@ AGROBiz | JULY-AUGUST. 2026

JOINT EFFORT: Prof Datuk Dr Sufian Jusoh( centre) and Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir( second from left) with the signed MoA documents marking the RM500,000 carbon footprint research collaboration between UKM and MPOB.

• A RM500,000 research grant awarded by MPOB to UKM’ s Institute of Climate Change.

• The study will develop a comprehensive carbon footprint inventory for Malaysia’ s palm oil sector.

• MPOB has developed Sawit EcoTherm, a nonconductive immersion-cooling fluid made from locally sourced palm-derived materials for data centre applications.

RM500,000 research initiative aims to give Malaysia’ s palm oil industry better data on carbon emissions from fresh fruit bunch( FFB) production, supporting a shift towards lower-carbon practices.

The Institute of Climate Change at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia( UKM) has received the grant from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board( MPOB) to develop a comprehensive carbon footprint inventory for the national palm oil sector.

The study, under the 13th Malaysia Plan, will catalogue greenhouse gas emissions across the FFB production chain. The database will support carbon footprint and life-cycle assessments to meet international standards.

This data will give a stronger scientific basis for understanding palm cultivation’ s environmental

“ This shows our readiness to address climate change and move to a low-carbon economy, while highlighting UKM’ s expertise in sustainability and climate science.”

impact and help industry meet stricter export sustainability requirements.

COUNTING THE CARBON

The research comes as Malaysia targets a 45 per cent reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 and net-zero by 2050.

UKM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Sufian Jusoh said the project, led by Prof Dr Marlia Mohd Hanafiah, would help make Malaysia’ s palm oil industry more competitive and support decarbonisation.

“ This shows our readiness to address climate change and move to a low-carbon economy, while highlighting UKM’ s expertise in sustainability and climate science,” he said at the MoA signing ceremony.

He hoped the initiative would benefit the country and community beyond the research.

FUTURE EFFORTS

MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said the board is committed to a sustainable, competitive palm oil industry as environmental expectations rise.

He said the information could also be used for other energy sources tied to the industry.

The data could expand to include sources such as used cooking oil and empty fruit bunches, strengthening energy research.

The study could therefore help establish a more comprehensive baseline for emissions in Malaysia’ s palm oil value chain, supporting future efforts to improve resource efficiency and reduce the sector’ s carbon footprint.

A palm-based technology developed by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board( MPOB) could open a new avenue for the industry as Malaysia’ s expanding data centre sector looks for ways to manage rising cooling, energy and water requirements.

Sawit EcoTherm, an immersion-cooling fluid made from locally sourced palm-derived materials, cools server components without relying on water-intensive systems.

Dr Noor Khairin Mohd, MPOB senior research officer, said conventional watercooling at Malaysia’ s data centres could use up to 876 million litres daily.

“ This technology replaces air- and waterbased cooling. Instead of cooling towers that consume water, server components are immersed in a non-conductive fluid that removes heat in a closed-loop system.

“ Widespread use of Sawit EcoTherm could greatly cut data centre water demand,” she told Bernama.

The technology shows how palm-derived products can serve new industries beyond food, oleochemicals, and bio-based uses.

This is particularly relevant as AI infrastructure places greater demands on cooling systems. Noor said AI servers generate three to five times as much heat as conventional servers, making immersion cooling suitable for higher computing loads.

She further explained:“ Sawit EcoTherm stands out because it combines highperformance cooling with sustainability and local resource advantages, using a palm oil-based, non-conductive immersion cooling

fluid produced from locally sourced Malaysian palm oil.

“ Immersion cooling handles much higher heat loads than air cooling, allowing for higher computing density, better energy efficiency, and more reliable AI infrastructure.”

Sawit EcoTherm contains up to 95 per cent renewable, palm-derived materials, is PFAS-free, biodegradable, and low in ecological toxicity— offering an alternative to petroleum-based fluids.

Its use could reduce data centre energy consumption by around 30-50 per cent, while lower electricity demand would also help reduce indirect Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions.

For commercial adoption, Noor said collaboration and pilot projects would be essential to show the fluid’ s reliability and cost benefits.

“ The priority is building confidence among data centre operators through pilot projects and demonstrations of the technology’ s performance and cost benefits,” Noor said.

- @ AGROBiz