December 26, 2025

Introducing CLIMAX Pro, a newly-developed programme for oil palm farmers to calculate carbon footprint

News and Events, Special Feature, SPOPP CLIMA, Sustainable Oil Palm

By Jantima Kulkit / Agriculture and Food Cluster, GIZ Thailand

Oil palm farmers nowadays can make a difference and be part of the climate mitigation solution, thanks to the newly-developed CLIMAX Pro programme, which will empower farmers to better understand the importance of carbon footprint calculation for palm oil production.

Initiated by the SPOPP CLIMA project, and implemented by GIZ in collaboration with Global Green Chemicals plc (GGC), the aim of this free tool is to assist farming groups to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their palm oil production activities so they can pinpoint the most significant sources of emissions and prioritise solutions to reduce carbon emissions.

Mr Thitinai Pongpiriyakit, SPOPP CLIMA Project Field Manager leading the initiative, said:“CLIMAX Pro stands for climate, maximisation and net profit. The programme is designed to empower oil palm smallholders in Thailand to mitigate climate impact and become more resilient so they can save production costs and maximise their net profits.”

How CLIMAX Pro works

The unique point of the CLIMAX Pro programme is that it is a license-free and expert-validated tool for carbon footprint calculation. The calculation pattern was based on the strict requirements and guidelines of the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) to ensure the credibility of the tool and its alignment with national standards. The programme interface is user-friendly. Farmers can easily access the database and manage it with accuracy and confidence.

In addition, the programme helps analyse the strengths and weaknesses of farmers from data collection then automatically processes a clear, informative dashboard visualisation as output. Any farming activity contributing to the highest greenhouse gas emissions will be highlighted in the dashboard. Therefore, farmers can identify and prioritise effective solutions that will help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions while saving production costs and increasing yields.

As part of the project’s strategy, the trial phase of the CLIMAX Pro was conducted between January and December 2025. Pilot farmer groups were introduced to not only the programme but also training curricula and demonstration plots to ensure that they could effectively practice calculation and other necessary implementation after completion of the trial phase.

Reflections from oil palm smallholders

Ms Nantaporn Klabsong, committee member of Phattara Oil Palm Community Enterprise, shared her impressions of CLIMAX Pro: “The programme is a user-friendly, all-in-one solution for farmers to manage all essential information required for carbon calculation, within a single platform, helping farmers minimise repetitive tasks and saving our time to work more efficiently.”

Apart from carbon footprint calculation, key information relating to RSPO certification and EUDR compliance can also be collected. As a representative of Phattara Oil Palm Community Enterprise participating in a trial phase, she is eager to introduce the programme to her group members and start working on carbon credit calculation to enhance oil palm farmers’ opportunities to access a feasible carbon credits market.

Mr Yuttana Charungkarn, Group Manager/Farmer of RSPO-Phangnga Oil Palm Production Community Enterprise, said: “I feel excited and amazed that data such as the amount of organic fertiliser used as substitution for chemical fertiliser, and energy used from farming to transportation and intercropping, could be so valuable and meaningful. Farmers here have never learned how oil palm farming is linked to climate issues. This is a starting point for me and other farmers to keep moving forward and improving our efforts to reduce carbon emissions.”

Going beyond carbon footprint

Ms Panrada Wongsuwan, Division Manager for Corporate Branding and Corporate Social Responsibility at Global Green Chemicals plc (GGC), as the key stakeholder of the SPOPP CLIMA project, emphasised that field data collected during the trial phase of CLIMAX Pro showcased contributions of sustainable and environmentally-friendly palm oil production to the entire supply chain, from farmers to palm oil mills and manufacturers of various consumer products.

“The carbon footprint label on consumer products, for example oil palm, instant noodles and cosmetics, reflects the importance of supply chain transparency while assuring consumers that their purchases are responsibly and sustainably sourced. It also aligns with the core principle of low-carbon palm oil production following GGC’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework, sustainability policy and fundamental transition to a sustainable, traceable and low-carbon value chain from farm to shelf. Ultimately, consumers play a vital role in this journey through their choices and collective efforts yet powerful steps towards building a sustainable future,”

Ms Panrada said. ■