The way timber, palm oil, soy, sugar, beef and other commodities are produced is being transformed. Private companies, governments and financial services providers are driving this transformation by investing in sustainable activities that reduce pressure on forests. They are also exploring options on investment and business models to support small-scale farmers, who depend more and more on global markets for their incomes.

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) contributes to these efforts through its research on public policy, business models, private investments and finance. With partners, it is conducting research on the ways to make timber and high-value tree crops (e.g. oil palm, cocoa) more sustainable to help smallholders benefit more, and to lower the impacts of agricultural expansion in forests and mixed farm–forest landscapes.