NXPO, in collaboration with SME Thailand, organized the Plant-Rich Business Matching event to foster collaboration between raw material producers and food business operators, with the aim of expanding Thailand’s plant-based ingredient market. Held on 23 April 2026, the event seeks to leverage Thailand’s strengths to advance its ambition of becoming a global hub for sustainable protein.

Ms. Sirinya Lim, Senior Director of Bioeconomy Policy at NXPO, highlighted Thailand’s strong potential, underpinned by abundant raw materials, rich biodiversity, and its position as a key protein producer in the region. The country is also home to capable entrepreneurs and a rapidly growing plant-based food industry. Importantly, Thailand’s culinary heritage and food culture—widely recognized under the “Kitchen of the World” brand—provide a solid foundation for its transition toward a sustainable protein hub.

To drive the sustainable development of the future food industry, NXPO has established a roadmap for plant-based protein based on three strategic pillars:

1. Food industry advancement: Supporting primary processing through agribusiness enterprises and attracting investment in advanced protein production.
2. Research and development: Prioritizing safe and palatable products, particularly blended and less-processed products, while promoting the use of local and indigenous crops.
3. Market expansion: Promoting local recipes, raising public awareness and improving consumer access to plant-based foods.

“Over the next two years, NXPO, in collaboration with international organizations and the Plant-Rich Diet network, will focus on accelerating the transition to a plant-rich food system through three key areas: strengthening buyer–supplier networks, advancing policy in partnership with government agencies, and cultivating change agents to drive broader societal awareness,” Ms. Sirinya noted.

At the event, SME Thailand brought together over 30 plant-based ingredient producers—including vegetable farms, mushroom and duckweed producers, food-processing companies, and OEM manufacturers—to engage directly with restaurants, cafés, and retail businesses. The platform enabled business matching, facilitated commercial negotiations, and fostered long-term partnerships, helping to bridge gaps within the food business ecosystem.

Beyond serving as a trade platform, the Plant-Rich Business Matching event lays an important foundation for generating stable income for upstream farmers, while promoting healthier consumption and reducing environmental impacts—key pillars of Thailand’s sustainable economic and social development. NXPO also aims to position Thailand as a strategic destination in the global sustainable protein landscape by demonstrating its readiness and potential to international funding institutions, thereby attracting investment, advanced technologies, and further opportunities to elevate Thailand’s food industry on the global stage.