Turning Climate Challenges into Opportunities: The Ajinomoto Group Transforms Northern Thailand’s Coffee Farms into High-Yield Hubs for Premium Robusta Through Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

• Spotlighting Chiang Rai and Nan as Premium Robusta Coffee Hubs: Improving coffee quality and productivity to create added value and meet growing market demand.
• Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Agriculture: Joining forces with “Dheva Pirom” and the “Doi Chang Farmers Group” to share agricultural expertise, promote GAP standards, and support long-term supply chain sustainability.

Ajinomoto FD Green (Thailand) Co., Ltd., an environmental business model under Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd., a leader in creating “Eat Well, Live Well.” lifestyles, is advancing its commitment to elevating Thai Robusta coffee production in Northern Thailand. Focusing on strategic hubs in Chiang Rai and Nan, the initiative aims to develop new cultivation areas for the country’s premium Robusta coffee. By turning the challenges posed by global climate change to agriculture into opportunities to expand its high-quality coffee production base and meet evolving global market demand, the initiative brings together key industry partners “Dheva Pirom”, and the “Chiang Rai and Nan Farmers Group.” Together, they hosted an educational seminar to equip local Thai coffee farmers with practical skills to improve productivity, enhance coffee quality, and strengthen long-term agricultural sustainability.

Thailand’s 65-Billion-Baht Coffee Market: Capitalizing on Growth Trends

According to (DBD/Ministry of Commerce estimate reported in 2025), Thailand produced approximately 8,500-9,500 tons of Robusta coffee in the 2024-2025 crop year, accounting for 55-58% of the country’s total coffee output. While Robusta cultivation has traditionally been concentrated in southern Thailand, climate change has brought Northern Thailand, particularly Chiang Rai and Nan, into focus as a strategic region for producing high-quality specialty coffee. As Thailand’s leading coffee-producing province, Chiang Rai has considerable potential to expand premium Robusta cultivation and target high-value markets.

This initiative aligns with expanding global market trends. According to Euromonitor, the world’s five largest coffee consuming nations are the United States, Brazil, the Philippines, Japan, and China. Meanwhile, neighboring Vietnam, which shares similar geographic characteristics with Thailand, ranks among the world’s leading coffee producers, highlighting the potential for Thai coffee to expand and compete in international markets. This potential is further supported by estimates from the Ministry of Commerce and the Department of Business Development, which valued Thailand’s coffee market at approximately 65 billion baht in 2025, driven by evolving consumer preferences with an increasing emphasis on quality and diverse flavor experiences.

The Ajinomoto Group Unlocks Opportunities for Northern Robusta

Ms. Supannee Maison, Production and Development Unit Manager at Ajinomoto FD Green (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said, “Global coffee consumption is growing faster than supply can keep pace, reflecting strong market expansion. Currently, domestic production satisfies only 18% of Thailand’s total coffee consumption. Key constraints on domestic production include a reliance on traditional farming methods, rain-fed agriculture, and vulnerability to crop pests. Combined with climate variability, these factors pose significant challenges for farmers. Developing Robusta cultivation in Northern Thailand, a region with exceptional potential for producing high-quality coffee, is an important part of The Ajinomoto Group’s mission to support local farmers and meet growing market demand.”

Elevating “Coffee Farming” to “Premium Quality” through GAP Standards

The Ajinomoto Group is committed to promoting its “Eat Well, Live Well.” concept from upstream to downstream. Through its ongoing Thai Farmer Better Life Partner Project, the company supports local farmers in building a resilient, long-term ecosystem for Thai coffee. By promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Ajinomoto FD Green is enhancing yield efficiency, product quality, and traceability. These efforts are complemented by hands-on training and field trials, as well as the provision of Ami-mate, an organic chemical fertilizer rich in nutrients and Operations Management recovered through the upcycling of byproducts from MSG manufacturing process, reflecting the company’s commitment to circular resource utilization and sustainable agriculture. Ajinomoto FD Green also collaborates with its Technology and Engineering Center to introduce innovative technologies that support farmers in achieving sustainable growth.

At the 2026 Annual Coffee Farmers Meeting in Chiang Rai, Ajinomoto FD Green (Thailand) Co., Ltd., led by Mr. Yosuke Masaki, President, Ms. Sopa Onnum, Director, Mr. Soraklich Sailar, and Ms. Supannee Maison, joined forces with Mr. Joolpeera Saitrakul and Ms. Praewa Boonyawan of Dheva Pirom Corporation Co., Ltd. along with the Chiang Rai and Nan Farmers Group. Together, they empowered 1,125 local coffee growers in Chiang Rai and Nan through a knowledge sharing seminar on sustainable farming practices and climate resilience, alongside plans to distribute 1,480 coffee plants to farmers to strengthen local cultivation and support future production.

Mr. Prapatr Phormreung and Mr. Ekkapong Sae-Yang, a representative from the local coffee farmers group, shared, “Climate instability has severely affected our harvests. Heavy rainfall this year reduced coffee cherry sets by more than 50% compared to last year, resulting in uneven ripening, harvesting difficulties, and fungal problems that caused coffee cherries to drop. Following training from Ajinomoto FD Green and Dheva Pirom on GAP standards and market expectations, I will manage my orchards more systematically, starting with soil analysis to guide the precise application of fertilizers. I will also keep detailed records to track annual production costs, with the aim of doubling coffee yields this season.”

Expanding Robusta cultivation in northern Thailand goes beyond securing raw materials for the domestic coffee market, creating opportunities to turn climate challenges into a platform for showcasing premium Thai coffee. By elevating the livelihoods of farmers and strengthening supply chain resilience, the company continues to create sustainable value for Thailand’s domestic coffee market and international markets.

Explore more about The Ajinomoto Group’s initiatives to empower Thai farmers and promote sustainable agriculture through the Thai Farmer Better Life Partner Project at: https://www.ajinomoto.co.th/th/well-being/thai-farmer-better-life-partner-project/