Page 38 - FoodFocusThailand No.231 June 2025

SPECIAL FOCUS

Table 1: Applications of Modern Technologies in the Coffee and Tea Industry
Coffee Industry Tea Industry

1. Cultivation and Harvest 1. Cultivation and Harvest
- Environmental monitoring systems in coffee plantations: - Smart irrigation: IoT-based water management systems optimize
IoT sensors track variables like soil moisture, rainfall, and weather irrigation, conserve water, and increase yield.
to tailor cultivation strategies and monitor plant health. - Automated tea leaf harvesting systems: Sorting machines
- Drones and automation: Drones survey plantations for select tea leaves that meet specific criteria, such as age and size.
irregularities such as disease or humidity issues, while automated
systems harvest coffee beans efficiently, reducing labor needs.
2. Processing 2. Processing
- Smart coffee roasters: AI-integrated roasters analyze variables - Temperature and humidity controllers: Automated systems
such as temperature, humidity, and processing time to ensure manage withering, drying, and fermentation processes to achieve
effective roasting and consistent flavor. desired flavor profiles.
- Automated quality assurance: Image recognition technology - AI-controlled tea leaf sorting: AI systems classify tea leaves
sorts coffee beans by quality, color, and size. based on grade, condition, and quality.

3. Supply Chain 3. Packaging
- Blockchain: This technology enables full traceability from farm - Automated production lines: Machinery efficiently fills tea into
to retail, ensuring transparency and confidence in product origin bags or boxes while minimizing contamination risks.
and sustainability. - Smart packaging: QR codes or NFC tags provide information
about product origins and production methods, enhancing
consumer trust.

Case Study: Smart Production in the Coffee and supporting the development of new products that meet market
Tea Industry demands.
Coffee Industry
- Doi Chaang Coffee: Smart farming techniques are Sustainable Future of Coffee and Tea Production
implemented in coffee cultivation. For instance, IoT devices Efforts are currently underway to develop coffee and tea plant
are used to analyze soil and weather conditions, while varieties that are more resilient to fluctuating weather
traceability systems enhance transparency and credibility by conditions. These new strains can thrive in higher
clearly displaying the coffee’s origin. temperatures and show greater resistance to diseases,
- Bluekoff: AI and data analytics are utilized to improve enabling consistent production even amid climatic instability.
coffee roasting and ensure consistent flavor profiles. Additionally, building a sustainable supply chain is vital for
Automated, IoT-controlled roasters allow for the customization minimizing environmental impact. Efficiency-enhancing
of roasting profiles tailored to individual customer preferences, technologies are being used to optimize logistics, and the
while also enabling real-time analysis and tracking of adoption of green packaging is actively encouraged. Small-
production data. scale farmers are also supported in transitioning to
- Wawee Coffee: Blockchain technology is employed to sustainable farming practices. Producers are increasingly
trace the origins of coffee beans. Automation is used in key urged to set measurable goals for reducing their carbon
processing stages, including roasting and packaging, to footprint and to adopt clean energy sources to better meet
enhance efficiency and maintain quality standards. the expectations of environmentally conscious consumers.
Tea Industry Similarly, consumers also have a role to play in promoting
- ChaTraMue: Automation is integrated into production sustainability within the coffee and tea industry. Choosing
and quality control processes, including the sorting and products certified by sustainability organizations, such as
packing of tea leaves, to ensure standardized tea quality Fair Trade or the Rainforest Alliance, supports farms that
across all batches. AI is also leveraged to formulate and prioritize resource efficiency and environmental responsibility.
customize tea recipes based on the specific preferences of By purchasing from such sources, consumers can drive
consumers in different regions. market-wide shifts toward greener production methods.
- Santipap Tea Plantation: IoT-based smart farming is Looking ahead, the coffee and tea industry is expected
used to manage water and fertilizer usage efficiently. to increasingly integrate AI alongside sustainable
Additionally, drone-assisted data analysis supports the manufacturing practices. Emerging technologies will likely
monitoring of cultivation areas, thereby increasing yields in a become standard across all stages of the supply chain, from
sustainable and resource-conscious manner. cultivation and harvesting to processing and distribution,
- Tea Village: E-commerce platforms are combined with enhancing efficiency, transparency, and environmental
QR-integrated smart packaging to provide consumers with stewardship.
information on the origin and production processes of tea
leaves. AI is also employed to analyze customer data,
More Information Service Info C003
38 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND JUN 2025

23/5/2568 BE 16:48
32-38_Special Focus_�����.indd 38
32-38_Special Focus_�����.indd 38 23/5/2568 BE 16:48