Global Foodture Mission Thailand 2023
“The first “Global Foodture Mission Thailand 2023” led by Foodvalley NL successfully underlines Thai – Dutch sustainable partnerships on agriculture and food system through collaboration and innovation” according to Gijs Theunissen, Dutch Agricultural Counsellor.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands together with VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific Co., Ltd. jointly organized a special Thai – Dutch Session; Redefine and Challenge of Future Food System on 25th May 2023 at the Netherlands Embassy in Bangkok. The session gained high interest from several stakeholders from the food and agro-industry with more than 80 participants. The session succeeded to strengthen businesses, especially SMEs, between Thailand - The Netherlands and the EU on the sustainable transition of agri-food systems globally through collaboration and innovation.
The Dutch Agriculture Counsellor (Gijs Theunissen DVM) and guest speakers from the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative (Dr. Vanida Khumnirdpetch), Thai Future Food Trade Association (Visit Limlurcha) and Kasetsart University (Dr. Noratat Prachom) have shared the insight of Thai food and agro-industry, especially the trend of future and alternative food for a healthy diet. A networking reception and business matching were also organized.
The Delegation of Global Foodture Mission Thailand 2023 comprised 16 SMEs from the European Union (EU) active in diversified innovative, healthy and alternative food products from plant-based, insect, microbial, aquaculture, livestock, IOT & AI, beer, snack and food waste etc. The Global Foodture Mission Thailand 2023 is co-funded by the European Union’s COSME Program and powered by Foodvalley NL.
Dr. Gijs Theunissen DVM, The Netherlands Agricultural Counsellor: “Globally the market for the healthy food business is growing. Healthy food means for me - safe food (microbiological and chemical), nutritious and produced sustainably with respect for the health of the planet, people, plants & animals. In the Netherlands, we focus on improving the sustainability of food production. Especially nature-inclusive agriculture, alternative protein sources (plant-based), use of innovative high technology (robotic, digitalization) and efficient production (high yields, less water and land use, no use of pesticides/antibiotics). We have to work together to solve global challenges on the sustainable food system.”
Tjerna Ellenbroek, Foodvalley NL and Global Foodture Project Manager: "The Global Foodture Mission Thailand 2023 is a bridge connecting Thai-Dutch & EU for a sustainable food system. The Mission is a project that aims to boost the sustainable transition of the food system worldwide through collaboration and innovation. It develops and implements a joint internationalization strategy that facilitates international collaboration outside Europe for European SMEs to build sustainable relations and partnerships on new technologies and innovative solutions to contribute to a more sustainable food system.”
Mr. Visit Limlurcha, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand and President of the Thai Future Food Trade Association: “Our world faces many challenges from climate change, aging populations, political conflicts and disease outbreaks which affect global food security. The Thai food industry aims to develop production processes to produce future food which comply with the Thai Bio-Circular-Green economy concept. We are committed to serve the domestic and global food market under the principles of eco-friendly, healthy, safety and transparency.”
Dr. Vanida Khumnirdpetch, Director of Bureau of Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand: “If the committed global agenda is still the SDG 2030, the transformation of Agri-Food Systems to be resilient, sustainable and inclusive is a great challenge. How can nature-based solutions and practices be implemented in a way that producers and consumers can equally share both cost and benefit? Collaboration and partnership at all levels, local-national-international is required for transformation of food systems to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030.”
Dr. Noratat Prachom, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University: “Since the global population has been rising, and the global protein demand is expected to almost double by 2050. Asia is by far the largest contributor to global aquaculture producing 92% of the world’s farmed fish. Sustainable aquaculture and fisheries are probably the keys to global food and nutrition security. The challenges for sustainable aquaculture and fisheries are environment, suitable land and water, the availability of technology and innovation, cost of production, marketing, demand and price considerations.”
Mr. Igor Palka, Managing Director of VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific Co., Ltd.: The upcoming Healthy Food Asia 2023 exhibition this July 5 – 6, 2023 in Bangkok is the gateway to a thriving future in the food industry in the Asia Pacific region. The participants will discover unparalleled business opportunities, connect with leading suppliers, and embrace the latest trends in healthy, organic, vegan, and functional food.
