Cargill builds the future for Thai youth with focus on environment and farmers

BANGKOK, THAILAND – (June 13, 2022): Cargill, one of the world's largest agricultural companies, has a long history of CSR and sustainability initiatives. We feel a deep responsibility to protect the planet and its people, to ensure a cleaner, safer future for generations to come.

School Lunch Program – Nutrition for students

Cargill always prioritizes the quality of life of Thai students because they are our future. According to Cargill, many schools in the upcountry lack nutritious and diverse ingredients for students' lunches. Cargill has begun to provide poultry products to schools in Nakhon Ratchasima and Saraburi in order to ensure that students receive adequate nutrition and protein. After a while, the company realized that offering the products may not be a long-term solution for the students. Cargill joined a School Lunch Program collaboration with Suranaree University of Technology and Burapha University to help schools produce their own agricultural ingredients by building a warehouse and providing raw ingredients and tools. Furthermore, experts from both universities have trained students in agricultural knowledge such as broiler and fish farming, mushroom, hydroponics, and home-grown vegetable planting. They will have quality lunch on the sustainable path once they can own-grow these agricultural products.

Mr. Watcharapon Prasopkiatpoka, Managing Director of Cargill Protein Southeast Asia and Country Representative for Cargill in Thailand, said “The school lunch is simple but vital. How can they have a good quality of life if they do not eat enough nutritious food? We strive to help these students become self-sufficient in terms of nutritious lunches by teaching them to grow their own vegetables and allowing them to experiment with their agricultural practices.”

The company initially expected to complete 50 schools in this program; however, as of 2021, 32 schools had been completed, with an average of 12 schools completed per year. As a result, Cargill decided to raise the target to 70 schools in Thailand's northeastern region by 2025.

Smart Farming Project –Treated wastewater for farmers

Cargill's plant size allows it to release a large amount of water treatment every day. Cargill recognizes that the plant-water could be used more effectively, particularly by farmers who live near the plant. This is where the Smart Farming project enters the picture.

Mr. Watcharapon said “Actually, this project began when agriculturists experimented with using plant-water within their land and their corps were well fertilized. It has benefited them because the treated water contains a high level of nitrogen, which is beneficial to corps. Every day, water flows into a small public trough toward the areas where people can use this water source.”

Furthermore, Cargill collaborates with Suranaree University of Technology and Burapha University to bring in experts to train agriculturists on water management, rice seed and fertilizer selection, as well as appropriate  pesticide application. Besides, the company assists them by delivering fertilizer via drone, which increases both productivity and income.

Cargill’s ambition is to have the most sustainable food supply chains in the world

Cargill works every day to implement new sustainable practices to reduce our impact on the planet and protect people.

The SeaShine Project is a collaborative project in conjunction with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Suratthani Rajabhat University to create a sustainable waste management ecosystem and encourage residents to separate waste and sell it to the SDG Station for recycling. The program's goal is to mitigate global warming and ocean pollution.

The Solar Cell Program aims to install solar rooftop buildings such as farms and plants in order to reduce GHG emissions in the manufacturing process in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, 12 plants have fully installed solar rooftops, resulting in a total energy reduction of 5.4 MW, with the goal of solar rooftop installation adding 19.3 MW of renewable energy by 2025.

Last but not least, The No Burn We Buy Program, Cargill collaborates with Lop Buri and Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Agriculture and Cooperatives Offices, agricultural entrepreneur buyers, and farmers supporting to purchase feed ingredient particularly corn from the responsibly harvested resources in order to reduce air pollution and PM2.5 issues.

Cargill is committed to helping the world thrive by improving the quality of life and environment of Thais from the land to the ocean, including the climate, with the goal of thriving Thailand's community, society, and economy. According to Cargill's vision, it focuses on connecting farmers to markets at the same global standard.