Bangkok Produce Merchandising Public Company Limited, a key supplier of agricultural raw materials to Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods), has joined forces with CP Foods' animal feed mills across Thailand to foster public involvement in reporting cornfield burning via the For Farm Application. This initiative seeks to reduce PM2.5 dust emissions from crop burning and is in line with the Charoen Pokphand Group's policy against purchasing or importing corn for animal feed from areas compromised by forest encroachment and burning practices. Animal feed mills, including Lamphun Feed Factory in Lamphun province, Pak Thong Chai Feed Mill, Khok Kruat Feed Mill in Nakhon Ratchasima province, and Phitsanulok Feed Mill in Phitsanulok province, are actively promoting public awareness, encouraging Thais to report incidences of burning through the For Farm App. They stress that all CP Foods' feed mills procure corn from areas not involved in deforestation or burning.
Mr Boonserm Charoenwat, Senior Vice President for Livestock Feed Business at CP Foods, highlights the strict adherence of CP Foods' animal feed plants to CP Group's agricultural sourcing policy, guaranteeing traceability of all corn used in animal feed back to its area of cultivation. These plants are working closely with Bangkok Produce Merchandising to champion the "For Farm Application," a move aimed at enhancing public awareness and preventing crop burning, a significant factor in PM2.5 pollution. The application not only facilitates reporting of cornfield burning incidents but also reinforces public engagement in tackling this issue. Furthermore, CP Foods ensures the sourcing of corn for animal feed from legally compliant cultivation areas, affirming the company's commitment to environmental conservation.
Developed by Bangkok Produce Merchandising, the For Farm Application is a digital tool designed to assist farmers with insights and knowledge on crop cultivation and serves as a registration channel for the corn traceability system to sell their produce to CP Foods. Additionally, the For Farm App offers a reporting feature that enables the Thai public to submit evidence of cornfield burning, including photographs and the location (GPS) of the affected area.
Upon receiving notifications, Bangkok Produce Merchandising verifies the information through the traceability system and dispatches a team to confirm and educate farmers. The company has also implemented measures to cease corn purchases from farmers who engage in field burning for one year. For incidents occurring in fields not yet registered in the traceability system, the company coordinates with relevant government bodies to address the issue.
Bangkok Produce Merchandising provides three channels for reporting cornfield burning incidents: the For Farm Application, the CPF traceability system website at CPFWorldwide.com (https://traceability.fit-cpgroup.com/complaint). This effort underscores a commitment to promoting sustainable farming practices among Thai corn producers.
