Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) and Charoen Pokphand Produce (CPP), both under the umbrella of agribusiness and food conglomerate CP Group, have teamed up with Gunkul Engineering, a renewable energy developer and construction company, to develop cannabidiol-infused food and beverage products.
The three companies yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding on the integrated development of the products that offer full traceability and are intended to satisfy a growing demand from health-conscious consumers.
According to Prasit Boondoungprasert, CPF's chief executive, as an integrated food producer the company is interested in hemp as a new economic crop that can be turned into value-added food and beverages.
The collaboration will lead towards the upstream, midstream and downstream development of products in line with CPF's ambition to be the "Kitchen of the World".
These products will also strengthen the competitiveness of CPF and Thailand's food industry, he said.
Dr Sommai Tachasirinugune, CPF's executive vice-president for research and development, said the collaboration would support CPF's mission to develop cannabidiol-infused products with international-standard quality control throughout the supply chain, and traceability to the hemp plant, cultivation techniques, harvest and extraction. The process is intended to reassure consumers of quality and safety.
This year the three partners expect to launch a functional drink as their first product.
Somboon Aueatchasai, Gunkul's chief executive, said that under the CPF collaboration, G.K. Hemp Group Co, a unit of Gunkul which is authorised to commercially produce cannabidiol, will control the entire production process, starting from the cultivation in closed and standardised buildings.
The project is expected to grow seeds without soil, but with reverse osmosis water.
The plant will be free from pesticides, to leave zero contamination and residue, before extraction at a standard factory that promises traceability.
According to Mr Somboon, Gunkul's subsidiary has worked closely with CPF and CPP in seed improvement, cultivation techniques and extraction, for the appropriate and safe development of cannabidiol-infused products.
G.K. Hemp Group currently imports hemp seeds from the US for several hundred baht per seed.
Sumeth Pinyosnit, CPP chief executive, said the company plans to utilise its expertise in upstream production to improve the supply of unique breeds as well as cultivation techniques.
CPP has joined leading universities like Maejo University and Kasetsart University to work together on research into hemp cultivation that involves breed selection, cultivation and scientific caring methods.
Under the collaboration, CPP supplies greenhouse hemp cultivated according to the Good Agricultural Practices certification system to ensure safety.