of many plant and animal species.