Tip Your Farmer is being piloted as part of an official proof-of-concept research initiative sanctioned by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and is proposed and led by Marcus Shingles, who led the event as guest speaker.
Mr Shingles is an official member of WEF’s Expert Network, and has a specific focus on digital transformation, innovation, and helping organizations navigate disruptive change brought about by emerging technologies. He is the Chief Innovation Officer and Managing Executive Director of “Smart City & Urban Innovation” at MultiCORE, where he is leading a global team on a multi-year initiative to design and build entirely new smart-cities as part of future-oriented sustainable communities. MultiCORE is leading multiple Smart City & Urban Innovation projects throughout Southeast Asia and the Middle East to include Thailand, Cambodia, and United Arab Emirates. In Thailand, MultiCORE is in the initial development phase for a new Smart, Innovative & Cognitive City concept to be developed in the north.
The majority of the research is being underwritten by MultiCORE with an in-kind donation as well as providing pro-bono local resources in Thailand to support the pilot. Specifically, Michael Saif Ghanima, Group President, has agreed to support the research by covering travel and other operational expenses for participants, as well as offering his local team of young talented professional women at MultiCORE’s Thailand office to assist with language translation and facilitating discussions with farmers and growers involved in the pilot.
MultiCORE explained during the event that Thailand was a perfect location to launch the pilot program since Thailand promotes itself as the “Kitchen of the World” on account of its strength in the food industry, arising from its abundant natural resources, continuing investment in food innovation and commitment to food safety standards. In 2021, Thailand ranked 13th largest food exporter in the world, with exports valued at USD30.5 billion. The Tip Your Farmer initiative will highlight Thailand’s sustainability efforts to the global market and assist with post-Covid economic recovery efforts.
The Athenee Hotel is acting as the pilot for Tip Your Farmer, the project being supported by Brendon Partridge, the Hotel Manager, who overseas food and beverage, and Choo Leng Goh, The Athenee’s General Manager.
The hotel was selected by MultiCORE because of its sustainability focus. Amongst its many environmental programs, The Athenee has for several years been conducting a policy of sourcing organic produce directly from Thai farmers and serving it in the hotel restaurants, thereby promoting the sustainable concept to consumers and providing the local farming communities with a sure income.
source : THE NATION THAILAND
September 21, 2022
