With aspirations to become a key global food supplier, Thailand is actively working to foster innovation in its agricultural sector. The country is focusing on enhancing farming techniques to boost the productivity and value of agricultural products, while supporting farmers in their shift toward smart agriculture.
As part of this modernization effort, a delegation from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL),the Thailand Productivity Institute (FTPI), Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, and some private companies went for a study tour to the Netherlands, organized by HollandDoor. The aim was to gain inspiration from the Dutch ecosystem, which integrates research, business, technology, and policy.
The tour provided insights into precision farming, robotics, automation, collaborative efforts, water-saving strategies, food safety, e-partnerships, nature-inclusive farming, biological pest control, and partnerships between the private sector and educational institutions. Sustainable cultivation management was also a key focus.
Several important observations emerged from the week-long study tour, which included visits to stakeholders across the agricultural value chain:
- Both Thailand and the Netherlands are highly committed to reducing the environmental impact of food production, including areas such as climate, biodiversity, water, and land use. While both are at different stages, KMITL is keen to demonstrate this through the creation of demonstration fields.
- "Collaboration" was emphasized as a key driver of success, a message reiterated at every visit.
- Some Dutch companies face challenges entering the Thai market, though their products and services could significantly contribute to developments at the farmer level. Some technology suppliers have to tailor their products and services to local circumstances.
- The Dutch companies visited were transparent about their daily challenges, which led to an open exchange of knowledge.
- There is strong interest from the Netherlands in strategic collaborations with Thailand, and we plan to continue exploring potential partnerships.
The study tour included visits to the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, the Thai Embassy, and several leading agricultural organizations such as World Horti Center, Art Techno, Farm of the Future (Wageningen University), Aeres, Dutch Greenhouse Delta, Ridder Group, Rijk Zwaan, Koppert, and Royal FloraHolland.
For more information, please contact Engelie Beenen
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