Assoc. Prof. Dr. Apichart Vanavichit Receives the Biotechnologist Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Apichart Vanavichit, Director of the Rice Gene Discovery Unit, a joint research unit of BIOTEC and Kasetsart University, received the 2013 Biotechnologist Award from Biogenomed Co., Ltd. The award is given to researchers with potential, including those who can create research that can be developed further to a point of sufficient potential to be used for public benefit or commercially.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Apichart Vanavichit has succeeded in applying genome technology to gene discovery for rice breeding. He discovered and patented the gene that controls high-level production of the aroma compound 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP), a world first, and later developed the genetic base of Khao Dawk Mali rice to tolerate flooding and resist disease, insects and environmental stress, and to give high yields, while fully keeping the characteristics of Thai jasmine rice.

In addition, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Apichart has outstanding work recognized in academia, having been presented with the Outstanding Person of the Nation Award in Science and Technology for 2012 by royal decree, and the environmentally friendly rice breeding project, of which he is project leader, was selected by the committee to receive the 2012 Leading Research Fellowship from NSTDA under the project Whole-genome mutagenesis technology for enhancing the potential of environmentally friendly rice breeding.