Doing business in the food industry is no easy task, especially in a fast-paced world where trends shift quickly, and entrepreneurs must navigate trade barriers and sustainability regulations. How can Thai businesses survive and thrive on the global stage?
Thairath Online sought answers at the recent NFI Open House event marking the 30th anniversary of the National Food Institute (NFI).
This event was no ordinary celebration. NFI unveiled a major new vision: transforming from a "technical support agency" into a full-fledged "Next-Generation Food Accelerator," launching its secret weapon—the "NFI FoodNEXT Platform," designed to assist entrepreneurs from ideation to export.
Paiyada Hanchaisuksakul, Director of the National Food Institute, shared insights. “From 30 years of experience working closely with entrepreneurs—from small SMEs to large companies—we found a classic problem: ‘They have ideas and research but can’t commercialize products’ due to the lack of an intermediary to connect all the pieces.”
This led to the concept of “Ease of Doing Innovation” through the NFI FoodNEXT Platform, an end-to-end solution offering comprehensive services such as:
The outcome is a platform that helps entrepreneurs shorten innovation development time by 30–40% and crucially reduce R&D costs by 20–50%, minimizing losses and encouraging more experimentation.
Director Paiyada predicts that Thailand’s processed food and beverage exports will grow by 2.6%, reaching 1.55 trillion baht.
Emerging markets include specialized food sectors such as supplements and senior nutrition, which are in high demand in China and Japan, as well as Halal-focused markets in ASEAN and the Middle East.
Challenges to watch include trade barriers and green compliance regulations—sustainability is unavoidable. Those who adapt first will win in the global market, along withthe climate crisis,which affects upstream raw materials. NFI addresses these fluctuations with Plant Factory technology and quality control systems.
NFI’s next decade goal is not just to help Thai products “sell” but to “sell well,” creating high value and earning global trust. For those seeking support to grow their food business internationally, the NFI FoodNEXT Platform is the answer.
Thairath Online invites readers on a tour of NFI, highlighting three key zones that will impress any food business owner.
The NFI Open House also gave media and entrepreneurs exclusive access to see operations firsthand, divided into three main zones considered the “treasures” for food businesses. Zone 1 is the NFI Culinary Center. This is a paradise for chefs and recipe developers. Spanning over 250 square meters, it is equipped like a five-star hotel kitchen with six fully equipped stations. It’s ideal for workshops, cloud kitchen use, staff training, or even filming commercials. Additionally, it includes a Demonstration Room for showcasing innovations and team-building activities.
Zone 2 is the Food Innovation & Technology Center. A highlight for manufacturers, this “pilot food production factory” is for those wanting to launch pilot products to test market directions. It features advanced machinery geared toward Future Food, including Retort technology for sterilizing ready-to-eat meals like curries and soups in pouches or cups; Freeze Dryers for premium fruits, coffee, and herbal powders that retain full nutritional value; and Vacuum Fryers & Tray Dryers catering to health-conscious products through low-fat vacuum frying and drying.
Finally, Zone 3 is the cutting-edge Laboratory (LAB). This critical checkpoint guarantees international safety standards, offering comprehensive services from the Chemistry Department—testing for heavy metals, toxins, pesticides, and nutrition labeling; the Microbiology Department—assessing product shelf life and Halal certification; and the Calibration & Proficiency Testing Department—ensuring factory measurement instruments meet ISO/IEC 17025 standards.