Since its establishment as a commercial crop in Malaysia in 1917, palm oil has become the most important vegetable oil traded in the world. Its standing in the world market is attributed to the oil’s versatile applications, stable supply and affordability. With the estimated global world population reaching nine billion by 2050, the supply of palm oil must grow to help meet the demand for vegetable oils. This chapter summarises the trends in research which have been driven by key challenges faced by the industry. It covers the establishment of oil palm as an economic crop, the improvement of yield by selective breeding, the use of genomics to expedite research and a holistic approach to remodelling cultivation systems for eco-efficiency.