Bangkok, 15 October 2026 — Food security has become one of the world’s defining challenges, driven by climate change, supply chain volatility and rising demand for nutritious food. Thailand now has the opportunity to go beyond its traditional role as a food producer and exporter, and to become a hub that connects innovation, technology, capital and international cooperation in building a secure and sustainable food system.
TASTEBUD LAB and Future Food Hub have announced that they are joining the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security network. They are also inviting collaboration from government agencies, private companies, financial institutions, investors, researchers and entrepreneurs to develop food security projects that can be put into practice and scaled, in Thailand, across Asia-Pacific, and in regions with high food security needs such as Africa.
The announcement was made at the Executive Roundtable “From Dialogue to Investment,” held at Future Food Hub in Bangkok during the week of the IMF–World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026, which Thailand is hosting for the first time in 35 years.
The roundtable was honored by the participation of Dr. Conrad Rein, Secretary-General of the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security, who exchanged views with representatives of more than 20 Thai and international organizations. These spanned international organizations, government agencies, financial institutions, investor networks, industry and research institutes, including Bayer Foundation, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), UOB Thailand, TBAN Association, the Embassy of Finland in Thailand, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Institute of Agro-based Industries of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand (EEC), the Agricultural Research Development Agency (Public Organization) (ARDA), the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), FutureTales LAB by MQDC, Bhiraj Management Co., Ltd., Boon Ventures, Vectors Capital, ProUNI, UniFAHS and FoSTAT. Participants explored how innovation, investment and international cooperation can advance food security.
A US$40 Billion Global Investment Outlook for Food Security by 2030: The Global Flagship Initiative’s Role in Unlocking Capital for the Future of Food
A key topic of the meeting was the opportunity to connect Thailand with the global flow of investment in food security. Dr. Conrad Rein noted that the main challenge in advancing food security is not simply a shortage of capital, but the need for mechanisms that unlock existing capital and connect it with projects capable of delivering real impact.
The Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security currently has a network of around 50 members and around 20 projects under way. It supports collaboration among international organizations, governments, the private sector and investors to develop food security projects that can scale and attract investment.
Panelists from the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) also shared perspectives on the direction of food security investment in the region. They described the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) support framework, totaling US$40 billion by 2030, which comprises an existing investment framework of US$14 billion and additional financing of US$26 billion to drive the transition to sustainable food and agriculture systems. They also discussed a financing mechanism for Climate-Smart Agriculture in Thailand, being developed with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). It is still in development and could lead to funding of approximately US$150 million to help farmers access technology, improve productivity and manage climate risks. These trends point to opportunities for Thailand to develop high-potential Future Food and AgriTech projects, with Future Food Hub serving as a platform that connects entrepreneurs, innovations and international partners to bring funding opportunities to real, bankable projects.
In-depth interviews with the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security are available on the TASTEBUD Podcast: https://youtube.com/@tastebudlab1535?si=fNi2XR67wpSTacMu
Opening the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security Network: Connecting Thailand’s Strengths with the World’s Needs
Joining the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security network is another important step for TASTEBUD LAB and Future Food Hub as they expand from building a food innovation ecosystem within Thailand to fostering international collaboration on food security.
The partnership aims to give Thai entrepreneurs and technology developers the opportunity to work with development organizations, financial institutions, investors and partners abroad, to identify needs and develop projects that respond to the food system requirements of each region.
In particular, it seeks to connect Thailand’s expertise in food production and processing, agricultural technology, ingredient innovation and food product development with the food security needs of developing countries, including those in Africa. This creates opportunities for cooperation in technology transfer, supply chain development, and investment in projects that have a positive impact on communities.
The heart of this collaboration is therefore not only the exchange of knowledge, but the connection of partners to develop projects that are investment-ready, scalable and capable of delivering sustainable food security.
Findings from the World Bank’s Agri-Food Business Consultation: Opportunities to Develop Financing Mechanisms for Food Security
Another highlight of the Executive Roundtable was the presentation and discussion of findings from the World Bank’s Agri-Food Business Consultation, part of a process of gathering input from businesses and stakeholders to explore opportunities and challenges in developing Thailand’s agriculture and food industries.
The discussion built on the study’s findings together with Dr. Karndee Leopairote, Chief Foresight Officer, FutureTales LAB by MQDC, to reflect on opportunities to develop financial and investment instruments suited to Thailand’s food system, and on ways to connect entrepreneurs and innovators with funding sources and international partners.
A key issue raised was the funding gap between developing an innovation and scaling it commercially, which remains a constraint for many FoodTech and AgriTech entrepreneurs, even though Thailand has strong capabilities in research, technology, raw materials and food manufacturing.
One proposed approach is to develop Catalytic Finance, a mechanism that reduces early-stage risk and enables funding from government, development organizations and private investors to jointly support promising projects.
This approach would allow Thailand to develop food security projects spanning smart agriculture, value-added processing of raw materials, sustainable food production and infrastructure development across the food value chain, and to extend them into cross-border cooperation across Asia and Africa.
Mr. Santi Abakaz, CEO and Co-Founder of TASTEBUD LAB, Bio Buddy and Future Food Hub, said:
“Thailand has great potential to be a global food hub. What is still missing is a financial mechanism that systematically connects domestic innovation with international capital and partners. We did not come today just to ask for cooperation. We came with a clear proposal: Future Food Hub is ready to co-develop and directly host such a mechanism in Thailand.”
From Climate-Smart Agriculture to Future Food: Creating New Value for Thailand’s Food System
Beyond financing, representatives of international organizations and industry also shared approaches to upgrading Thailand’s food system through technology and innovation.
A representative of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies spoke about investment opportunities in Climate-Smart Agriculture to help the agricultural sector adapt to climate risks. UNIDO described ways to upgrade the food industry through safety standards, digital technology, and links to funding sources and international technology-transfer networks.
The EEC saw potential to promote future food industries, biotechnology, advanced food processing and the circular economy, in order to add value to agricultural raw materials and create new investment opportunities.
The discussion also highlighted opportunities for Thailand to build on its biodiversity, herbs and local ingredients to develop functional foods, health foods and innovations addressing longevity, alongside support for a new generation of farmers through smart farming and digital technology. Overall, it showed that the future of Thailand’s food industry lies not only in producing more, but in creating value from knowledge, technology and collaboration that help Thai entrepreneurs access new business opportunities.
Future Food Hub: A Collaboration Space of TASTEBUD LAB, Bio Buddy and Bhiraj Buri Group
To turn these opportunities into reality, Future Food Hub has been developed through a collaboration between Bio Buddy and Bhiraj Buri Group, with TASTEBUD LAB helping to drive the food innovation network and cooperation among entrepreneurs, industry, researchers and investors.
Future Food Hub is not intended to be merely an events or networking venue. It is a platform that links innovation development with business opportunities through knowledge exchange, product development, market testing, partnership building and investment readiness programs.
Through its collaboration with Bhiraj Buri Group, Future Food Hub also aims to create an environment that fosters cooperation among entrepreneurs, startups, researchers and large corporations, helping innovations move from concept and research to real-world use and commercial growth.
For the next phase of its food security work, Future Food Hub is open to collaboration on pilot projects, connecting sources of funding, building investment readiness, and developing projects together with international partners.
One approach put forward during the discussion was a 60–90 day Joint Scoping Exercise to explore financing mechanisms suited to Thailand’s context. Future Food Hub proposed serving as a co-developer and as a Living Lab, a hands-on environment for testing and scaling projects.
Continuing the Collaboration at the 7th Future Food Leader Summit, Themed “Hack Your Health”
The “From Dialogue to Investment” meeting marks the start of opening the network and turning conversation into new opportunities. TASTEBUD LAB and Future Food Hub are preparing to continue the collaboration at the 7th Future Food Leader Summit, themed “Hack Your Health.”
The summit will bring together business leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, startups, investors and partner organizations to explore a future in which food, health, science and technology are increasingly interconnected, from health-focused food innovation and personalized nutrition to food systems that can restore the health of both people and the planet.
TASTEBUD LAB and Future Food Hub invite interested organizations working on the food systems of the future, in innovation, technology, investment and food security, to join the Future Food Hub network and help turn this dialogue into tangible collaboration at the 7th Future Food Leader Summit.
Because the future of food depends not on how much we can produce, but on how well we can connect knowledge, capital and people to build a better food system for the world.
About Future Food Hub / TASTEBUD LAB
Future Food Hub is a collaboration platform for future food innovation, developed through a partnership between Bio Buddy and Bhiraj Buri Group, with TASTEBUD LAB helping to drive a network of entrepreneurs, startups, researchers, industry, investors and international partners.
The platform supports technology development, collaboration, innovation testing, market access and business opportunities in Future Food, FoodTech, AgriTech, BioTech and HealthTech, as well as the advancement of sustainable food systems.
Open to collaboration: Future Food Hub welcomes entrepreneurs, organizations, investors, researchers and partners, in Thailand and abroad, who wish to co-develop innovations and projects in food security, future food and sustainable food systems, connecting knowledge, technology, capital and business opportunities into concrete collaboration. For more information or to discuss collaboration, please visit https://www.tastebudlab.com/future-food-hub-1
For more information, please contact: TASTEBUD LAB / Future Food Hub LINE Official: @tastebudmkt Telephone: 095-732-4471 Website: www.tastebudlab.com
Follow Future Food stories and perspectives on the TASTEBUD Podcast: https://youtube.com/@tastebudlab1535?si=fNi2XR67wpSTacMu
