Mitr Phol Pioneers AI to Modernize Thai Sugar Industry
To mobilize and modernize cane and sugar industry of Thailand, Mitr Phol Group, in collaboration with public organizations, has recently introduced the ultimate world-class AI for a model to improve management of a large-scale sugar cane farming. In hope of developing Thai agricultural areas to achieve modern farming with updated information, the model will enhance quality of sugar cane products in the country.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kranarong Srirod, Head of the Mitr Phol Group Innovation Research and Development, revealed that the cooperation with a public sector, namely National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), to use the AI, distant exploration via satellites and IBM’s premium meteorological prediction would enhance efficiency of sugar cane farming.
This is an important leap on precision farming under the plan to transform Thai agricultural activities to modern farming in a faster and more sustainable way.
At the same time, the Thai government may need to strengthen national research and development, especially in terms of food and agriculture, as well as creating modern farming mobilized by information. Sugar cane farming in Thailand is an example as it can add more value to national economy in a continuous way.
Mitr Phol Group already allocated 2,000-Rai land for sugar farming, 1 of which is located in Chaiyaphum while 2 in Suphan Buri. The Group is also collecting data in those areas and preparing over 100 staff members as a workforce to verify information which aims to mobilize Thai agriculture to a genius one. The new mode of agriculture will not be limited to sugar cane but other products.
At present, International Business Machines (IBM) is developing Agronomic Insights Assistant (AIA) which uses its Watson Decision Platform for Agriculture (WDPA) along with PAIRS Geoscope for integrating time and space relations along with agricultural information. Then, precise forecast provided by The Weather Company will be used to adjust an area concerned as well as predicting humidity degrees of soil, risks for pest and diseases, product amount and index concerning how sweet sugar cane is. All the information will be employed with specific area exploration technology to adjust and develop a land for sugar farming in Thailand. This will be done by NSTDA and Mitr Phol itself until in-depth information is obtained, particularly in terms of food and water shortage that affects sugar cane growth, pest and diseases, agricultural product amount and sugar cane’s quality index.
Ms. Pathama Chantharak, Deputy Chairperson on business expansion in Indo-Chinese countries and Managing Director of IBM (Thailand), said that cooperation between NSTDA and IBM regarding advanced technology and research of which big data analysis, AI, the internet of things as well as in-depth knowledge on agriculture provided by Mitr Phol Group was a great pioneer for one of the oldest industry while indicating new steps of genius agriculture of Thailand.
It is expected that the tripartite cooperation will contribute to a great innovation for Thai agricultural industry and Mitr Phol Group will create a model that leads Thai agriculture to modern farming by using technology to facilitate farming and improve quality and production capacity in accordance with the world’s market demand.
