Bangkok Produce Merchandising utilizes traceability operation room to combat dust pollution

Bangkok Produce Merchandising, a sustainable supplier of feed corn to Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods), operates a Traceability Operation Room equipped with real-time satellite imagery data to identify and monitor hotspots in corn plantation plots daily. The aim is to eliminate crop burning within its corn supply chain, guaranteeing that the company sources raw material from areas committed to zero-burn practices. This endeavor aligns with the government's efforts to combat PM 2.5 pollution.

With a commitment to aligning with CP Group policy, which strictly prohibits the purchase and importation of corn products from deforested and crop-burning areas, Bangkok Produce Merchandising has established a Traceability Operation Room. This facility provides the company with updated data on hotspots in corn planting plots.

The Traceability Operation Room leverages satellite imaging technologies from three satellites orbiting the planet, integrated with a database of corn planting plot coordinates registered by farmers in the traceability system. This data is processed and visualized using Power BI, enabling the company to detect burning incidents and identify farm owners in real time. It facilitates daily monitoring of burning statuses, allowing company staff and corn collectors to promptly engage with farmers, communicate, and encourage adopting zero-burning practices. Additionally, it includes a one-year halt purchase measure for areas with repeated burning incidents.

Woraphot Suratwisit, vice president of Bangkok Produce Merchandising, said the company's corn supply chain covers over 2 million rai, with over 40,000 farmers registered in the company's corn traceability system. During the preparation period for the new corn planting season, from February to June, the company and its corn collectors engaged with farmers who encountered hotspot data within 7 days after finding hotspot reporting from the room.

Woraphot emphasized that after more than 8 years of introducing the traceability system, corn collectors and farmers have become proficient in registering themselves. This advancement demonstrates their understanding of the system and awareness of the dust pollution in the area. He also underscored the support extended to all companies or collectors to procure corn through the traceability system, which enables tracing back to the planting plot. This ensures effective management of PM2.5 haze issues arising from agricultural burning and enforces the discontinuation of burning in cornfields.

Additionally, Bangkok Produce Merchandising stands ready to serve as a model and share experiences on utilizing traceability technology for sustainable corn production in the food supply chain.