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On 21 November 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siwaret Arikit, Director of the Rice Science Center, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Chatchamas Kanchanaudomkarn, Head of the Tropical Vegetable Research and Development Center, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, and Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, together with Chichibu Chemical Co., Ltd., moved forward with developing innovation for sustainable water management through the project to build the innovative plastic rainwater storage structure “New Pla-Kun”, or Plastic Rainwater Storage Structure (PRSS), a modern plastic rainwater storage structure designed to help relieve flooding in both urban and rural communities. The construction site is located in the Agricultural Innovation Learning Center of Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus.
The key features of the New Pla-Kun innovation include:
A special high-strength plastic material that withstands compressive loads well, suitable for installation underground to temporarily store rainwater and reduce runoff that leads to flooding
The area above can be used in many ways, such as parking lots, playgrounds or other public spaces, without affecting its water storage capacity
A void ratio above 95%, allowing it to store a lot of water relative to the weight of the structure
Easy and fast to install: the largest piece weighs only 3 kilograms and can be moved and assembled by hand without machinery
The project is also an example of applying technology to solve agricultural problems, as agriculture regularly faces drought and floods. The soil area above the structure can be used for normal farming, such as growing rice and vegetables, helping make the most of soil and water resources.
This cooperation is another important step for education, research and the private sector in developing technology to cope with disasters and manage water resources efficiently, answering the country's future needs for environmental sustainability and food security.
Source: Facebook Rice Science Center
