This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing sustainability in sugarcane production and creating greater transparency for buyers. We are excited to work closely with the Mitr Phol team to showcase the progress being made across their mills in Thailand and to help shape a stronger narrative for sustainable sugarcane across the APAC region. Together, we look forward to bringing these stories to life for end buyers and demonstrating what responsible sourcing can achieve. We sat down with Khun Parin Amatyakul, SEVP of Marketing group, Mitr Phol, to learn more about what joining the VIVE Programme means for them.
What influenced Mitr Phol Sugar to join The VIVE Programme?
- Sustainability initiatives have been embedded into Mitr Phol Sugar’s culture from our inception. It is not a new system for us but rather helps us move from good intentions to a measurable action plan and pathway that is transparent, globally recognised and focused on continuous improvement. With VIVE, we believe that the sustainability targets and values between our sugarcane growers, millers, customers and consumers have come into alignment.
- Our decision to join VIVE was motivated by two main factors. Firstly, by widespread customer acceptance of the platform and secondly by the benchmarking capacity and scalability of the modules.
- VIVE also allows us to compare our sustainability path and plans with global players, which supports our ambitions to become a global sustainability leader.
How does Mitr Phol Sugar’s participation in VIVE support your long-term sustainability goals?
- VIVE challenges us – sugarcane growers & millers - to do better, and instils a mindset of continuous improvement, while concurrently motivating customers to recognise their social responsibility to support the producer community in their long-term sustainability goals.
- Sustainability has been talked about a lot in the last decade or so. Mitr Phol Sugar wants to move this discussion from the board rooms and food labels into the cane fields at origin, to sugarcane grower communities, and flowing into each milling unit and through the entire supply chain to create real value for everyone. We believe that participating in with VIVE will support our vision of a sustainable future for all.
What role do you see Mitr Phol Sugar playing in shaping Thailand’s sugar industry toward more sustainable practices?
- Our vision is simple: Grow Together - Create Value for a Sustainable Life for All. The sugarcane growers entrust us with their future, and it’s our responsibility to show a clear path forward, planting the seeds for their future generations. At Mitr Phol Sugar, Smart Farming has been at the heart of our transformation. Mitr Phol Sugar has been advancing farmers’ knowledge and skills in modern, precision sugarcane farming through the “Mitr Phol ModernFarm” initiative. By integrating innovative technologies and advanced agricultural machinery, the programme helps enhance production efficiency, reduce operating costs, and promote environmentally responsible practices. This includes cane research, mechanised harvesting, improved irrigation systems, and now AI integration, to support sugarcane growers in spotting early warning signs of crop stress and disease or pest damages.
- We believe that sustainability is not optional - we truly believe Mitr Phol Sugar can be competitive and sustainable at the same time, and this is closely aligned with VIVE’s mission. At Mitr Phol Sugar, we want to show a viable and practical path towards sustainability; others in the Thai sugar industry may choose to follow us or select their own paths, but so long as everyone in the industry moves collectively forward towards sustainability, the whole community, country and world benefits.
- By investing today in sustainable practices, we are ensuring a brighter and sweeter future tomorrow. This strategic direction on sustainability from our Board and senior management flows internally and is adhered to by everyone within Mitr Phol Sugar. It has become an integral part of our culture and belief system.
How does embedding sustainability into Mitr Phol Sugar production benefit your buyers and their supply chains?
- Sustainability… Carbon Reduction… Net zero… ESG… Social Responsibilities… Fair pay - all these are no longer “buzz
- At Mitr Phol Sugar, we truly believe that our customers are looking for more than just a product; they want a partner that can be trusted. It is imperative to de-risk the supply chain for our customers by giving proof and confidence that our commitment to sustainability is real, measurable and endorsed by independent recognised verification body.
