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Nxpo Promotes Plant-Rich Food System for Global Thai Food Market

Nxpo Promotes Plant-Rich Food System for Global Thai Food Market

Thansettakij•Economy•2d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand aims to elevate its food industry by embracing a plant-rich food system, positioning it as a new economic opportunity for global markets.

  • •A seminar and focus group discussion on the 'Plant-Rich Food System' was held on April 9, 2026, at the Graph Hotel Ratchada, Bangkok.
  • •The event, organized by Nxpo, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, and SME Thailand, aims to drive Thailand's future food system in line with global health and sustainability trends.
  • •The plant-rich food system is presented as a new economic opportunity for Thailand's food industry, leveraging the country's diverse ingredients and strong food sector.
  • •Key initiatives include a policy framework under the Biotechnology Industry Development Plan B.E. 2026–2035, focusing on 'future food' and 'alternative protein'.

Overview

  • •On April 9, 2026, the National Council for Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy (Nxpo), in collaboration with the Thai Chamber of Commerce and SME Thailand, organized a seminar and Focus Group Discussion titled 'Plant-Rich Food System from Trend to Opportunity: Creating a Competitive Edge in the Food Business with Plant-Based Ingredients'.
  • •The event was held at the Graph Hotel, Ratchada, Bangkok, to drive Thailand's future food system in accordance with global trends in health and sustainability.
  • •Dr. Nattaphon Charnwarasut, a strategist at Nxpo, stated that consumers globally and in Thailand are increasingly prioritizing health, environment, and sustainability, making plant-rich diets a new economic opportunity.
  • •The Thai future food market was valued at 344 billion baht in 2025, with the alternative protein segment alone reaching 50 billion baht.
  • •Nxpo is linking this drive to the Biotechnology Industry Development Plan B.E. 2026–2035, aiming to elevate Thailand to an innovation-based economy with 'future food' and 'alternative protein' as key target industries.
  • •The plan involves attracting high-tech investment, building research and development consortia, and developing standards and regulations to accelerate market entry.
  • •Ms. Sirinya Lim, Senior Director of Bio-economy Policy at Nxpo, revealed that over 57% of global consumers prioritize health and sustainability, aligning with Thailand's goal to increase plant-based protein consumption to 30% by 2050 to support carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions.
  • •Dr. Wisit Limluecha, President of the Thai Future Food Trade Association, highlighted Thailand's structural advantages in ingredient diversity and a strong food industry, which can be developed into high-value products like functional foods, alternative proteins, and medical nutrition.

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Key Quotes

Dr. Nattaphon Charnwarasut
"Currently, consumers worldwide, including in Thailand, are increasingly prioritizing 'health, environment, and sustainability.' Therefore, 'plant-rich food' or 'plant-rich diet' is not just a trend but is becoming a new economic opportunity for the Thai food industry."
ปัจจุบันผู้บริโภคทั่วโลก รวมถึงในประเทศไทย เริ่มให้ความสำคัญกับ “สุขภาพ สิ่งแวดล้อม และความยั่งยืน” มากขึ้น ดังนั้น “อาหารที่อุดมด้วยพืช” หรือ “Plant-Rich Diet” จึงไม่ใช่เพียงกระแส แต่กำลังกลายเป็นโอกาสทางเศรษฐกิจใหม่ของอุตสาหกรรมอาหารไทย
Sirinya Lim
"The Thai future food market was valued at over 344 billion baht in 2025, with the alternative protein segment alone reaching 50 billion baht and showing continuous growth."
ตลาดอาหารอนาคตไทย มีมูลค่ากว่า 344,000 ล้านบาทในปี 2025 โดยเฉพาะกลุ่มโปรตีนทางเลือกมีมูลค่าสูงถึง 50,000 ล้านบาท และมีแนวโน้มเติบโตต่อเนื่อง
Dr. Wisit Limluecha
"Thailand has a rare 'structural advantage' from its ingredient diversity and a strong food industry, which can be leveraged for high-value products."
ไทยมี "แต้มต่อเชิงโครงสร้าง" ที่หาได้ยาก จากความหลากหลายของวัตถุดิบ และความแข็งแกร่งของอุตสาหกรรมอาหาร ซึ่งสามารถต่อยอดไปสู่ผลิตภัณฑ์มูลค่าสูง
Marut Jai-lak
"The 'Plant Rich Food System' concept is considered a key strategy to cope with global supply chain volatility and the rising food cost crisis."
แนวคิด "Plant Rich Food System" ถูกยกเป็นกลยุทธ์สำคัญในการรับมือความผันผวนของห่วงโซ่อุปทานโลก และวิกฤตต้นทุนอาหารที่เพิ่มสูงขึ้น

Key Entities

Organization

National Council for Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy(สำนักงานสภานโยบายการอุดมศึกษา วิทยาศาสตร์ วิจัยและนวัตกรรมแห่งชาติ)ℹ️
An organization in Thailand that co-organized a seminar on plant-rich food systems to drive Thailand's future food economy and align with global sustainability trends.
Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation(กระทรวงการอุดมศึกษา วิทยาศาสตร์ วิจัยและนวัตกรรม)
A ministry in Thailand that the National Council for Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy operates under.
Thai Chamber of Commerce(สภาหอการค้าไทย)ℹ️
An organization in Thailand that co-organized a seminar on plant-rich food systems to promote business opportunities in the food sector.
SME Thailand
An organization that co-organized a seminar on plant-rich food systems, focusing on creating business opportunities for SMEs in the food sector.
Thai Future Food Trade Association(สหภาพการค้าอาหารอนาคตไทย)
An association that advocates for and promotes the development of the future food industry in Thailand, with its president commenting on the nation's advantages.
Food Innopolis(เมืองนวัตกรรมอาหาร (Food Innopolis))
A food innovation hub under the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) that acts as a link between research, technology, and businesses in the food sector.
National Science and Technology Development Agency(สำนักงานพัฒนาวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยีแห่งชาติ)ℹ️
A government agency in Thailand responsible for promoting science and technology development, including its subsidiary Food Innopolis which supports the plant-rich food system.
Jones’ Salad
A plant-based food brand whose founder shared business insights and strategies during a success case discussion.
Vegan Mahat Nakorn(วีแกนมหานคร)
A plant-based food business whose founder shared insights on overcoming challenges and building brand strength in the contemporary food market.
Flo Wolffia
A plant-based business whose founder shared insights on achieving profitability and sustainability in the competitive plant-based food market.

Place

Graph Hotel, Ratchada, Bangkok(โรงแรมกราฟ รัชดา กรุงเทพฯ)
The venue in Bangkok where the seminar and focus group discussion on the Plant-Rich Food System was held.

Person

Dr. Nattaphon Charnwarasut(ดร.นตพร จันทร์วราสุทธิ์)
A strategist at the National Council for Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy who spoke about the growing importance of plant-rich diets.
Ms. Sirinya Lim(นางสาวสิรินยา ลิม)
Senior Director of Bio-economy Policy at Nxpo, who provided market value statistics and discussed sustainability goals related to plant-rich diets.
Dr. Wisit Limluecha(ดร.วิศิษฐ์ ลิ้มลือชา)
President of the Thai Future Food Trade Association and Chairman of the Processed Food and Future Food Committee of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, who highlighted Thailand's advantages in the plant-rich food sector.
Mr. Marut Jai-lak(นายมารุต ใจหลัก)
A Business Development Officer at Food Innopolis who discussed the 'Plant Rich Food System' as a strategy to address global supply chain volatility and rising food costs.
Mr. Ariya Khampilo(นายอาริยะ คำภิโล)
Founder of Jones’ Salad, one of the entrepreneurs who shared success stories and challenges in the plant-based food business.
Ms. Taphatr Pongpruksa(นางสาวธภัทร พงศ์พฤกษา)
Founder of Vegan Mahat Nakorn, one of the entrepreneurs who shared experiences on building a strong brand in the modern food market.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Wisut Sanguanual(ผศ. ดร.วิษุวัต สงนวล)
Founder of Flo Wolffia, an entrepreneur who shared experiences on navigating business transitions and challenges to build a strong brand in the plant-based food sector.

Policy

Plant-Rich Food System
A strategic approach promoted by Nxpo to develop Thailand's food industry, emphasizing health, sustainability, and economic opportunities.

Concept

Plant-Rich Dietℹ️
A dietary approach focusing on foods derived from plants, increasingly recognized for its health and environmental benefits.
Future Food(อาหารอนาคต)
A key target industry within Thailand's Biotechnology Industry Development Plan, focusing on innovative food solutions.
Alternative Protein(โปรตีนทางเลือก)ℹ️
A significant segment of the future food market in Thailand, with substantial value and growth potential, often derived from plant-based sources.
Carbon Neutralityℹ️
A state of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions, which Thailand aims to achieve by increasing plant-based protein consumption and adopting sustainable practices.
Net Zeroℹ️
The goal of achieving a balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced and removed from the atmosphere, a target that Thailand is pursuing through initiatives like increased plant-based diets.

Industry

Biotechnology Industry(อุตสาหกรรมเทคโนโลยีชีวภาพ)
A sector targeted for development in Thailand, with a specific plan (B.E. 2026–2035) to boost the economy through innovation, including future food and alternative protein.

Law

B.E. 2026–2035(พ.ศ. 2026–2035)
The period covered by the Biotechnology Industry Development Plan, which outlines strategies for economic growth through innovation.

Website

https://plantrichdiet.nxpo.or.th/
The official website providing further details and information about the Plant-Rich Diet.