World Population Predicted to Reach 11 Billion by 2050, Looming Food Crisis Threat?

Global population growth is projected to continue increasing, reaching approximately 10 to 11 billion people by 2050. At the same time, global food demand is expected to surge, while the availability of agricultural land faces various challenges. This situation makes increasing productivity in the agriculture and plantation sectors an issue that is gaining more attention in efforts to maintain future food security. This was conveyed by the Head of the South East Asia Food and Agriculture Science & Technology (SEAFAST) Center at IPB University, Puspo Edi Giriwono. He stated that palm oil is one of the commodities that can contribute to meeting the global demand for vegetable oil. According to him, Indonesia has a production capacity that is not only able to meet domestic needs but also supply the international market. Puspo said that Indonesia’s crude palm oil (CPO) production reaches around 53 million tonnes per year. He noted that this amount is capable of meeting domestic vegetable oil needs entirely, even resulting in a surplus that can supply the global market. “Our palm oil is able to meet Indonesia’s needs 100 percent, even to a surplus and can meet global vegetable oil needs,” he said, as quoted from his statement on Saturday, 17 July 2026. He estimates that the world’s vegetable oil demand will continue to rise along with the increasing population. According to him, the global population could reach around 10 to 11 billion by 2050, with a vegetable oil demand of approximately 250 million tonnes per year. Puspo stated that increasing productivity is one of the important factors in meeting this demand, especially amidst limited agricultural land. He assessed that higher productivity can help meet demand without encouraging the expansion of land clearing. “What commodity can be very productive with increasingly limited land conditions? The productivity of palm oil will answer and supply the needs of the world’s population reaching 10-11 billion,” he explained. In addition to productivity, Puspo also highlighted the importance of developing downstream industries based on palm oil. According to him, Indonesia has the opportunity to increase the added value of palm oil commodities through various processed food products, so that it does not only act as a raw material supplier.