Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has signed an
agreement with Umitron, Japan's leading technology start-up for aquaculture, in
a bid to improve the sustainability of Thailand's shrimp farming industry. Witnessing the signing ceremony were Thailand's
Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Somkid Jatusripitak; Hideki Makahira, Japan's State
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry; and Shiro Sadoshima, Japan's
ambassador to Thailand. Dr Sujin Thammasat, chief operating officer of CP
Food's aquaculture business, said that the deal was struck under the
Thai-Japanese Open Innovation Columbus Project, an initiative aimed to match
Japanese start-ups with Thai business organisations. Bilateral cooperation is expected to drive
digital innovation and advance technological development, which will push
Thailand's industries to the next level. Umitron's advanced technology will promote
sustainability for CPF's vannamei shrimp farming, raise productivity and ensure
high quality output as well as safety in line with international standards and
global environmental concerns. "Umitron
will leverage its expertise in space technology, internet of things (IOT) and
artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing shrimp farming capabilities. The
result will also address a global issue on natural resource and environmental sustainability,"
he said. Masahiko Yamada, co-founder and managing
director of Umitron, added that the company will help CPF develop a shrimp
farming system sustainably raise CPF's shrimp farming capability and production
efficiency while reducing environmental impacts. Umitron will start exploring CPF's closed
farming system in Bang Sakao Farm, in Chanthaburi province. Data will be
integrated with space technology, IoT and AI, to create a sustainable shrimp
farming prototype which will then be shared with Thai farmers. 
CP Foods plans to bring all its shrimp
production indoors
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