May 10, 2023

 

CP Group implements corn traceability system to ensure sustainable sourcing

 

Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) and its subsidiaries have developed and implemented a system to trace the origin of corn used in the production of animal feed, CP Group reported.

 

Paisarn Kruawongvanich, CEO of CP Group's Feed Ingredients Trading Business Group (FIT), emphasised that CP Group adheres to establishing a sustainable food production system and is committed to responsible sourcing of raw materials by ensuring the key raw material procurement can be traced and not encroach on forest areas in line with CP Group's policy of "No forest [encroachment], no [crop] burning, we buy".

 

The company has implemented corn traceability in Thailand since 2017 and expanded the system to its overseas operations including Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam in 2020 in order to ensure the procurement of corn from legal crop plantation.

 

CP Group opposes the cultivation of maize for animal feed that may cause wildfires and slash-and-burn activities at the cultivated areas. The company has developed a corn feed traceability system to purchase corn that can be traced to land areas with title deeds and without forest encroachment.

 

Paisarn said the company has collaborated with all parties to implement this system to ensure that corn used for animal feed can be traced, and they have improved the system by incorporating a satellite imaging technology that can detect burning planting plots so that they can jointly manage the problem effectively. This allows the company's staff to advise farmers to stop burning their crops or to utilise the stubble.

 

Currently, the company's operations in Thailand source all their corn from deforestation-free areas. Linking the data from the plantation to the feed mill, the company also adopted blockchain technology in order to improve the speed and transparency of agricultural raw material traceability to plantation areas and to ensure customers that their food comes from responsible sources with zero deforestation and zero burning of stubble.

 

CP encourages Thai maize farmers to register with the "For Farm" application and verify their identity. In addition to the corn traceability system, CP Group prioritises the quality of life of smallholder corn growers by implementing the "Self-Sufficient Farmers, Sustainable Corn" project since 2016. This project aims to share plantation knowledge and techniques with corn farmers to increase output and quality while simultaneously reducing dust generated by agriculture.

 

This project also encourages corn farmers to practice sustainable agriculture and avoid crop burning.

 

Sumeth Pinyosnit, CEO of Crop Integration Business Group (CPP), a producer and distributor of corn seeds, said that the company is committed to operating business with socially and environmentally responsible and standing against growing corn in the conservation forests and areas without legal documents. The company opposes any activities involving in crop burning.

 

Since 2008, the company has announced its commitment and taken stringent measures to stop activities with seed dealers who were found engaging in forest encroachment by planting on land without legal deeds and crop burning.

 

Along with the measure, the company has implemented a "Farm Pro" project to encourage and support smallholder farmers who growing maize on legally licensed land to enhance their efficiency and productivity and eliminate crop stubble burning.

 

CP Group is currently collaborating with experts to find a solution to create value for stubble in a bid to address wildfire and dust issues in the long run.

 

-      Charoen Pokphand Group