May 16, 2008

Betagro to expand livestock ventilation system to Thai fresh markets
 

Betagro Group is expanding its cooling ventilation technology developed for its livestock industries to the giant Bangkok fresh market.

The Ying Charoen Saphan Mai fresh market at Don Muang is the first Thai market to enjoy the climate control system that covers the market's 10,000 square metres and cost THB 13 million (US$401,555) to install.

Betagro now expects to install the cooling ventilation systems in fresh markets at Samut Prakan, Bangkok and Pathum Thani. The system to be installed at Samut Prakan will cost THB 15 million (US$462,900).

The technology was designed to optimise disease-free living conditions and livestock growth for Betagro's enclosed poultry and pig farming, according to Betagro Group executive vice president Nopporn Vayuchote.

The motivation for the fresh market project is because the typical fresh market is generally warm, humid, congested and often gives off bad odours, which is a problem that proper ventilation can solve, said Nopporn.

The system, VenTech, make use of ventilation and directed airflow to disperse warm air and replacing it with cool, maintaining a pleasant interior temperature. The system also uses about one-fifth of the energy required by conventional air-conditioning.

The market now provides a cool and inviting atmosphere that would lead to better hygiene and longer shelf life for vendors' products, according to Parinya Thammawattana, managing director of Ying Charoen Saphan Mai fresh market.

VenTech was developed by a Betagro subsidiary, B International and Technology, in a research project conducted in conjunction with the National Science and Technology Development Agency.