US food, agriculture companies engage Thailand on potential of biotech
A delegation of leading US food and agriculture companies organised by the US-Asean Business Council visited Bangkok and met with government officials to discuss how US private industry can support the promulgation of new agri-innovation technologies to i
There are many opportunities for US companies to expand in the food, agriculture and animal-health sectors in Thailand, and many of them are interested in supporting the development of plans to continue strengthening Thailand’s regulatory and food-safety regimes and testing agencies.
The mission was led by the chairman of the council’s F&A committee, Bruce Blakeman, who is also vice president for corporate affairs for Asia-Pacific at Cargill, and Praab Pianskool, Thailand senior country representative at the US-Asean Business Council.
"Thailand is Asean’s second-largest economy, and the importance of the food and agriculture sector cannot be overstated. More than 10 per cent of Thailand’s gross domestic product and 40 per cent of its labour force come from the agricultural sector," Blakeman said.
"As one of the world’s leading agricultural suppliers, we want to continue to work together with the Thai government to ensure they do not miss out on agri-innovation technologies which can propel the industry to even higher levels of productivity and yields. In addition, with the upcoming launch of the Asean Economic Community, we would like to see an acceleration towards regional harmonisation of standards throughout Southeast Asia."
The delegation met with Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya, minister of agriculture and cooperatives; General Chatchai Sarikalya, minister of commerce; Dr Siriwat Thiptharadol, adviser to the minister of public health; and Duangjai Asawachintachit, deputy secretary-general at Thailand’s Board of Investment.
The mission commenced with a briefing by the US Embassy Thailand’s foreign agricultural service team.
Topics of discussion included biotechnology for agriculture, pending registrations of pesticides, opportunities to expand market access for bone-in beef from the United States, tax incentives for feed mills, Thailand as the "seed hub of Asia", Notification of the Ministry of Public Health 363 on Food Additives, and animal-health regulatory barriers.
"Working with the Thai government to build further mechanisms for stakeholder consultation is one of the main priorities of the council’s food and agriculture committee," Praab said.
"We plan to continue to build our engagement via other platforms including during the 37th Asean Ministers Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry in September 2015."
Companies participating in the delegation included Cargill, DuPont, Merck and Monsanto.
