How much do staple crops drive deforestation?

Staple crops are a bigger driver of forest loss than expected

A global analysis finds that common food crops — notably rice, maize and cassava — together account for a surprisingly large share of forest clearing. The three staples cumulatively cause roughly 11% of global deforestation, a contribution that exceeds that from better-known commodity drivers such as cocoa, coffee and rubber.

The study reframes how experts think about agricultural land-use pressure. Rather than a handful of high-profile commodities being the primary cause, the sheer scale of land needed to grow staple foods for billions of people creates extensive forest conversion. That matters because policy and corporate zero-deforestation commitments have often focused on a shorter list of export crops. If governments and supply-chain actors ignore staples, efforts to protect forests will miss a major source of loss.

Key implications

• Land footprint: Staples are grown at very large scale and in many regions, so even modest yield gaps translate into large areas cleared.
• Supply-chain reach: Smallholder farms producing staples are often outside the purview of corporate sourcing policies, complicating traceability and enforcement.
• Policy mismatch: Conservation measures targeting only a few commodities will not halt most forest loss unless they account for staples.

What can change this trajectory?

Addressing the problem requires combining agricultural, conservation and social policy. Options include boosting yields sustainably on existing farmland, restoring degraded lands, strengthening land-use planning, and expanding incentives for farmers to avoid clearing native forests. International finance and domestic policy must also support smallholders in adopting higher-yielding and less land-intensive practices. Without those shifts, protecting forests while feeding a growing population will remain a key global challenge.