Securing Sustainable Raw Materials for U.S. Companies: a #thaiRAIN Success Story
Scaling Regenerative Practices for Thai Cassava
Thailand is the world’s third-largest producer of cassava, thanks to favorable weather and a well-established industrial processing sector. As a result, Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of modified starch, a key ingredient in global food production. One international buyer of Thai starch is Illinois-based Griffith Foods Co. Ltd., a business-to-business maker of ingredients ranging from seasoning to breading and sauces.
Approximately 700,000 households depend on cassava for their income, most of which are smallholder farming families. These farmers play a crucial role in the global starch supply chain as cassava is used in a wide range of industries in addition to food, including bioplastics, paper, textiles, ethanol, and animal feeds.
Thai cassava production plays a vital role in the rural economy and enjoys significant global demand, yet it faces various structural and seasonal challenges. These include labor shortages and a lackluster interest in farming among the youth. Low productivity results from limited technological adoption. Soil deterioration is another concern, deriving from prolonged cultivation and lack of proper soil fertility management.
In addition, outbreaks of Cassava Mosaic Disease triggered a shortage of cassava stems and significantly reduced cassava yields, disrupting the cassava supply for processing. Drought and flooding also made cassava farmers vulnerable to damage.
Griffth Foods’ regenerative initiative, Aspirations 2030, addresses various uncertainties by enhancing the sustainability of its production processes and farmer networks. This program focuses on restoring natural resources and improving the livelihoods of the communities where the company operates. From a business perspective, this initiative will help ensure the reliability and quality of the U.S. enterprise’s raw material sourcing.
USDA #thaiRAIN joined the company’s visit to a local supplier’s cassava processing facilities and farmer network in the Northeastern province of Chaiyaphum. The trip examined the opportunities for scaling technology and regenerative practices, from land preparation and fertilizer to stem propagation, irrigation, and harvest.
Griffith recognized that #thaiRAIN would be a strong partner to support the supplier in a short-cutting technique for the rapid propagation of CMD-resistant varieties, as well as promote the use of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) and drones, starting the next crop season in April.
Leveraging Local Partners’ Expertise and Network
At the supplier’s facilities, the participants reviewed each step of cassava processing. They observed everything from the transportation of cassava from trucks to the strain gauge measurements of starch content. In the process, the factory and farmers compare their samples to ensure transparent price negotiations. The participants also visited cassava farms and talked with farmers to understand their needs. The supplier revealed a robust farmer membership program that includes 5,000 farmers. This program has supported farmers with the propagation of CMD-resistant varieties, pest management, and soil health, which Griffith Foods could enhance through its regenerative initiative.
Anne Dinges, Global Regenerative Agriculture Manager at Griffith Foods, said the program to promote regenerative practices for cassava growers in Thailand is built on its strong relationships with suppliers and farmers.
The initiative, implemented by Griffith’s Foods local office, closely aligns with #thaiRAIN’s objectives in its focus on livelihoods, production, and increased adoption of new technologies and techniques.
#thaiRAIN will provide technical assistance to Griffith Food’s local office and strengthen its collaboration with key actors, such as extension officers and academia, for the commercial scale of innovations.
Ms. Dinges said: “We see #thaiRAIN as an important implementation partner to break down the barriers of regenerative agriculture in this region.”
“We see #ThaiRain as an important implementation partner to break down barriers to regenerative agriculture in the region.”
— Anne Dinges, Griffith Foods’ Global Regenerative Agriculture Manager
Ensuring Sustainable Supply for U.S. Enterprises
#thaiRAIN participated in the supplier’s farmer meeting to gauge farmers’ interest in a promotional program for control-released fertilizer (CRF). The event generated significant interest, with 34 farmers placing orders for the fertilizer after a short introduction.
That could prove a precursor to widespread adoption of the CRF and other innovations, with #thaiRAIN assisting the supplier in developing a business model for the innovations to accelerate farmers’ adoption.
William Sparks, USDA #thaiRAIN’s Chief of Party, said CRF, drone, and stem propagation techniques are three innovations ready to scale for early adopters. These innovations addressed the labor-intensive challenges and stem shortages faced by cassava growers and ultimately increased their yields.
#thaiRAIN is working with the Department of Agricultural Extension to provide training and incentives for farmers to adopt short-cutting rapid propagation techniques. The project also works with drone operators to promote the distribution of drone services and certify sprayers.
Mr. Sparks said, “#thaiRAIN has strengthened the business models of screened innovations to ensure all actors receive financial incentives, making farmers’ adoption easier.”
The meeting between Griffith and the supplier identified seven other regenerative practices and technologies in the “learning” category — meaning they need further analysis on impact and economic viability. These practices include composting cassava peels, Sun Hemp, soil moisture probes, medium-sized irrigation piping, soil analysis, earthworm farming, and cassava harvesting machines.
#thaiRAIN aims to scale farming innovations operation and create at least 30,000 users by May 2027. Its goal is to promote U.S. trade in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
#thaiRAIN has strengthened the business models of screened innovations to ensure all actors receive financial incentives, making farmers’ adoption easier.
— William Sparks, Chief of Party
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