THAILAND – Betagro PLC (BTG), a leading integrated agro-industrial and food company has elevated its supply chain portfolio by launching an advanced feed mill in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
According to the company, the 1.4 billion baht (US$44M) mill is a fully intelligent plant with Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity and automation.
The state-of-the-art mill is envisioned to bolster the group’s competitiveness and sustainability profile while helping it to meet the growing demand for animal feed.
The launch comes at a time when the animal feed industry in Thailand is forecast to grow by 4.8% over 2022, based on increased demand from the swine, broiler, and laying hen sectors.
Betagro eyes taping into the market with the new facility envisioned to raise its combined feed production capacity by 18%, from 600,000 tons to more than 4m tons annual output in total.
Vasit Taepaisitphongse, chief executive and president of BTG, said the development aligns with the firm’s policy to upgrade its supply chain from the upstream phase to downstream under a proactive sustainability theme.
In addition, the mill promotes the use of clean energy that is environmentally friendly, such as solar rooftop panels that contribute about 20% of the plant’s 2.8-megawatt clean energy output, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1900 tons per year.
The plant, which will serve markets in Thailand’s northeast and central regions, and Lao PDR, is equipped with modern technology to enhance management, including a factory management system
Further, the facility is designed to ensure maximum safety through a sampling and quality inspection system, an automatically controlled raw material storage system, an automatic raw material storage and conveying system as well as robots for packing and conveying.
Volac launches new feed additives division
Meanwhile, Volac, a leading dairy nutrition company in the UK has launched a new feed additives division, visualized to intensify its focus on supporting the global animal feed industry to meet the net zero challenge.
Sarah Banks, the head of animal nutrition marketing and sustainability said that the new division will provide a platform for new product development which will focus on improving rumen microbial fermentation, efficient livestock production, and reducing emissions.
She added that this move allows for greater alignment with future industry challenges to help the international feed industry advance efficiency.
According to Volac, their brand is already well established in terms of young animal nutrition, feed fats, and forage preservation products.
In addition, the company has a good reputation in products targeting mycotoxin risk management, and pre and probiotic yeasts.
With the expansion the management is hopeful that the division will develop new products such as phytogenics led by the Volac R&D team, utilizing both the Volac Technical Hub and laboratories, as well as global connections with academia.
O’Sullivan, the product manager for feed additives added that these products will support good animal health, resilience, and productivity in the ruminant and monogastric sectors, ultimately bringing improved profitability and sustainability to the feed industry.
For all the latest food industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel
