Ajinomoto signs bio-fertiliser deal to boost crop yield, cut chemicals
Takaaki Arashida, vice president of Ajinomoto (Thailand), recently signed a five-year contract for technology transfer of PGPR bio-fertiliser with Phichet Wiriyapaha, a representative of the Agriculture Department.
Under the contract, Ajinomoto will use PGPR technology and know-how to develop, produce and distribute this bio-fertiliser at a reasonable price to Thai farmers for five years.
Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) bio fertiliser is a beneficial group of soil bacteria that colonises plant roots and promotes plant growth by nitrogen fixation to boost agricultural productivity and crop strength.
“Each year, Ajinomoto Thailand consumes a lot of agricultural products. We would like to contribute to sustainability of Thai agriculture by using our bio-technology and bio-cycle value chain to create more productivity and value for Thai agricultural product," said Arashida. “With PGPR bio-fertiliser we are targeting a 10 per cent increase in crop yield and a 25 per cent reduction of chemical fertiliser usage. This move will help improve Thai farmers’ quality of life in accordance with the company’s ASV policy (Ajinomoto Group Creating Shared Value).”
