Bangkok (VNA) - The Thai government is pushing ahead with thebio-economy concept to modernise agriculture with advanced technology in a moveto improve the national economy, local media reported.
Bio-economy, which uses renewable resources and turns them into value-addedproducts, is expected to help farmers better deal with unstable crop prices andconvince various industries such as automotive and electronics to come up withnew products.
Authorities put agriculture and biotechnology, which are at the core of abio-economy, on the list of 12 targeted S-curve industries, covering a range ofbusinesses from cars and smart electronics to affluent and medical and wellnesstourism.
According to Alongkorn Ponlaboot, adviser to the agriculture and cooperativesminister, the S-curve initiative will be a new tool to grow the Thai economy.
“Such crops as sugar cane, cassava and rice can be developed into value-addedproducts,” Alongkorn was quoted by the Bangkok Post newspaper as saying.
“The government is preparing biochemical projects for them," he told awebinar co-organised by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, the ThaiChamber of Commerce and Post Today.
According to Alongkorn, Thailand has high potential for a bio-economy becauseit has a large agricultural base and is a major food exporter. Biochemicalprojects must be supported by innovations and advanced technology, withcooperation from farmers and companies.
The Industry Ministry of Thailand launched biochemical projects to upgrade crops such ascassava by turning them into pharmaceutical-grade raw materials, as well asfood and feed products to serve the global market.
The Thai government plans to support biochemical projects and related research until2026. The goal is to strengthen five sectors: bioenergy, biochemicals, food,animal feed and biopharmaceuticals.
Sugar cane and cassava are used as raw materials for many industries such asethanol, bioplastics, food, bioenergy and biopharmaceuticals.
Alongkorn said Thailand also needs to develop and improve labour skills toserve the bio-economy scheme.
The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry expects the bio-economy will helpThailand escape the middle-income trap./.
Bio-economy, which uses renewable resources and turns them into value-addedproducts, is expected to help farmers better deal with unstable crop prices andconvince various industries such as automotive and electronics to come up withnew products.
Authorities put agriculture and biotechnology, which are at the core of abio-economy, on the list of 12 targeted S-curve industries, covering a range ofbusinesses from cars and smart electronics to affluent and medical and wellnesstourism.
According to Alongkorn Ponlaboot, adviser to the agriculture and cooperativesminister, the S-curve initiative will be a new tool to grow the Thai economy.
“Such crops as sugar cane, cassava and rice can be developed into value-addedproducts,” Alongkorn was quoted by the Bangkok Post newspaper as saying.
“The government is preparing biochemical projects for them," he told awebinar co-organised by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, the ThaiChamber of Commerce and Post Today.
According to Alongkorn, Thailand has high potential for a bio-economy becauseit has a large agricultural base and is a major food exporter. Biochemicalprojects must be supported by innovations and advanced technology, withcooperation from farmers and companies.
The Industry Ministry of Thailand launched biochemical projects to upgrade crops such ascassava by turning them into pharmaceutical-grade raw materials, as well asfood and feed products to serve the global market.
The Thai government plans to support biochemical projects and related research until2026. The goal is to strengthen five sectors: bioenergy, biochemicals, food,animal feed and biopharmaceuticals.
Sugar cane and cassava are used as raw materials for many industries such asethanol, bioplastics, food, bioenergy and biopharmaceuticals.
Alongkorn said Thailand also needs to develop and improve labour skills toserve the bio-economy scheme.
The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry expects the bio-economy will helpThailand escape the middle-income trap./.
VNA
