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May 07, 2026

Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) Joins Knowledge Exchange on Enhancing Sustainable Rice Development Through the Khon Kaen Model

Bangkok, Thailand – 6 May 2026

The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) was honored to participate in the conference on the presentation of research findings and stakeholder consultation for the project titled “Expanding the Benefits of Appropriate Technology and Related Innovation for Provincial Sustainable Rice Production through the Development of the Khon Kaen Sustainable Rice Model.” The event was held on 6 May 2026 at Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, Bangkok, and was attended by Ms. Kanlak Waritwaranont, Managing Director of SRP, and Mr. Tun Boonyakongrat from the Communications and Membership Unit.

The conference brought together representatives from government agencies, academia, the private sector, and sustainability partners to discuss pathways for strengthening Thailand’s sustainable rice sector while improving farmers’ livelihoods and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The event opened with remarks from Ms. Phawadee Chaiuea, representative of ARDA, who emphasized the importance of translating research into practical implementation and scalable impact for farming communities. ARDA reaffirmed its role in supporting applied research that can generate measurable economic, social, and environmental benefits at the provincial level.

A keynote address on “The Development of Sustainable Rice in Thailand from the Perspective of the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards” was delivered by Mrs. Chanintorn Rimcharone, Deputy Director General, Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce. Her presentation highlighted the increasing pressures facing the global rice sector, including climate change, trade protection measures, geopolitical uncertainty, and intensifying price competition from major exporting countries. She also underscored the growing importance of sustainability standards and rice markets as strategic opportunities for Thailand’s rice industry.

The conference further showcased the research outcomes of the “Khon Kaen Sustainable Rice Production (KKN-SRP)” project led by Associate Professor Dr. Phumsith Mahasuweerachai and his research team from Khon Kaen University. The project focuses on applying Sustainable Rice Platform standards and appropriate technologies to improve rice production efficiency, reduce production costs, increase farmer incomes, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in Khon Kaen Province.

According to the research findings, the project engaged farmers across 73 villages in three districts of Khon Kaen Province, covering more than 13,000 rai and involving over 950 farmers.  Results demonstrated that SRP practices contributed to higher yields, lower production costs, and increased profitability compared to conventional rice farming systems. For example, farmers producing Hom Mali rice under SRP practices generated an additional profit of 415 THB per rai, while glutinous rice farmers achieved an increase of 699 THB per rai. 

The discussions highlighted the market potential of sustainable rice standards such as SRP. By adopting SRP practices and meeting sustainability requirements, participating farmers can improve both product quality and market access. The project findings indicated that the adoption of sustainable rice standards could help increase farmers’ average selling prices by approximately 300 THB per ton for rice that meets the required standards, contributing to higher farmer incomes while strengthening Thailand’s position in sustainable rice markets.

The study also demonstrated strong environmental benefits. Greenhouse gas emissions from SRP fields were significantly lower than conventional production systems, achieving approximately 70% emission mitigation in 2025 through improved water and nutrient management.  In addition, the project successfully reduced rice residue burning in participating areas, particularly in Phra Yuen District, where satellite monitoring confirmed substantial reductions in burning activities. Importantly, the project achieved notable certification progress, with 805 farmers successfully meeting SRP certification requirements and more than 10,000 rai achieving compliance under the SRP Farm Standard and SRP Chain of Custody (CoC).

Throughout the discussions, participants emphasized that sustainable rice production is no longer solely an environmental issue but increasingly a market requirement. The conference highlighted how sustainability standards such as SRP can support Thailand’s transition toward higher-value rice markets while strengthening resilience across the rice value chain. For SRP, the Khon Kaen model represents a strong example of how multi-stakeholder collaboration, farmer-centered implementation, and market integration can create tangible impact at scale. The discussions reinforced the importance of connecting sustainability standards with real market opportunities, farmer incentives, and long-term policy support.

SRP appreciates the opportunity to join the dialogue and congratulates all partners involved in advancing sustainable rice production in Thailand. SRP looks forward to continued collaboration with research institutions, government agencies, farmers, and private-sector stakeholders to further accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable rice sector in Thailand.

By Thanaporn Thammawongsa