From Local to Global: Food Industry 4.0

WAITRO and the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) held the international forum: Practical strategies, opportunities and vision on the Thai food industry and future in accordance with Thailand 4.0 policies in the age of globalization. The aim of the forum was to share wisdom, practical strategies and opportunities regarding the Thai Food Industry.

This two-day Capacity Development Program took place on June 12-13, 2017. With the participation of researchers from WAITRO Members, this international forum had great success, being able to support Sustainable Development Goals 2 – Zero Hunger and 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy.

The Thailand 4.0 Economic Model

Prosperity, security and sustainability are core concepts of the new economic model proposed in Thailand. Under the name of Thailand 4.0, the country aims to replace last economic models focused on agriculture, light and advanced industry for a new approach that overcomes the middle income, inequality and imbalanced traps.

In view of rapid technological and scientific development, traditional ways of work are to be changed. Thailand 4.0 includes a transformative shift from traditional to smart farming, SMEs to start-ups, unskilled labors to knowledge workers and acquisition to production of technologies. Facing this huge challenge means creating ambitious plans, increasing efforts in the field of technology advancement and strengthening partnerships.