Food Pacific Manufacturing Journal

Throughout the food and beverage industry, cross-sector collaborations and strategic alliances are an enabling force behind market-driven innovation and cost-efficient production.

During a media tour facilitated by Informa Markets Thailand, we visited Chiang Mai University, where we were briefed on CMU's collaborations with local food companies to drive industry engagement. Our Special Report on page 10 explores how Thailand’s academic institutions, in this case CMU, is transforming from educators into close innovation partners. By strengthening industry ties and facilitating research commercialization, they are catalyzing progress across the value chain.  At Fi Asia this September 17-19, 2025, show organizers have announced a new event feature: the A to C (Academic to Commercial) Interactive Showcase, that will enable attendees to explore potential product developments as well as cultivate partnerships between researchers and business professionals.

As industry talks about the challenges of meeting consumer expectations and sustainability goals, engaging in partnerships is vital in the supply chain, whether between supplier and manufacturer, or among suppliers themselves.

We’ve covered such collaborations before, and for this month, we feature Olam Food ingredients’ (ofi) Food & Beverage Solutions. This platform launched about a year ago, offers co-development tools and a versatile portfolio to help brands meet future demand. See our interview with ofi on page 14. While in developing beverages (page 8), ADM has also become a strong co-creation partner for functional beverages.

On page 18, we also share the story of gum arabic producer, Jumbo Trading Co., Ltd, which sources its raw gum arabic from a partner in Sudan, and processes the versatile ingredient for global customers at its facilities in Chachoengsao province, Thailand.