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On 25 June 2026, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siwaret Arikit, Director of the Rice Science Center, and Mr. Suman Hoimala, agricultural officer of the Rice Science Center, called on Mr. Somchai Lertprasitthiphan, Governor of Phrae Province, 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 Phrae Province, one of Thailand's important rice-growing areas.
Representatives of related agencies attended this meeting, namely Mr. Manoon Rattanaubon, Phrae Agriculture and Cooperatives Officer; Ms. Soipet Tantiratananont, Phrae Provincial Agriculture Officer; Mrs. Channipa Srichaiwan, Phrae Provincial Land Reform Officer; Ms. Sujitra Tejakhot, Director of the Phrae Rice Seed Center; Mr. Natphasit Therarachchanon, Director of the Phrae Land Development Station; Mr. Nopphon Saraphiphat, Senior Irrigation Technician, Phrae Irrigation Project; Mrs. Chaloemkwan Ketmanee, Senior Professional Level Agricultural Officer, Phrae Rice Research Center; Mr. Phasu Sakulareewattana, Senior Professional Level Agricultural Officer, Phrae Agricultural Research and Development Center; Ms. Nonthaphon Wongto, Environmental Officer, Phrae Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office; Ms. Ratchaneekorn Taman, Head of the Farmer Assistance and Special Projects Group, Phrae Provincial Agriculture and Cooperatives Office; and Mrs. Nalinrat Laoratdecha, Policy and Plan Analyst, Phrae Provincial Agriculture and Cooperatives Office, who exchanged views and suggestions on driving the project at the area level.
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 working group 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 Phrae Province's executives on integrating cooperation in academic work, research and agricultural extension, to concretely expand the project to farmers in Phrae 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, sustainably.
Source: Facebook Rice Science Center
