Thailand has a new take on waste-to-energy. Farmers and industries in the Kingdom have joined forces to use agricultural waste as raw materials for plant-based foods, with the aim of becoming a global hub for future foods, functional foods and plant-based alternatives.

To capitalize on the new direction in food, nutrition and health, the Thai government has drafted a national Plant-Based Food Roadmap. Along with comprehensive strategies for circular economy, emissions reduction and resource efficiency, this new direction is creating fresh opportunities for the Kingdom’s food industry.

“Thai manufacturers now have the opportunity to set international benchmarks in sustainable plant protein production. Upcycling is a central pillar of this transformation,” said Kamon Pornchaichanakit, Managing Director of the Thai subsidiary of Flottweg, a German firm specializing in industrial separation technologies.

Flottweg said it enabled the industrial recovery of proteins, fibers and starch from plant-based raw materials. It provided the technological foundation for successful upcycling, the process of turning waste into high-value products.

“Companies that fail to utilize their side streams are leaving money on the table. With the right technologies, their by-products are by no means inconvenient, but they can also be marketed as high-quality raw materials,” said Kamon.

Thailand is enjoying strong growth in its plant-based food market, valued at $1.39 billion in 2025. The market is driven by rising health awareness and consumer demand for sustainable food choices. Analysts are forecasting that the market will expand by another 10 percent this year.

In addition, Thailand is scaling up its future food exports, including functional foods and alternative proteins. These exports were valued at $4.41 billion in 2023, accounting for 9 percent of all Thai food exports. By 2027, Thailand is aiming for future food exports to reach $10.8 billion, according to Thailand’s Office of National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council.