Commodity giant Wilmar International is using its buying clout to push suppliers to be greener, or else, setting up a battle with growers and governments that have profited from their environmentally damaging practices, Reuters reported.

Case studies show it is possible for palm oil firms to be profitable while curbing social conflict, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and protecting forests. But more needs to be done.

Human population growth and associated food demand will likely take a heavy toll on tropical ecosystems unless major shifts occur in how crops are produced and consumed, warns a new review published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution, mongabay.com reported.