CP boosts standards with new system

The Nation

Trat

Consumers now have better and safer choices for seafood thanks to Charoen Pokphand Foods' latest state-of-the-art "bio-security farming system", the company's top executive said.

This closed farming system guarantees the production of white shrimp that is free of disease and safe for human consumption - a strategy that will bring Charoen Pokphand closer to becoming the "kitchen of the world", and gain access to markets with stringent safety standards, Adirek Sripratak, president and CEO, said.

Adirek said the firm had spent a few years studying safety standards before setting up its first bio-security farm, which is based in a 3,000-rai area in Trat, 230 kilometres east of Bangkok.

The farm is divided into four 70-rai modules, costing Bt250 million each and expected to yield 1,200 tonnes per module per year.

Each module is run under strict temperature, feeding and ventilation control as well as mechanised water treatment and harvesting systems.

Adirek added that CP is planning to expand the project to 12 modules, which would require an additional investment of Bt3 billion.

CP's vice president for shrimp-farming techniques, Sujit Kaewchum, said under this project, shrimp are bred at three different levels: fries, young shrimp and mature shrimp that are ready for harvesting.

Each crop takes 125 days before it can be harvested.

"This innovative farming system ensures shrimp that is of a better quality and is bigger, guaranteeing freshness from farm to table," Sujit explained, noting that this farming method also did not employ any chemicals.

This hi-tech system, which involves temperature control and automatic feeding, also facilitates year-long production. Once the project proves successful in Thailand, CP plans to expand to other countries such as China, which have colder and longer winters.

Adirek added that shrimp, bred under this special system, had already been launched in both domestic and overseas markets, albeit at a price that is 10 per cent higher than normal produce.

"We are promoting this shrimp as a premium product, and believe that it has been priced quite reasonably," Adirek said, pointing out that this would help boost Thailand's shrimp exports.

CP is also developing a new breed of black pigs, cross-bred between American and Japanese species.

Meat from this new breed, called "Kubota", will be fatter and softer, much like Japan's top-quality Kobe beef.