Gluten-free flour can be promoted as a product campaign via cassava processing, based on a new knowledge like bioeconomy. Bioeconomy is a new model for the economy, with the aim of adding value to agricultural products. As Thailand has a plentiful supply of cassava, processing cassava into various biochemicals will not only help add value to this farm produce, but also meet the needs of those who have an allergic reaction to gluten, and health conscious.
KResearch assesses that if Thailand can process 10 percent of the approximately 30 million tons of fresh cassava into gluten-free flour, this will help increase the value of fresh cassava by 2.3 times, or about THB137 billion in 2020-2021. That figure could surge to 8.2 times or around THB486 billion by 2027.
However, the success of processing cassava into gluten-free flour will hinge on incentives to promote innovations via research and development in the public and private sectors, investment in necessary infrastructures and progress in biotechnologies as these factors will help promote the sustainable growth in the Thai agricultural and food industries.