From Beijing’s winter snow to Bangkok’s midsummer: A “retired” Dairy Expert’s Cheese Journey
一、缘起：一段跨越十年的“嗜冷菌”之谊
Origin: A Ten-Year Friendship with “Psychrophiles”
12月12日，北京冬意正浓，我刚在奶酪黄油论坛的圆桌会议上，与同仁们交流完行业最新的趋势。仅仅48小时后，我已身处摄氏三十多度的曼谷，热浪与棕榈树的气息扑面而来。
On December 12th, the chill of winter was thick in Beijing. I had just wrapped up a roundtable discussion with colleagues at the Cheese and Butter Forum, exchanging the latest industry trends. Just 48 hours later, I found myself in Bangkok where the temperature was over 30 degrees Celsius, with the heat and the scent of palm trees enveloping me.
这趟跨越三千多公里与三十多度温差的奶酪之旅，始于一份沉淀了十年的专业信任。
嗜冷菌是困扰全球乳业的一类顽固的微生物，作为微生物学者和乳品专家，2016年我首次受邀来到泰国达美集团（Dutch Meal）最大的工厂Dairy Plus，主讲 “嗜冷菌对乳品质量的影响与控制” 。我们不仅深入探讨了理论，更在现场系统性地协助团队解决了由嗜冷菌引发的质量难题，优化了关键控制流程。那次扎实的合作，为我与集团创始人蔡先生之间，奠定了深厚的信任基石。
This cheese journey spanning over 3,000 kilometers and a temperature difference of over 30 degrees began with a decade-long professional trust. Psychrophiles are a stubborn type of microorganism that has long plagued the global dairy industry. As a microbiologist and dairy expert, in 2016, I was first invited to Dairy Plus, the largest factory of Dutch Meal in Thailand, to give a lecture on “The Impact and Control of Psychrophiles on Dairy Quality”. We not only delved into the theory but also systematically assisted the team on-site in solving the quality problems caused by psychrophiles and optimized the key control processes. That solid cooperation laid a deep foundation of trust between me and Mr. Chai, the founder of the group.
二、纽带：共赴中国市场，共燃“奶酪”梦想
Bond: Jointly entering the Chinese market, jointly pursuing the “cheese” dream
这份基于专业的情谊，在随后十年间，因共同对中国市场的关注而不断升华。蔡先生几乎每次到中国考察市场、走访工厂，都由我驾车陪同。行程中，我不仅与他分析市场格局，更多次动情地分享妙可蓝多创始人柴琇女士，如何凭借远见与执着，将一个品牌从零做到奶酪细分市场第一的传奇故事。我个人，也非常荣幸地陪伴和见证了妙可蓝多从初创到登顶的完整历程。
This professional bond continued to deepen over the following decade due to our shared focus on the Chinese market. Mr. Cai was accompanied by me in every market visit and factory tour he conducted in China. During the trips, not only did I analyze the market landscape with him, but I also shared with him many times the touching story of Cha Xi, the founder of Mondelez International, who, with vision and perseverance, turned a brand from nothing to the top player in the cheese niche market. Personally, I was also honored to accompany and witness the entire journey of Mondelez International from its inception to its peak.
蔡先生对这个故事深感震撼，也参观了妙可蓝多在上海金山最大的工厂，他看到了一个品牌从无到有、由弱至强的巨大能量。正是这份震撼，在他心中点燃了一个清晰的梦想：“我也要在泰国，做出一番属于自己的奶酪事业。”
Mr. Cai was deeply moved by this story and also visited the largest factory of Mondelez in Jinshan, Shanghai. He witnessed the tremendous power of a brand emerging from nothing and growing from weakness to strength. This shock ignited a clear dream in his heart: “I also want to establish my own cheese business in Thailand.”
三、奔赴：从“讲述者”到“共建者”的新角色
Embarking on a New Role: From “Narrator” to “Co-Builder”
因此，当我从妙可蓝多退休，又回到讲台任教并指导研究生时，蔡先生的邀请便带着更大的愿景而来。这不再仅仅是老友相聚或一次单纯的技术演讲，而是一次基于共同信念的召唤——他希望我能将这份亲身参与的“从零到一”的完整经验与产业洞察，带到泰国，共同擘画新蓝图。
Therefore, when I retired from Meycal and returned to the teaching position and guided graduate students, Mr. Cai’s invitation came with a much broader vision. This was no longer just a gathering of old friends or a simple technical presentation; it was a call based on shared beliefs – he hoped that I could bring this complete experience of “from zero to one”, along with industry insights, to Thailand and jointly draw up a new blueprint.
我欣然启程。此行，我的角色正从过去中国故事的“讲述者”，转变为泰国事业的“共建者”。这是一次将“中国经验”与“泰国实践”深度联结的探索。
I set off with great enthusiasm. During this journey, my role has shifted from being the “teller” of Chinese stories in the past to being the “co-builder” of the Thai enterprise. This is an exploration that deeply connects “Chinese experience” with “Thai practice”.
四、洞察：一场“浸入式”的产业现场侦察
Insight: An “immersive” on-site investigation of the industry
曼谷的热浪，恰如我们投入工作的热情。会议室内关于“大豆综合利用”的思想激荡，迅速转化为脚踏实地的行动。过去几天，我已深入达美集团的产业腹地，进行了一场全方位的“浸入式”侦察：
在研发中心，与科研人员一同观察菌种在热带气候下的活力表现；在质量检测中心，回溯从原料到成品的每一个质控节点；在工厂车间，亲手感知产线的脉搏，现场推敲工艺落地的细节。
考察的最后一站，是市场的最前沿。我走进曼谷的超市与遍布街巷的7-11便利店，在货架前解读消费选择，捕捉最真实的市场脉搏。这一切，都是为了将那个共同的奶酪梦想，落地为一张从技术、生产到市场的清晰路线图。
The heatwave in Bangkok is just like our enthusiasm for work. In the conference room, ideas about “utilization of soybeans in various ways” were vigorously discussed, and quickly transformed into practical actions. Over the past few days, I have delved deep into the industrial core of the Delta Group, conducting a comprehensive “immersive” investigation:
At the research and development center, I observed together with the researchers the vitality of the strains in the tropical climate; at the quality inspection center, I reviewed every quality control point from raw materials to finished products; in the factory workshop, I personally felt the pulse of the production line and on-site deliberated the details of process implementation.
The final stop of the investigation was the forefront of the market. I entered the supermarkets in Bangkok and the 7-Eleven convenience stores scattered throughout the streets, interpreting consumer choices at the shelves and capturing the most authentic market pulse. All of this was done to turn that common cheese dream into a clear roadmap from technology, production to the market.
图注：2016年在Dairy Puls
五、升维：从“嗜冷菌”到“大豆革命”的十年对话
Dimensional Expansion: A Ten-Year Dialogue from “Cold-Adapted Bacteria” to “The Soybean Revolution”
这种深度互动，让我感慨良多。十年前在此，我们聚焦于“嗜冷菌”，是为传统乳品筑牢质量的基石；今天，我们畅谈“大豆革命”，则是为未来开辟全新的增长曲线。
在达美的演讲厅里，我分享的主题是 “大豆的综合利用：从植物基蛋白饮料到发酵产品的创新之路” 。我结合热带资源与消费趋势，系统阐述了大豆酸奶与奶酪的前景。台下，泰国同行们眼中闪烁的，不仅是兴趣，更是一种看到产业新可能的灼热目光。这颗古老的种子，正在被赋予全新的、充满热带气息的生命想象。
从捍卫基石到开创未来，这十年，是我们友谊的沉淀，更是彼此事业维度的一次共同升维。大豆这一革命性的食物，将会越来越受到世界各国作为优质蛋白质的来源，同时，也是保健因子：可溶性膳食纤维，黄酮，低聚糖等营养素的健康来源，以及动物保护主义者倡导的植物性食品的代表。
This deep interaction has made me reflect a lot. Ten years ago here, we focused on “cold-loving bacteria”, which was the foundation for ensuring the quality of traditional dairy products; today, we are discussing the “soy revolution”, which is opening up a brand new growth curve for the future.
In the auditorium of Dames, the topic I shared was “Comprehensive Utilization of Soybeans: The Innovative Path from Plant-Based Protein Beverages to Fermented Products”. I combined tropical resources with consumption trends and systematically expounded the prospects of soy yogurt and cheese. In the audience, what shone in their eyes was not only interest, but also a burning gaze that saw new possibilities in the industry. This ancient seed is being given a new, tropical-inspired life imagination.
From defending the cornerstone to creating the future, in these ten years, it has been the accumulation of our friendship, and also a common elevation of our career dimensions.This revolutionary food, soybeans, will increasingly be recognized worldwide as a source of high-quality protein. At the same time, it is also a healthy source of nutrients such as soluble dietary fiber, flavonoids, oligosaccharides, etc., and a representative of plant-based foods advocated by animal protectionists.
图解：很高在Dacthmill 看到我以前工作过的公司：LamiPak生产的包材
六、结语：退而不休，技术无界
Conclusion: Retiring but not stopping, technology knows no bounds
从北京冬日的学术殿堂，到曼谷盛夏的产业一线，变化的只是纬度与场景。不变的，是作为一名科技工作者，用专业知识创造价值、回应信任的那份初心。
“退休”于我，绝非事业的终点，而是人生进入了更自由、更专注的章节。无论是在大学的讲堂上传道授业，还是在万里之外的工厂车间里与同仁共绘蓝图，其本质，都是将毕生所学所感，播种于更广阔的天地。
From the academic halls of Beijing in winter to the industrial frontlines of Bangkok in summer, the only things that have changed are the latitude and the scene. What remains unchanged is the original intention of a scientific worker – using professional knowledge to create value and respond to trust.
For me, “retirement” is by no means the end of my career; instead, it marks the beginning of a more free and focused chapter in my life. Whether it’s imparting knowledge in the university lecture halls or collaborating with colleagues in factories thousands of miles away to draw blueprints, the essence of it all is to sow my lifelong learning and experiences in a broader world.
这趟跨越季节的旅程，仍在继续。我期待，与泰国的新老朋友一起，在这片充满活力的热土上，共同写下关于信任、创新与大豆的下一段扎实故事。
This journey across seasons continues. I look forward to spending time with both old and new friends in Thailand, on this vibrant land, and together we will write the next solid chapter about trust, innovation and soybeans.