Oil palm is the second most widely used energy crop in the world and is considered the crop with the highest potential for oil production per area. However, Thailand has faced significant issues with low oil palm yields. The primary reasons include the use of non-standard palm varieties that are not adaptable to the climate and a lack of knowledge in managing production factors according to the needs of the oil palm. Chumporn Palm Oil Industry Public Company Limited (CPI) is one of Thailand’s largest quality palm oil producers. With over 30 years of business experience, CPI is the first company in Thailand’s palm oil industry to operate a fully integrated business model, from palm plantation, crude palm oil extraction, and refining to palm oil production. Recognizing the issue of low oil palm yields, CPI is dedicated to advancing the oil palm industry in the country to achieve yield per hectare comparable to Malaysia and Indonesia, the global leaders in the palm oil market.
The Journey to Becoming CPI AGROTECH
The journey began with the aftermath of the 1989 Typhoon Gay, which damaged some of the company’s oil palm plantations, necessitating replacements. This led to the importation of oil palm varieties from around the world for cultivation, both as seeds and tissue cultures, resulting in the selection of strains adapted to Thailand’s monsoon climate, characterized by extended dry periods. The company meticulously recorded and analyzed production data from each plantation, overseen by Professor Dr. Soontree Yingchatchawan, a botanist at the Agricultural Biotechnology Center, Kasetsart University.
The CPI palm variety, CPI oil palm, CPI Hybrid, CPI Agrotech, and CPI Hybrid statistics have been compiled up to 2004 and utilized in the company’s breeding program. Under the guidance of Dr. Krisda Sumpuntharux, a faculty member of the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, and with the assistance of researchers and professionals from the Oil Palm Promotion and Development Center of Chumporn Palm Oil Industry Public Company Limited, the company became one of the first in Thailand to undertake proper oil palm breeding. Starting with superior parent trees adapted to local conditions, after eight years of cross-pollination and strain selection, the company confidently registered and certified the CPI Hybrid strain with the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, boasting drought-resistant characteristics and consistent high oil yields throughout the year.
By 2011, the Oil Palm Promotion and Development Center had evolved into CPI Agoitech Company Limited, distributing CPI Hybrid oil palm seeds and seedlings and providing consultancy on plantation management to enhance oil palm production. Scientific cooperation from the Agricultural Biotechnology Center, Kasetsart University, and a 200% tax deduction on research and development expenses from the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) further supported these efforts.
The History and Development
2011 – Present
The Oil Palm Promotion and Development Center of Chumporn Palm Oil Industry Public Company Limited (CPI) has evolved into CPI Agrotech Company Limited. This company distributes CPI Hybrid oil palm seeds and seedlings and provides consultancy on plantation management to increase oil palm yields, supported by researchers and professional teams.
2005 – 2012
As the company’s oil palms aged, long-term replanting plans were necessary, requiring a large number of oil palm seedlings. During that period, the only widely accepted seeds were from Costa Rica. Consequently, the company decided to invest in an oil palm breeding program to create domestic expertise and researchers and to select varieties suited to Thailand’s monsoon climate. The project, planned and supervised by Professor Dr. Krisda Sumpuntharux from the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, used recorded yield data to select superior parent trees. In 2004, cross-pollination and planting for targeted trait selection began, conducted by researchers and the Oil Palm Promotion and Development Center team of Chumporn Palm Oil Industry Public Company Limited. Thus, the company became one of the first in Thailand to conduct oil palm breeding according to international scientific standards, starting with superior parent trees adapted to the local environment. The company is now confident it has developed the best variety, a drought-resistant oil palm with high oil yield throughout the year, registered and certified by the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, under the trade name CPI Hybrid.
1995 – 2004
The devastation caused by Typhoon Gay in 1989 necessitated the replanting of parts of the company’s oil palm plantation. This involved importing over 20 varieties of oil palm tissue cultures from a French research company, derived from high-yielding parent palms. The new plantations became test plots for selecting oil palm varieties that could adapt to Thailand’s monsoon climate with several dry months each year. The company continuously recorded and analyzed yield and growth data for each variety, under the guidance of Professor Dr. Soontree Yingchatchawan, a botanist at the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Agricultural Biotechnology Center, Kasetsart University.
Established in 1979
Chumporn Palm Oil Industry Company Limited was established on November 7, 1979, to operate a palm oil extraction business through a joint venture between Pathiu Plantation Company and Rung Ruang Palm Oil Company, with a combined oil palm plantation area of over 20,000 rai. The company purchased fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from its own plantations and from both large and small farmers in Chumphon and neighboring provinces for processing. In 1993, the company integrated its factory and plantation businesses and went public, registering as Chumporn Palm Oil Industry Public Company Limited.
Standards and Certification
