Cool Farm recently hosted two member webinars to unveil and explore the latest evolution in its ecosystem: the Cool Farm Platform (CFP) 3.0. This transition marks a significant moment for the Alliance, reflecting not only a technical transformation but also a renewed commitment to community, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
The webinar opened with a warm welcome to members across the globe and a brief overview of the community ethos that underpins Cool Farm’s direction in 2025. The core message was clear: radical collaboration is at the heart of this next chapter, and CFP 3.0 is designed to support and scale this ambition.
NEW PLATFORM, PROCESSES AND TECH STACK
One of the central focuses of the session was the shift from the original Cool Farm Tool (CFT) to the more robust and modernised Cool Farm Platform (CFP). CFP 3.0 introduces a completely re-architected system, built on cloud infrastructure (AWS) to ensure improved performance, scalability, and security. The platform has a redesigned interface that is more intuitive and flexible for a wide range of users—from farmers to sustainability professionals—while also being underpinned by a new, API-first design that supports seamless integration with third-party tools and systems.
Crucially, all models and methods in CFP 3.0 have been developed and are maintained in-house by the Cool Farm team. This ensures greater transparency, quality control, and the ability to quickly respond to feedback and scientific developments. The platform’s enhanced model structure allows for better validation, error detection, and overall data accuracy; factors that are essential for both individual assessments and broader reporting obligations.
WHAT USERS CAN EXPECT IN THE NEW COOL FARM PLATFORM
The session highlighted key pathway updates as part of their migration to CFP, including those for annual crops, perennial crops, rice, potatoes, beef, and dairy. These updates incorporate refined emissions factors and methodological improvements aligned with leading sustainability frameworks, such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGp) and Land Sector and Removals Guidance (LSRG). These alignments ensure that assessments produced within the platform are both scientifically credible and operationally useful. Special attention was given to the new process-based Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) model which will be further explored during a dedicated webinar scheduled for June 2025.
For users managing existing assessments, the platform offers thoughtful migration support. All historical data and assessments from CFT will be migrated into CFP, with steps in place to ensure data integrity throughout the process. The migration is expected to begin in early 2026, with preparatory work underway through the end of 2025.
Technical users and partners also received an important update on upcoming changes to the API. A revised JSON schema will be introduced in June 2025, impacting how perennials assessments are processed through the API. While no immediate action is required, full technical documentation and transition support will be provided to ensure a smooth changeover.
TIMELINE
The webinar also laid out a clear timeline for the rollout of new features. The beta phase for annual and perennial crop assessments is currently underway, with full releases expected by June 2025. Dairy and cattle assessments will follow a similar pattern, with live versions due in October. By December, the platform aims to introduce enhanced features that support formal sustainability reporting and undergo external verification.
SUPPORT AND TRAINING AT EVERY STEP
To ensure members are well-equipped for the transition, Cool Farm has designed comprehensive support and training offerings to empower members at every stage of their journey towards CFP 3.0. These include free learning resources that cover the basic topics of how to get started in the platform, data needs and assessment completion as well as more details on models and new aggregation reporting. Where members need more personalised support for their teams, Cool Farm training offers from beginner to certified advisor come in. A special V3 add-on focussing on method updates can complement the basic training offerings. Members also have access to the most updated FAQs in the Cool Farm Knowledge Base as well as peer-to-peer learning during monthly member drop-in sessions (every 3rd Tuesday 4-5pm GMT), working groups and webinars.
FUTURE OF COOL FARM
Importantly, while the long-term goal is to retire the older Cool Farm Tool, it will remain available to members for the foreseeable future. Cool Farm is committed to giving users ample notice and robust support throughout the transition.
Overall, the CFP 3.0 launch represents more than a technological upgrade—it’s a strategic foundation for building a more interconnected, informed, and regenerative agriculture movement that positions the Cool Farm Alliance—and its members—for impact at scale.
