Ajinomoto Elevates Thai Farmers’ Livelihoods
Establishing a Biocycle for Sustainable Carbon Reduction

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Bangkok– June 17, 2024 – Ajinomoto FD Green (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Ajinomoto Group and a leader in environmentally friendly business practices, continues its “Eat Well, Live Well” approach by supporting Thai farmers in sustainable agriculture. This aligns with the Ajinomoto Group's global 2030 sustainability strategy. Through the Ajinomoto Biocycle initiative, FD Green is creating a positive social and environmental ecosystem.  For the fourth year in a row, the company is running the "Thai Farmer Better Life Partner" project to tackles agricultural challenges and limitations by empowering Thai farmers. Roll out the "Farm School" model provides knowledge and modern cultivation techniques to cassava and coffee growers, ultimately increasing their potential for sustainable farming.

Cassava is the world's fifth most important economic crop; Thailand is the world's third-largest producer with a market value of 69.839 billion baht which experiences consistent demand growth (3-4% annually). While robusta coffee is a significant Thai agricultural product with a market value of 1.051 billion baht. The Thai coffee market boasts an impressive growth rate of 8.55% per year. Despite the growing market demand, Thailand’s cassava and coffee crop production face a similar decline. Cassava output dropped from 33.5 million tons in 2015 to an estimated 24.7 million tons this year. Coffee yields have plummeted from 37,992 tons in 2014 to an estimated 16,575 tons in 2023. This reflects the major global warming issue which has been affecting the environment and agricultural crop practices.

In addition to declining production, cassava farmers face 6 key issues that impact yield and quality. These include: 1) Soil Management, 2) Cutting Selection, 3) Water Management, 4) Fertilizer Selection, 5) Plot Management, 6) Proper Harvesting, while the management of cassava cuttings is the most important process because the selected cuttings must be clean, disease-free, of good quality and suitable for the soil. If the management process is not appropriate, it will result in low yield and insufficient quality. For coffee plantations, they face problems with water, fertilizer, soil and moth management, which affects the taste and reduces yield.

Dr. Kohei Ishikawa, President of Ajinomoto FD Green (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said, “To align with Ajinomoto Group's goal to become a low carbon business organization according to our global strategy for 2030, which aims to reduce environmental impact by 50% within 2030. The Ajinomoto Biocycle concept guides our efforts to create a positive environmental and social ecosystem. This year marks the fourth consecutive year of the Thai Farmer Better Life Partner project, developed to comprehensively enhance the skills and potential of Thai farmers. As Thailand's largest user of cassava starch, Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd. embodies the “Eat Well, Live Well” approach throughout the supply chain. The support extends from upstream to downstream, starting with sustainable agricultural practices for cassava farmers and expanding to coffee farmers, fostering mutual growth. The 2024 project targets 1,570 households across five provinces: Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Tak, Loei, and Chiang Rai."

"This year, we're continuing our partnership with Thai farmers by launching the "Farm School" program. This program introduces new theories in cassava cultivation to promote sustainable farming practices. We provide in-depth knowledge and modern cultivation techniques through a unique O2O (Online-to-Offline) approach. The program combines online resources with real-world learning experiences. Experts organize Field Test plots to showcase 10 different sampling plots which include demonstrations on fertilizer and soil amendment use, as well as solutions to common agricultural problems faced by farmers. Farmers are welcome to visit and learn from these plots starting in June. The program also collaborates with the Department of Agricultural Extension to further support farmers. They will provide on-site training at the Field Test plots. Additionally, we analyze farmer knowledge to develop more targeted skills training programs. For online communication, we leverage social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and LINE. This allows us to create engaging content and share the latest agricultural insights and techniques. We are also planning to expand the "Farm School" model to include coffee farmers, focusing on sustainable coffee production practices. Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd. prioritizes the quality and fair pricing of raw materials. This creates a positive cycle for everyone involved. We are determined to be a leader in promoting sustainable practices for the Eat Well, Live Well in Thai society."

Follow more details of activities under the Thai Farmer Better Life Partner project via FB: Ajinomoto FD Green and LINE OA: Ajinomoto FD Green.