Thailand is investing heavily as a global hub for plant‑based foods while simultaneously pursuing ambitious sustainability objectives. The national Plant‑Based Food Roadmap, together with comprehensive strategies for circular economy, emissions reduction, and resource efficiency, is opening new opportunities for the country’s food industry. In this context, the upcycling of side streams is emerging as a key lever for both economic and ecological future viability.
Thailand’s plant-based food market is growing rapidly, reaching Bt 45 billion (US$1.39 billion) in 2025 driven by rising health awareness and consumer demand for sustainable food choices, and is expected to grow by another 10%. At the same time, Thailand is scaling up its future food exports, which include functional foods and alternative proteins. These exports were valued at Bt 143 billion (US$4.41 billion) in 2023, contributing to 9% of all Thai food exports. By 2027, Thailand is aiming for future food exports to reach Bt 350 billion (US$10.8 billion) according to NXPO (Thailand’s Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council).
As a leading global exporter of cassava starch, with 57% share of global exports, as well as a major exporter of coconut, rice, and other major crops, Thailand possesses abundant agricultural side streams that can be transformed into value-added protein, fiber, or starch ingredients for global markets.
Upcycling: An Underestimated Growth Driver
In the processing of plant‑based raw materials, large quantities of by‑products such as protein‑rich press cakes, fiber fractions, or starch are generated. What was once considered waste has now become highly valuable: Upcycling uses modern separation technology to convert these side streams into high‑value ingredients such as protein concentrates, functional fibers, or starch products—essential building blocks for the growing export markets of future food, functional food, and plant‑based alternatives. This enables manufacturers to increase yields, reduce waste, and unlock new revenue streams, while supporting the national Bio‑Circular‑Green (BCG) model.
Kamon Pornchaichanakit, Managing Director of Flottweg Thailand said, “Companies that fail to utilize their side streams are leaving money on the table. With the right technologies, their by-products are by no means inconvenient, but can also be marketed as high-quality raw materials.”
Modern Separation Technology as a Key Enabler
In industrial protein and starch processes, solid/liquid separation plays a decisive role. Industrial centrifuges enable the efficient separation of fine particles, the dewatering of fiber‑rich suspensions, and the extraction of well‑defined product fractions. Multi‑stage processes such as extraction, washing, and separation ensure higher yields; stable product quality; robust processes despite fluctuating raw‑material properties, and significant reduction of losses and energy consumption.
This makes upcycling not only environmentally meaningful but also economically attractive and scalable for industrial production.
Thailand, with its fast-growing plant-based food segment together with strong government backing via its Bio‑Circular‑Green (BCG) strategy and its Plant‑Based Food Roadmap encourage manufacturers to increase resource efficiency, reduce waste, and unlock new value from agricultural by‑products. Meanwhile, Thailand’s role as the world’s leading exporter cassava starch and other agricultural crops give processors access to abundant side streams that can be upgraded into high‑value protein, fiber, or starch ingredients. This alignment of policy support, raw‑material availability, and market growth positions Thailand as an ideal location for investments in modern separation technologies and innovative upcycling processes.
Pornchaichanakit added, “Thai manufacturers now have the opportunity to set international benchmarks in sustainable plant‑protein production. Upcycling is a central pillar of this transformation.”
Flottweg: A Trusted Partner in Thailand for Over 30 Years
The German machinery manufacturer Flottweg is one of the world’s leading specialists in mechanical solid/liquid separation and has been active in the Thai market, supporting food manufacturers in making efficient use of their side streams and optimizing existing processes.
With decanters, separators, and belt presses, Flottweg enables the industrial recovery of proteins, fibers, and starch from plant‑based raw materials—providing the technological foundation for successful upcycling.
Manufacturers particularly benefit from:
- analysis of their side streams and evaluation of upcycling potential
- optimization or retrofitting of existing equipment
- higher yields thanks to precise and continuous separation technology
- robust protein, fiber, or starch processes—even with fluctuating feed conditions
In this way, Flottweg helps companies in Thailand make their production more resource‑efficient, stable, and future‑proof. Manufacturers looking for deeper analysis can schedule a dedicated session with Flottweg’s specialists at its Bangkok office, where experts are available for individual process analyses, technical consulting, and the evaluation of specific upcycling opportunities.
Flottweg SE is an established German company with sales revenue of more than €313 million (US$359 million) in 2025. To learn more about Flottweg’s solutions, visit www.flottweg.com
