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DFI Retail Group and The Mills Fabrica Name Number 8 Bio as the Winner of DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge

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The competition drew over 40 global submissions to decarbonise beef and dairy supply chains, with winning solution set to scale across one of Asia’s leading retail networks

HONG KONG SAR- Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – DFI Retail Group (DFI or the Group), a leading Asian retailer, and The Mills Fabrica, a global collaborative hub propelling sustainability-focused innovations in the techstyle and agrifood sectors, named Number 8 Bio as the winner of the DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge 2026. This announcement follows the Final Pitching event, which was held on 5 June, World Environment Day. The Australia-based innovator was recognised for BetterFeed™, a range of proprietary feed additives that cut enteric methane from grazing cattle and sheep while improving the productivity of every animal that uses it. The team takes home a HK$120,000 grant and the opportunity to partner with DFI to scale its solution across the Group’s regional beef and dairy supply chains.

Representatives of DFI Retail Group, The Mills Fabrica, and the judging panel jointly presented the award to Thomas Williams, CEO and Co-Founder of Number 8 Bio, who was named the winner of the Challenge.

Scott Price, Group Chief Executive, DFI Retail Group said: “Tackling Scope 3 emissions requires collaboration across the value chain, and we are pleased that the Challenge has created opportunities for innovators to test and scale practical solutions within real operating environments. We look forward to seeing how they support our progress towards more sustainable and resilient food systems.”

Meet the Winner: From Pitch to Pilot Across Asia’s Supply Chains

Number 8 Bio has built a feed additive that does two jobs at once. BetterFeed™, a family of proprietary organic small molecules, free of bromoform, reduces enteric methane from grazing cattle and sheep, which is responsible for both the majority of livestock emissions and a 12% loss of nutritional energy from every pasture. By stopping that methane from forming, BetterFeed™ redirects the recovered energy straight back into animal growth and production, a genuine win for farmers’ bottom lines as much as for the climate. Winning the DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge opens a pilot pathway across DFI’s beef and dairy supply chains, including with Mengniu Dairy and Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF).

Thomas Williams, CEO and Co-Founder of Number 8 Bio said, “We are grateful for the exposure to such a high-calibre ecosystem, from fellow innovators addressing the same problem from different angles to the investors and industry players. The conversations alone have accelerated our thinking in ways that months of independent work could not.”

A Global Search Anchored in Asia: Addressing the Region’s Beef and Dairy Decarbonisation Challenge

Across Asia, rising incomes and urbanisation continue to drive demand for meat and dairy products. Supporting the transition to lower-emission production will be key to ensuring the long-term resilience of food systems while meeting evolving consumer expectations.

Launched in December 2025, the DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge was designed to bridge innovation and implementation by connecting global innovators directly with DFI’s extensive supply-chain network.

Through The Mills Fabrica’s global scouting network across 30 countries, including university research institutions, venture capital and startup-incubator networks, the Challenge attracted over 40 submissions from five continents. These solutions ranged from novel feed, feed additives and biomanufacturing to AI and SaaS data platforms, processing innovations and energy management systems. Nearly half were at commercial-ready maturity, reflecting a strong pipeline of scalable solutions rather than early-stage concepts.

Cintia Nunes, General Manager, Head of Asia, The Mills Fabrica said, “The next phase of climate innovation is not just about discovering new technologies but helping them scale in ways that create tangible change. DFI is an industry leader willing to put real supply-chain access and pilot pathways behind climate-tech innovators. We are committed to deepening this partnership with DFI and to working with more forward-looking partners, so that the most promising innovators get the partnerships, capital and pilots they need to translate their work to commercial impact.”

The Finalists: A Global Cohort Tackling Beef and Dairy’s Hardest Climate Problems
The finalists represent leading approaches to reducing ruminant emissions, including novel feed additives, synthetic biology, AI-enabled monitoring, genetic optimisation, and waste-to-renewable resources:

  • Provectus Algae (Australia): Creator of Surf’N’Turf®, a scalable seaweed-based feed supplement designed to reduce ruminant livestock methane emissions. Powered by Provectus Algae’s proprietary Precision Photosynthesis® and AI-enabled biomanufacturing platform, Surf’N’Turf® has demonstrated enteric methane reductions of up to 98% while improving feed efficiency and supporting lower-emission livestock systems.
  • AbacusBio (New Zealand): A genetics consultancy working in over 30 countries. Its Methane Sire Selection Tool is an app that generates a selection index to help select breeding sires for genetic methane reduction, balancing total and intensity emissions cuts with on-farm profitability metrics.
  • eVerse.AI (India): Their dual-track platform is revolutionising dairy sustainability and productivity, leveraging cutting-edge innovation. GreenCow harnesses methane measurement tech and eco-friendly interventions to generate verified carbon credits, empowering farmers to monetise their sustainable practices. ConnectedCow, a SaaS platform, integrates biometric ID with AI-driven insights to optimise milk yield, fertility, and herd health, providing a unified dashboard for monitoring productivity, breeding, and methane.
  • Kinava (South Korea): G2E Company (Green Waste to Energy) applies Hybrid Hydrothermal Carbonization to convert organic waste — livestock manure, food waste, wood waste, and sewage sludge — into odorless biofertilizer, biocoal, biocokes, biochar, and biogas in under three hours, using 70% less energy than conventional drying. Kinava’s first commercial plant has processed 100T/d pig manure since 2024, with a cassava-to-biocoal pilot plant also installed in Thailand in 2025.
Finalists pitched to a panel of leading academics and industry experts in ruminant nutrition, environmental science, agri-food sustainability, and corporate decarbonisation strategy. The pitching day brought together the DFI Management Committee, leading regional beef and dairy suppliers, academic experts, and ecosystem partners, enabling direct engagement between solution innovators and industry stakeholders.
In addition to formal pitches, all finalists presented their solutions through a dedicated Product and Technology Showcase, facilitating deeper discussions on pilot and deployment opportunities.

Erica Chan, Group Chief Legal, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, DFI Retail Group added: “We are pleased that this partnership with The Mills Fabrica has identified technologies with real commercial potential. Their global network and deep expertise in sustainability innovation helped us connect with a very strong cohort of climate-tech innovators. What impressed us most was the commercial readiness of the solutions. These are practical technologies with the potential to reduce emissions, strengthen supply chain resilience, and support more sustainable food systems.”

DFI Retail Group and The Mills Fabrica will continue to provide ongoing mentorship, ecosystem connections, and access to its global network, both to the winner and to the wider finalist cohort.

Hashtag: #DFIretailGroup #TheMillsFabrica #Sustainability

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

DFI Retail Group

DFI Retail Group is a leading Asian retailer driven by its purpose to “Sustainably Serve Asia for Generations with Everyday Moments”. At 31 December 2025, the Group and Maxim’s operated 7,580 outlets and employed more than 79,000 people across 12 markets. The Group is committed to delivering quality, value and service to consumers across the region through trusted brands, strong local market positions, and a broad retail ecosystem supported by extensive store networks, digital capabilities and efficient supply chains. The Group operates a portfolio of well-known brands across five key divisions: health and beauty, convenience, food, home furnishings and restaurants under Maxim’s.

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FastMed HK Welcomes Greater Bay Area Visitors to Access Doctor Assessment and Prescription Dispensing Services in Hong Kong

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HONG KONG SAR – Wechat: Fastmedhk
Telephone: 3596 3984
WhatsApp: 5115 3354

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CG Capital, the Leader in Branded Residences in Thailand, Marks Milestone Success for InterContinental Residences Bangkok Asoke Amid Global Economic Uncertainty

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Reaffirming Thailand’s status as a world destination for the luxury residences market

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 June 2026 – CG Capital Advisory Limited (CG Capital), Thailand’s leading investment manager from Central Group specializing in real estate and hospitality investment, today announced a major strategic investment milestone under the leadership of Mr. Phoom Chirathivat, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of CG Capital. The company unveiled its forward-looking vision for the luxury residential and hospitality markets in Thailand, alongside the official launch of the sales gallery for InterContinental Residences Bangkok Asoke. The project carries a total development value of THB 5.5 billion, with two-bedroom units starting from THB 44.8 million. Reservations have already surpassed 60% ahead of the project’s official public launch, a clear sign of confidence in CG Capital’s strategy and its world-class standards.CG Capital’s Vision: Reading Global Volatility, Positioning Thailand as a World Destination.

InterContinental Residences Bangkok Asoke Building Head

Mr. Phoom Chirathivat, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of CG Capital, said that despite a difficult global economic backdrop, marked by slowing markets, geopolitical conflict, and volatility in traditional capital markets, CG Capital sees Thailand’s luxury real estate market moving in the opposite direction. Driving this is a major shift in the behaviour of the world’s wealthiest individuals: a wave of global wealth migration. Data from Henley & Partners shows the number of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) relocating globally has surged from 51,000 in 2013 to 142,000 in 2025, a 178% increase over 12 years.

Mr. Phoom Chirathivat, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of CG Capital
Mr. Phoom Chirathivat, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of CG Capital

“Global markets are slowing down, but Thailand is holding its position as a world destination. Demand from HNWI buyers, both Thai and international, hasn’t dropped off. If anything, these buyers have become more selective about the assets they choose. That tracks with what we’re seeing from Thailand’s Board of Investment, which has approved Long-Term Resident visas for more than 6,000 wealthy global citizens since 2022. Thailand isn’t just a tourism destination anymore. It’s become a place HNWIs choose for long-term residence and investment,” said Mr. Phoom.

Claiming the Asian Crown: The “Right Brand, Right Partners, Right Product” Strategy

Rising demand for high-end residences has pushed CG Capital’s investment strategy toward branded residences, the fastest-growing segment of the market. Thailand currently holds the largest market share of branded residences in Asia at 23.3% of the region’s USD 26.6 billion total market value, ahead of the Philippines (17.3%) and South Korea (11.6%). CBRE’s Global Branded Residences report ranks Thailand 4th in the world by number of projects, with Bangkok and Phuket sitting among the world’s top 10.

Mr. Phoom Chirathivat added:”The success of InterContinental Residences Bangkok Asoke comes down to understanding global trends. What sets us apart is ‘Right Brand, Right Partners, Right Product,’ paired with Bangkok’s best location, Sukhumvit. We’re not chasing a trend. We’re reading the market and building on the long-term confidence we have in this country.”

From Private Equity DNA to World-Class Product Development

What sets CG Capital apart, as the largest private equity fund manager in Thailand’s real estate and hospitality sector, is the way it applies institutional investment thinking to every part of development. Long-term asset value gets weighed through two lenses at once: capital appreciation and living experience.

CG Capital’s Next Steps and the Official Sales Gallery Launch

Looking ahead, Mr. Phoom said CG Capital will keep pursuing new investment opportunities in the hospitality segment, setting new standards for Thailand’s real estate industry. “Reservations above 60% so far are a clear vote of confidence in CG Capital. Now that the sales gallery is open to the public, we’re confident the design and craftsmanship on display will help the project move quickly toward its sales target, further cementing CG Capital’s position as Thailand’s leading branded residences developer,” he said.

InterContinental Residences Bangkok Asoke welcomes visitors to view show units at the sales gallery from 4–5 July onward. Interested parties may schedule an exclusive private appointment via https://residencesasoke.com/
or Tel: 092-989-2616

Expanding the Reach: Bringing the Project to International Buyers

Alongside the sales gallery opening in Bangkok, CG Capital continues to take InterContinental Residences Bangkok Asoke directly to international buyers. The project will next be featured at “Thailand: A New Chapter Begins,” an exclusive showcase hosted by CBRE Thailand in collaboration with Taiwan Sotheby’s International Realty in Taipei on 3 – 4 July 2026, from 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at W Taipei (Strategy Room 1).

Taiwan is a market CG Capital sees as a promising source of long-term residence demand. According to CBRE Thailand and Real Estate Information Center (REIC), Taiwanese buyers now rank as the fourth-largest group of foreign buyers in Thai property market, with transaction value growing an average of 27% a year between 2023 and 2025. Thailand’s appeal to this group comes down to geographic proximity, competitive entry pricing, and a lifestyle suited to long-stay living.

For CG Capital, the event is also a chance to read first-hand how Taiwanese HNWIs are thinking about long-term residence and investment in Thailand. Interested parties in Taiwan may get in touch, please contact Taiwan Sotheby’s International Realty 0800.887.288 (Taiwan) or CBRE Thailand +66(0) 81 742 6624 (Thailand).

Hashtag: #CGCapital #InterContinentalResidencesBangkokAsoke


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About CG Capital

CG Capital Advisory Limited manages private equity investments for blue-chip domestic and international institutional and UHNW investors with an inaugural fund size of THB 10 billion, investing primarily in Thailand’s hospitality, tourism, and real estate sectors through greenfield, brownfield, and turnaround strategies. Its diversified portfolio includes hotels, branded residences, condominiums, amusement and water parks, and mixed-use developments, focusing on Thailand’s leading travel destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, and Pattaya.

Led by Mr. Phoom Chirathivat, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of CG Capital, the firm combines deep expertise in investment and hospitality with a strong conviction in Thailand’s tourism potential—particularly within the luxury and lifestyle segments.

Legal disclaimer
Sixteen Residences Limited, being the current owner and developer of InterContinental Residences Bangkok Asoke, is solely responsible for the development, marketing, and sale of the Units. The Units are not owned, developed or sold by InterContinental Hotels Group PLC or its affiliates (collectively “IHG”). There exists no joint venture, partnership, ownership or similar relationship between Sixteen Residences Limited and IHG. IHG is not responsible for the content presented in this press release.

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World’s First Commercial Multimodal LLM for Cultural Tourism Enters Broad Application

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XI’AN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 June 2026 – The world’s first commercial multimodal large language model (LLM) for cultural tourism, called BoGuan, has entered broad application in Xi’an, China. This model generates commercial returns by supporting the creation of digital IP for intangible cultural heritage, the development of cultural tourism applications, and the improvement of short drama production. This is injecting new momentum into both China’s heritage preservation initiatives and the cultural tourism industry.

A visitor tries out the BoGuan-powered AI photography app

Xi’an is one of China’s oldest cities and one of its most popular international tourist destinations. Shaanxi Culture Industry Investment Group (SCG) is working with partners like Huawei, China Telecom Shaanxi, and China West Airport Group (CWAG) to promote cultural tourism using digital technologies including AI and 5G-A.For example, BoGuan is used to support a new AI travel companion agent that had been made available to over 4 million users by March of this year.

In September 2025, SCG and Huawei unveiled the BoGuan Large Model, the world’s first commercial multimodal LLM for cultural tourism. It is also China’s first industry-specific model dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage. This model is built on intelligent computing infrastructure and a high-quality dataset. The dataset has over 1.2 PB of data, including 31 million images, 4.4 million minutes of video footage, 2.18 million minutes of audio recordings, 510 3D models, and 960 million pieces of structured text.

BoGuan can generate highly-accurate multimodal content, such as museum-quality content about cultural relics. This allows it to support the creation of new digital relic presentations, the digitalization and preservation of traditional craftsmanship, and the creation of digital IP for intangible cultural heritage. Zhang Beiyuan, a dough sculpture artisan, said, “With this model, I can complete a dough sculpture that used to take two or three months in less than a week.” BoGuan is also used to create digital IP like the popular cartoon character Tang Biaobiao, which is designed by integrating local cultural heritage elements with the stone carvings of the Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum. The sales of related digital collectibles and creative products have exceeded CNY2 million.

In addition to supporting cultural heritage preservation, BoGuan has been used to develop a range of cultural tourism apps, such as AI photography and AI travel companion agent. Visitors can directly talk with this agent on the GO-SHAANXI app to create and adjust travel itineraries and get real-time performance recommendations at attractions. The Zhiying Camera mini program provides paid services that instantly integrate user photos with AI-generated scenes from history, allowing visitors to “travel back to ancient times.” These new consumption options unlock the business value of quality cultural tourism data. Furthermore, SCG is using BoGuan to integrate short drama production with cultural tourism and improve production efficiency and quality in Xi’an, a renowned short drama hub.

Additionally, China Telecom Shaanxi and Huawei have deployed a 5G-A network based on three component carrier aggregation (3CC) technology at Xi’an’s Grand Tang Mall, a popular tourist attraction. The network delivers peak uplink and downlink rates of 600 Mbps and 3.5 Gbps, respectively, about 10 times faster than common 5G networks. During the 2026 May Day holiday, this network supported concurrent access for 23,000 users, guaranteeing smooth video watching and social media experiences. Furthermore, 5G-A-powered HD live streaming at the Grand Tang Mall has become an important way for the attraction to bring in new visitors. According to public data, the average user dwell time of these live streams has nearly doubled and the average transaction value has increased by 62%.

Edric Chu, General Manager of Huawei's Shaanxi Rep Office, giving a speech
Edric Chu, General Manager of Huawei’s Shaanxi Rep Office, giving a speech

Edric Chu, General Manager of Huawei’s Shaanxi Rep Office, said, “Artificial intelligence is not simply a stack of technologies. It has become a key enabler that can activate thousands of years of cultural heritage, reshape travel experiences, and inject new momentum into the industry. Moving forward, Huawei will continue working with our partners to enhance cultural heritage preservation with digital and intelligent technologies, and stimulate development within the cultural tourism industry.”

Hashtag: #Huawei

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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