Thai NSTDA and Ubon Ratchathani University are ready for The Netherlands – Thailand Biodiversity Conference 2023

Nieuwsbericht | 10-10-2023 | 07:01

Recently Ms. Viraporn Mongkolchaisit, Executive Director – of Agricultural Technology and Innovation Management Institute NSTDA together with Mr. Gijs Theunissen DVM, the Dutch Agricultural Counsellor were visiting Ubon Ratchathani University (UBU) to discuss the potential Thai – Dutch collaboration in agriculture and food.

Established in 1991, NSTDA functions as the national powerhouse in science, technology, and innovation for the government, private (business), and public (academic, university, institute) sectors to improve and strengthen the research and innovation ecosystem both domestically and internationally. Locating 600 km from Bangkok, UBU was established in 1990 as a key governmental university with the mission to serve the people in the North-Eastern Region of the Kingdom for better socio-economic and life quality.

At present, NSTDA and UBU have been collaborating on several R&D Projects in agriculture and food especially breeding in rice, chili, and tomato for high productivity and disease resistance. In addition, NSTDA, and UBU together with the local community are collaborating intensively on R&D to create high value added products from agricultural commodities. For instance, rice brew and functional drink from rice is an outstanding public-private partnership project in which NSTDA and UBU are working closely with local paddy farmers.

NSTDA and UBU are active players in the Thai agriculture and food system. Both are invited to be the co-organizers of the Netherlands – Thailand Biodiversity Conference 2023 to share their experiences on biodiversity in agroecology.

Inland fish play an important role in the food  (or protein security) of Thais. Prof. Dr. Tuantong Jutagate, Vice President for Research and Innovation of Ubon Ratchathani University will deliver a key message on “Biodiversity in Rivers; Fresh Water Fish and Protein Security of People in North - Eastern Region of Thailand”. In addition, Prof. Dr. Tuangton will also be the moderator of the Conference.

Today mushrooms have become one of the healthy foods. Thailand is famous for its mushroom species and diversity. Dr. Thitiya Boonpratuang from the “National Biobank of Thailand NSTDA” will give a presentation on “Mushroom; Food & Bioremediation in Agro-Ecology”.