Most of the world's agricultural production is used to produce food. However, throughout human history, different plants have also been grown for other uses. These uses include the production of stimulants, fabrics and fuels.

Cotton is a fibre that is used in the production of fabrics. It comes from a plant that is grown especially in China, the United States, Australia and India. Other plant-based fabrics include linen, which is made from flax, and hemp. 


Cotton is an important plant that used in clothing and fabrics.

Although the consumption of tobacco has decreased significantly in many countries, millions of tons of it are still produced every year. The most important tobacco producers in the world include China and India, which are also the two most significant tobacco consumers on the planet. 

Coffee, cocoa and tea are important stimulants for global trade. Cocoa is a tropical tree that is grown especially in Brazil and Western Africa. Coffee is a shrub plant that grows in tropical mountain regions. Brazil, Columbia and Vietnam are the most significant coffee producers in the world. 


Cacao is grown in tropical forests.

The limited availability and environmental sustainability of fossil fuels has increased the popularity of different biofuels. Ethanol is made from sugar cane or corn, and is used as an alternative for benzine. Biodiesel is a fuel that is made from the leaves of oil palm trees.

The advantage of biofuels is that they can potentially become carbon neutral. This is because the growing trees can use up the same amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted into the atmosphere when the fuels is used. However, as many biofuels are produced in regions where their production harms the local environment significantly, there is still a demand for more efficient and environmentally friendly methods of fuel production.


The tropical oil palm is used to make biofuels.​