Thailand: Thailand is ready to become the "Asian Hub for Healthy Food Innovation" at Vitafoods Asia 2026. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation is moving forward to upgrade Thailand's local ingredients, herbs, and biodiversity.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Panphomsak Arunee, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), officially opened the "Vitafoods Asia 2026" trade show and innovation exhibition for healthy food ingredients in Asia. He was welcomed by Mr. Manu Leowpairoj, President of Informa Markets Thailand, and joined by Dr. Uracha Rakthanonchai, Director of the National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), who expressed support for the event. This demonstrates the strong collaboration between the government, private sector, and research institutions in driving the high-value economy through technology and innovation. The event was held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
Dr. Panphomsak said that the future of the wellness economy does not depend solely on selling products, but on knowledge creation, research and development, scientific verification, and commercialization. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) is committed to connecting research from laboratories to practical application in the industrial sector, by collaborating with the private sector, both domestically and internationally, to upgrade the value of local raw materials, herbs, and Thailand's biodiversity to meet the demands of the global market.
The event featured innovation and research showcases from various agencies, including the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) in collaboration with the Innovation and Technology Assistance Program (ITAP), presenting approaches to assist and support SMEs in applying science, technology, and innovation to enhance their sustainable competitiveness; and the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), showcasing total solution services in research and development of functional food products, extraction of key substances from herbs, as well as testing, analysis, and packaging design to empower Thai entrepreneurs.
Vitafoods Asia 2026 will be held from September 2-4, 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, with the goal of concretely establishing Thailand as a hub for research, production, and innovation in health foods and extracts in the Asian region.