January 27, 2010

Betagro to extend low-carbon project to livestock operations 

After receiving approval for its chicken feed to carry carbon-footprint labels from Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation (TGO), Betagro plans to extend its low-carbon programme to livestock farms and production plants.

The company's chicken feed plant in Lob Buri was the first plant to join the carbon footprint programme last May, with assistance from the National Metal and Materials Technology Centre, said Suthep Tirapipattanakul, executive vice-president of Betagro, one of Thailand's leading agri-business groups.

Three products from the Lop Buri plant met TGO criteria, with each kg of the chicken feed given a carbon footprint of between 330 to 360 grammes, he said.

The programme will not only help the company cut operating costs, especially from electricity, but also help it meet carbon reduction requirements that other countries are expected to introduce in the near future, said Tirapipattanakul.

The carbon footprint reflects the greenhouse gas emissions from each product over its entire life cycle. The TGO has so far approved 25 products to carry carbon-footprint labels detailing carbon emissions over the items' lifecycle.

Agri-business firms that have received the label include Bangsue Chiameng Mill, Charoen Pokphand Foods and President Rice Products, among others.