May 8, 2024

‘Assessing Climate Change Impact on Production and Supply Chains of Oil Palm’ is a pivotal research project funded from 2024 to 2028 by the National Environment Agency Climate Impact Science Research (CISR) Programme and led by Assistant Professor Tang Hao (NUS Geography), Associate Professor Roman Carrasco (NUS Biological Sciences), and Dr Lim Kim Hwa (NUS Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing, and Processing (CRISP)).

Given its specific focus on the complex effects of climate change on oil palm production and supply chains in Southeast Asia, ‘Assessing Climate Change Impact on Production and Supply Chains of Oil Palm’ is a critical contribution to environmental studies. It covers an extensive examination of historical, current, and projected impacts of climate changes on the vital oil palm sector, shifting focus from broader climate change discussions to a targeted analysis of oil palm cultivation.

The project explores the dual nature of climate change impacts on oil palm cultivation: its potential to enhance production and expand cultivation areas and  its risks in terms of extreme weather and resultant damage. It will analyse alterations in oil palm plantations over time, their relationship with climatic disasters, and future industry vulnerabilities. These inquiries are essential not only academically but also in informing policy-making and economic strategies in Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia.

The project also has dual objectives. It seeks to provide a granular analysis of climate change impacts on oil palm production and aims to utilize this knowledge to predict and prepare for future challenges facing the industry. This sector-specific approach makes  ‘Assessing Climate Change Impact on Production and Supply Chains of Oil Palm’ innovative and especially relevant to industry practitioners.

Overall, the project is set to redefine our understanding of environmental impacts on Southeast Asian agriculture. By focusing on the oil palm industry, it strives to uncover potential vulnerabilities faced by the sector amidst climate change, hence offering crucial insights for future environmental and economic planning in the region.