Bushfires and forest degradation are related to villagers’ livelihood. That says, if the trouble with livelihood is solved, the number of bushfires can be reduced. Another relation is that between forest and mushroom. To create the sustainable ties, we can do so with the right management for water, soil, fertilizers and know-hows given to the communities.
Lamphun – Pepsi Cola (Thai) Trading Company Limited, the operator and distributor of leading snack brands namely Lay's potato chips and Sunbites multi-grain, believes in the policy that encourages business sustainability and implements this commitment to its global subsidiaries. The company is fully aware of its key role in performing business while taking possible environmental impact into account, for instance, making the most of natural resources, educating farmers on how to apply technology in potato cultivation with a drip irrigation system which reduces water consumption by up to 40%. Furthermore, PepsiCo emphasizes on promoting environmental awareness among every of its employees through various activities, including the “PepsiCo Grow More: Growing Forest; Saving Water” activity which is based on the significance of watershed forests where the people’s livelihood is nourished.
Mr. Anon Soonthornnon, Agronomy Manager at Pepsi-Cola (Thai) Trading Co., Ltd., said, "Water" is an important factor in both life and business. PepsiCo, therefore, is focusing on improving water-use efficiency in manufacturing operations and agriculture for all farmers. We aim to raise standards for efficient use of water which in line with PepsiCo's vision of "Winning with Purpose” to instilling the efficient use of resources consciousness among our employees.
PepsiCo has been initiating the conservation of watershed forests CSR projects in the northern region where the company’s Lamphum plant is based nearby and close to the area where PepsiCo has been promoting the growth of potato since 2013, for example, the construction of check dams and community reservoirs and water management plan. However, there was drought resulting in no water to be stored. This makes us realize the importance of the watershed forest areas as a moisture-retaining sponge. PepsiCo, therefore, initiated the “PepsiCo Grow More” activity to restore the forest and return equilibrium to the ecosystem in Thailand’s northern region, in cooperation with relevant provincial authorities, farmers and communities for long-term sustainability of Lamphun Province, Mr. Anon added.
Ms. Wannaporn Wattanakasemsat, Corporate Affairs Lead at Pepsi-Cola (Thai) Trading Co., Ltd., said, "The activity “PepsiCo Grow More: Growing Forest; Saving Water” is the phase 1 project with the life span of 3-5 years. It is a collaborative partnership of the public sector, the Governor of Lamphun Province, the 16th Environmental Conservation Area Management Office, local farmer groups and most importantly, academics from Ananda Mahidol Foundation Scholarship Alumni Club who pass on the knowledge of planting and caring for seedlings injected with mushroom spores to establish relationships between plants and microorganisms in the fungi naturally. Puffball mushrooms are more likely to settle into the root system of the dipterocarp and yangna plants than the mature ones. Puffball mushrooms help absorb nutrients from the soil for plants and receive sugars created by plants through photosynthesis. After growing for a few years, high-priced mushroom will grow on its own without having to wait for the trees to grow along. This can help putting an end to the method of setting fire during the search for mushroom. The concept follows the agroforestry and the King’s Philosophy in water management. As a result, this will increase the watershed areas and reduce forest fire, one of the main causes of PM2.5. The cooperation is a success thanks to the shared goal of PepsiCo Thailand and the Club, which is put into realistic in the same areas of Ban Kor Community and Ban Mai Salee Community, Thung Hua Chang District, Lamphun Province where the company’s Lamphum plant is based nearby. It is also close to the area where PepsiCo has been promoting the growth of potato, known as one of the important cash crops. These aspects pave way for integration to achieve sustainable development and growth.
Dr. Jain Charnnarong, Chairman of Ananda Mahidol Foundation Scholarship Alumni Club, said that, "One of the Club’s missions is to solve the issue of forest fire and PM2.5. The heaviest-affected zone is the one along Lamphun-Chiang Mai Province where forest fire has destroyed a great number of area. From last year's field investigation, I found that there are 3 villages with around 2,800 inhabitants in the heart of the forest fire inside Mae Ping National Park, Lamphun Province. When they set fire to look for that certain type of mushroom known as “barometer earthstar”, they do so because they think that the trees will grow back in the next four months. That’s how the villagers see it. The fire they set, however, escalates. The more they set fire, the more degraded the forest becomes. The more they set fire, the more severe and barren the drought gets. The villagers then have to venture into the forest to find something to live on. When I came back, I had a talk with those with knowledge about fungi. A professor at Chulalongkorn University stated that there’s actually no need to burn the area. We then proposed within the Club that we should grow barometer earthstar. Our idea is that if we can grow red lauan or thingan trees, we can inject the fungi inside the seedling containers. The mushroom then will grow inside. This will be part of the solution to solve the people’s poor livelihood. Moreover, the area is where the water is contained, meaning that there’s a great content of underground water. It however lacks water management. If we’re able to manage the water and keep it with us for a long time, the green forest will return, along with the prosperity of natural resources and the people's livelihood. Another thing in this initiative is that we visit children in schools and teach them how dust affects them. We installed PM2.5 monitor that shows 3 different colors at the schools. The teachers then got a word with the communities and they made the red, yellow and green flags. The color of the flag is to be placed based on the monitor. The inhabitants would ride their motorbikes to see what color it is for today. When they realize how dangerous these particles are, they become aware and stop burning the forest. From this, it shows that knowledge is essential to sustainability. All these are intertwined, including the villagers’ livelihood. If we can provide them with good livelihood, forest fire and PM 2.5 should reduce. We want to use this pilot project as the model for other areas in need, so they can apply the know-hows and the King’s Philosophy in water management, construction of check dams, drip irrigation, etc. to their lands for further sustainable development. We hope that the press will help us relay this knowledge to broader audience."
Apart from this activity, PepsiCo has been organizing environmental projects regularly such as “PepsiCo Living with Water.” Initiated in 2013, the project promotes the construction of check dams and community reservoirs in watershed forest areas with the objective to restore the forest and return equilibrium to the ecosystem in Thailand’s northern region. During 2013-2015, the company worked together with Ma Khuea Jae Sub-District Municipality in the conservation project of Mae Teeb Watershed Forest in Lamphun Province. The cooperation managed to construct 500 dams including check dams and semi-permanent dams. In 2016-2017, together with Raks Thai Foundation, it carried out the Mae Jam watershed forest conservation project in Chiang Mai Province involving water management plan and construction of more than 500 dams. In 2018-2019, PepsiCo Thailand expanded its operational area to 3 more communities in Lamphun, Chiang Rai and Phayao Provinces in which more than 100 dams are constructed, and Pou Sae Dam in Lamphun Province’ Thung Hua Chang District is fixed.
