On 17 September 2025, Ms. Yaowaluk Suthimanus, Counsellor of the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels, led the delegation from Flanders’ FOOD, namely Mr. Maarten Uyttebroek and Ms. Inge Dirinck, to meet with executives of the National Innovation Agency (NIA), including Dr.Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director, Dr.Sura-at Supachatturat, Deputy Executive Director of Innovation Finance, and Mr.Jittrapon Jirakulsomchok, Senior Innovation Developer, Mandatory Innovation Department, on the sidelines of Food Ingredients Asia Thailand 2025 (FI Asia) at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. The meeting focused on exchanging insights and perspectives through their roles on Thailand’s food and agricultural innovation development.

On 18 September 2025, the delegation visited Food Innopolis at NSTDA and had discussions with Dr. Akeanong Jangbua, Director of Food Innopolis, followed by a site visit to a lab within Food Innopolis’ science park. Later on, the delegation had a meeting with the executives of the National Food Institute (NFI), led by Ms. Rapeeporn Suthatham, Acting President of NFI, and Mrs. Nitaya Pirapatrungsuriya, Executive Advisor, during FI Asia. The discussions centered on the role of each organization in enhancing Thailand’s competitiveness in the food and agriculture sectors, and explored pathways for future cooperation.

On the same day, the delegation also met with Asst.Prof.Dr. Aussama Soontrunnarudrungsri from the Department of Product Development, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, to learn about the work of the Kasetsart University Sensory and Consumer Research Unit (KUSCR). Discussions focused on Sensory Analysis and Neuroscience Testing, areas that align with the expertise of Ms. Inge Dirinck, Innovation Manager at Flanders’ FOOD. This cooperation represents another promising avenue to enhance Thailand’s food product development and strengthen its position in the global market.