Page 43 - FoodFocusThailand No.238 January-February 2026

SPECIAL
SPECIAL FOCUS FOCUS
SUSTAINNOVATION IN ACTION:

DRIVING SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS

THE MEAT SUPPLY CHAIN

As sustainability becomes a key competitive factor, the food and livestock industry is reaching a critical
turning point. This exclusive interview with Dr. Phonthakorn Wongcharoen, Vice President of the Betagro
Food Innovation Center, explores how Betagro is advancing sustainability in food systems and the key
challenges facing Thailand’s meat industry.

Dr. Phonthakorn stated that a sustainable food system
must be designed from a systems perspective, encompassing
every stage from upstream to downstream. This includes
animal feed production, livestock farming, slaughterhouses,
processing facilities, and the distribution of products to
consumers. All of these are driven by the company’s mission
and anchored in three key pillars that reflect its sustainability
approach: responsible production, resource efficiency,
trust & transparency.
Sustainnovation:
Future-Proofing in the Meat Supply Chain
Innovation is a core driver of Betagro’s sustainability efforts
across the food value chain—from processes and products
to packaging—focusing on resource efficiency, loss reduction,
and meeting consumer needs through three key innovations:
• Process Innovation focuses on improving energy and Balancing the Food System with
resource efficiency in manufacturing through energy recovery, “Alternative Proteins”
digital monitoring, and automation. By applying advanced Dr. Phonthakorn highlighted that while conventional animal
technologies and 4R waste management principles—Reduce, protein remains central to production, Betagro recognizes the
Reuse, Recycle, and Recover—manufacturers can minimize growing role of alternative proteins—such as insect protein,
resource loss while driving continuous process improvement. mycoprotein, cell-based foods, and 3D food printing—as
• Product Innovation reflects Betagro’s shift from food complementary elements of a sustainable food system.
manufacturing to nutrition and health solutions, including foods The company therefore prioritizes investment in future food
for the elderly and products targeting the prevention of major R&D, working with startups and research partners to develop
NCDs. Through collaboration with healthcare professionals, solutions that meet modern consumer demands for health,
alongside ingredient and technology innovation, the company sustainability, and diverse protein sources.
enhances shelf life, maintains quality, and reduces food loss Closing the Trust Gap:
and waste across production. A New Challenge for the Meat Industry
• Packaging Innovation is a key mechanism for conveying The meat industry continues to face another critical challenge:
sustainability from production processes directly to consumers. the “trust and consumption behavior gap.” In today’s
Betagro focuses on developing packaging innovations across environment, where consumers have fast and easy access
multiple dimensions to reduce resource use and enhance the to information, expectations for transparency, traceability,
consumer experience, including: and accountability across the entire food supply chain have
(1) Lightweight Packaging – achieved by using new increased significantly. Consumers want to understand the
materials or polymers that maintain strength while consuming origin of raw materials, production methods, quality and safety
fewer resources. This reduces the overall weight of the management, as well as the sustainability of products. If the
packaging, helping to lower raw material usage and cut industry fails to communicate this information clearly, such
production costs. “gaps” can become barriers to purchasing decisions and may
(2) Reduced Packaging Size – Designed to improve ultimately affect the long-term competitiveness of businesses.
transport efficiency, lower energy consumption, and reduce Ultimately, sustainability in Thailand’s meat industry
carbon dioxide emissions. depends on collective action across the entire value chain,
(3) Portion-Control Packaging – Designed with with collaboration among government, private sector, academic
appropriate quantities per unit to suit consumption needs, institutions, and regulators to build a resilient food ecosystem
allowing consumers to use only what they need and reducing that can compete in global markets.
food waste.
(4) Paper-Based Packaging – Betagro is one of the pioneers
in the meat industry to introduce paper packaging for fresh meat,
helping reduce plastic use and environmental impact.
(5) Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) extends More Information Service Info C005
shelf life by slowing the growth of pathogenic microorganisms
while maintaining food quality and safety throughout its storage
period.
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