Japanese tech firm secures CP shrimp farm deal in Thailand

Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has signed an agreement with Umitron, Japan's leading technology start-up for aquaculture, in a bid to improve the sustainability of Thailand's shrimp farming industry.

CP Foods plans to bring all its shrimp production indoors. Photo Umitron

Witnessing the signing ceremony were Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Somkid Jatusripitak; Hideki Makahira, Japan's State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry; and Shiro Sadoshima, Japan’s ambassador to Thailand.

Dr Sujin Thammasat, chief operating officer of CP Food's aquaculture business, said that the deal was struck under the Thai-Japanese Open Innovation Columbus Project, an initiative aimed to match Japanese start-ups with Thai business organisations.

Bilateral cooperation is expected to drive digital innovation and advance technological development, which will push Thailand's industries to the next level. Umitron’s advanced technology will promote sustainability for CPF’s vannamei shrimp farming, raise productivity and ensure high quality output as well as safety in line with international standards and global environmental concerns.

“Umitron will leverage its expertise in space technology, internet of things (IOT) and artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing shrimp farming capabilities. The result will also address a global issue on natural resource and environmental sustainability," he said.

Masahiko Yamada, co-founder and managing director of Umitron, added that the company will help CPF develop a shrimp farming system sustainably raise CPF's shrimp farming capability and production efficiency while reducing environmental impacts.

Umitron will start exploring CPF's closed farming system in Bang Sakao Farm, in Chanthaburi province. Data will be integrated with space technology, IoT and AI, to create a sustainable shrimp farming prototype which will then be shared with Thai farmers.