Palm Oil Saves Water
Palm oil has often been accused of being a “water-hungry crop.” Yet multiple studies prove the opposite: oil palm uses significantly less water compared to many other tree species and oil crops. In this infographic, you’ll explore side-by-side scientific comparisons and discover why palm oil is considered one of the most water-efficient crops on Earth.
Scientific Water Use Comparisons
Scientists measure water use in three main ways: evapotranspiration (total water loss through soil and leaves), transpiration rate (daily water vapor from plant leaves), and water footprint (water required to produce a unit of oil). In all three categories, palm oil performs better than most alternatives.
Studies show that oil palm has lower evapotranspiration and transpiration rates than many other crops (see detailed comparison), and field research in North Sumatera found oil palm’s water footprint for Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) ~ 510.7 m³/ton and Crude Palm Oil ~ 517.8 m³/ton. Read the full North Sumatera study.
Evapotranspiration (mm/year)
Bamboo and Leucaena consume almost 3000 mm of water per year through evapotranspiration, whereas palm oil requires only 1104 mm/year. This means oil palm uses less than half the water compared to many fast-growing trees.
Transpiration Rates (mm/day)
Rubber trees release over 2 mm of water per day, and even tropical forests average around 1–1.7 mm/day. By contrast, oil palm has the lowest rate recorded: just 0.46 mm/day.
Water Footprint (m³/ton oil)
The water footprint measures how much water is needed to produce one ton of vegetable oil. Palm oil has the lowest footprint at 1057 m³/ton, compared to sunflower (3017), coconut (2669), and soybean (2037). This efficiency makes palm vital for sustainable food production.