In preparation for the predicted El Niño, Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) is leading the way by implementing comprehensive technologies and adhering to the 3Rs principle—Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse—to mitigate potential water scarcities. This forward-looking approach is designed to ensure uninterrupted operations and strengthen food security in Thailand and its markets in the face of the climate crisis.
CP Foods has fortified its commitment to prudent water resource management across its production processes, leveraging technology and innovation to curtail water extraction from natural sources. The company is advancing plans to confront the water scarcity anticipated from El Niño's influence, consistently advocating for the 3Rs framework to enhance water efficiency in its farms and factories.
Siripong Aroonratana, the Chief Operating Officer for CP Foods' Livestock business, emphasized the company's unwavering commitment to advancing water usage efficiency. This commitment aims to achieve optimal effectiveness, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable water management. By adopting the 3Rs—Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse—CP Foods is proactively improving water recycling and reuse practices, thereby reducing reliance on natural water sources and upholding food safety standards. This strategic measure is especially critical in anticipation of reduced rainfall due to El Niño, which poses a threat of drought and jeopardizes the sustainability of water-intensive agricultural crops.
CP Foods has assessed the risk of water shortages nationwide due to El Niño, implementing measures to improve water usage efficiency complied with the 3Rs principle. This includes optimizing water use in the farm operation, adjusting evaporative cooling systems according to weather conditions, regulating water flow, and enhancing natural water collection and storage. Efforts extend to establishing additional surface ponds, drilling for groundwater, and campaigning to reduce water wastage.
Innovative measures like the underground water bank model further demonstrate CP Foods' dedication to sustainability. The company has successfully implemented such a project in Phanom Sarakham District, Chachoengsao Province, significantly cutting costs and reducing reliance on external water sources, benefiting local farmers by alleviating the need to purchase water during dry spells.
CP Foods' commitment to sustainability is evident in its determination to consistently reduce water withdrawals per unit of production. The company's 2022 operations in Thailand witnessed a remarkable 53% reduction in water use per production unit since 2015, with 24% of water being reused and recycled in its Thai and international operations. CP Foods continues to encourage its business partners to engage in efficient water management, in line with its sustainable procurement policy, thus mitigating operational risks for both CP Foods and its partners.
