Page 24 - FoodFocusThailand No.241 May 2026

SPECIAL
SPECIAL INTERVIEW INTERVIEW
STRENGTHENING THAILAND’S

FOOD INDUSTRY THROUGH
A UNIFIED INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

Thailand’s food industry is transitioning from the “Kitchen of the World” toward an “Innovation Food Hub”
focused on value creation across the entire value chain. In this issue, Dr. Akeanong Jangbua, Director of
Food Innopolis, shares key perspectives and strategies for strengthening entrepreneurs through science,
technology, and innovation, while highlighting the role of organizations in bridging the gap between lab-scale
research and commercial viability.

Elevating Thailand’s Food Industry needs, such as high-fiber foods, low-sodium products, and
from Commodity to High Value-Added Economy functional foods designed to deliver specific health benefits.
The key to increasing value in food products lies in “integrating” Although alternative protein has received widespread global
innovation into every stage of the value chain. At the attention, Dr. Akeanong pointed that the Thai market is still
“upstream” stage, this focuses on varietal improvement and growing more slowly than in many other countries. However,
genetic optimization to develop raw materials with distinct overall, it is still considered to have strong potential for future
identities. In the “midstream” stage, it involves process expansion, particularly in plant-based proteins, fungi-derived
optimization and resource valorization to maximize resource proteins, as well as lab-grown or cell-based proteins.
efficiency under the principles of ‘Zero Waste’ and ‘Circular Another important trend gaining increasing attention is
Economy’, thereby creating added value from by-products. “low-processed food,” referring to minimally processed foods
Finally, at the “downstream” stage, the emphasis shifts to that retain their natural nutritional value. Consumers today are
marketing and communication, highlighting storytelling and the increasingly concerned with understanding the benefits derived
use of Geographical Indications (GI) to build emotional value, from what they consume, leading to a growing demand for
along with experiential marketing strategies that stimulate the foods that preserve their natural nutrients and intrinsic value.
senses through sight, taste, smell, and sound—key factors However, this trend presents a major challenge in terms
influencing consumer purchasing decisions in today’s market. of shelf-life, requiring a careful balance between minimal
processing and maintaining sufficient storage stability for
Connect the Dots: Toward a Future Food Ecosystem commercial distribution. In this context, packaging technologies
Food Innopolis serves as one of the key intermediary and food contact materials play a crucial role in supporting the
organizations bridging the gap between academia, which development of minimally processed foods while maintaining
possesses knowledge and technological tools, and the product quality, safety, and adequate shelf-life.
private sector, which requires innovation to strengthen its
competitive capabilities. The organization emphasizes three Human Resources:
major strategies: “Visibility,” which focuses on making the A Key Driver of Food Industry Competitiveness
capabilities of universities and researchers more visible Although Thailand possesses key strengths in the food
and accessible; “Accessibility,” which aims to provide industry—namely raw materials, workforce, facilities, and
entrepreneurs with more convenient access to resources, transportation systems—the most critical area requiring further
infrastructure, and knowledge; and “Connectivity,” which development is “human resources,” which serve as the
links pilot plant networks, experts, and relevant stakeholders to main driver of the modern food industry. Industry personnel
collaboratively address industry challenges in a comprehensive must have multidisciplinary skills and continuously enhance
and systematic manner. their capabilities through reskilling, upskilling, and acquiring
Successful cases arising from ForeFood, the FoodTech new competencies. In particular, integrating food technology
Business Accelerator Program underscore the role of linking with modern tools such as AI and data analytics, alongside
entrepreneurs and researchers, which leads to tangible and marketing knowledge, is essential for developing consumer-
practical business development outcomes. Key case studies relevant products. Equally important are foresight, to anticipate
include the development of alternative protein innovation long-term trends, and agility, to respond effectively to rapid
derived from rice bran oil, a natural extract-based udder changes in the global environment.
cleansing product that has already been implemented in real Dr. Akeanong emphasized the importance of a strong
farm operations, and the transfer of knowledge on the extraction “innovation ecosystem,” which requires collaboration from
of high-quality proteins from by-products generated during all sectors, with each sector performing its role to the best of
poultry trimming processes, among others. its ability. Such collective effort serves as a key mechanism in
driving Thailand’s food industry toward stable and sustainable
Detecting Emerging Signals of Future Food Trends growth on the global stage.
Looking at the food sector trends to watch, health-oriented food
products continue to grow steadily. Product development is
increasingly shifting toward addressing more specific consumer
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