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On 24 June 2026, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siwaret Arikit, Director of the Rice Science Center, and Mr. Suman Hoimala, agricultural officer of the Rice Science Center, together with Mr. Thanyapong Jaikham, Chairman of the Chiang Rai Rice Network and owner of Na Maew, Kiew Tawan Thanya Farm, Chiang Rai Province, called on Ms. Sirilak Kamol, Chiang Rai Provincial Agriculture Officer, as assigned by the Governor of Chiang Rai, together with researchers and agricultural officers from the Chiang Rai Rice Research Center, to explain and discuss approaches to implementing the project “Regenerative Burn-Free Rice for Clean Air and High-Value Markets (Clean Air Rice)”, which is being driven in northern Thailand, especially Chiang Rai Province, one of Thailand's important rice-growing areas.
The purpose of this meeting was to build understanding of the concept and goals of the Clean Air Rice project, which promotes rice production by regenerative agriculture and reduces burning of agricultural residues in paddy fields, an important cause of fine particulate PM2.5 and air pollution in the north, while raising rice production quality in line with consumers who value the environment, health and sustainability.
The Rice Science Center delegation presented approaches to developing a network of Clean Air Rice farmers, managing straw and stubble without burning, increasing soil organic matter, reducing production costs, and developing a traceability system and links to high-value markets, to create stable and fair income for farmers.
Views were also exchanged with the Chiang Rai Provincial Agriculture Office and the Chiang Rai Rice Research Center on integrating cooperation in academic work, research and agricultural extension, to concretely expand the project to farmers in Chiang Rai Province, leading to reduced burning in agriculture, restoration of soil resources and ecosystems, and building a new image for Thai rice as an environmentally friendly product that answers the quality market of the future.
This cooperation is another important step in driving Thai agriculture toward sustainability, relying on cooperation among government agencies, academia, the private sector and farmer networks, to jointly create clean air, reduce smog, and raise the value of Thai rice so it can compete in markets that value socially and environmentally responsible production.
Source: Facebook Rice Science Center
