Organic Growth in Thailand

Posted - November 1, 2008

Thailand’s Organic Sector Ready for a New Level

By Lucia Lorente - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008

After almost two decades producing rice and other crops under organic farming methods, Thailand has earned an international reputation for high-quality ingredients. Already the world’s largest exporter of organic rice, the country’s organic sector is ready for new challenges.

Success seems inevitable, if past accomplishments are anything to go by. Thailand’s organic producers are committed to innovation, notably in the areas of crop fertility and pest control. Expansion has followed, with a growing number of farms converting to organic production. The sector enjoys government support and officially recognized organic farming practices and certification. Strong networks and alliances both in Thailand and worldwide provide a way to share best practices.

The Thai Organic Trade Association (TOTA) and the Earth Net Foundation - Green Net are coordinating these renewed efforts. The Earth Net Foundation - Green Net is a non-governmental organization in Thailand that promotes organic farming and helps farmers sell their crops in the domestic market and abroad. Michael Commons of Green Net says Thailand shows strength in different areas of its organic sector.

“Farmers in some regions of the country are getting equivalent or better rice yields than conventional producers, even secondary yields,” says Commons. “In particular, the Khao Kwan and Hak Muang Nan Foundations and their associated farmer networks have developed a strong capacity in rice seed selection, breeding, improving and developing new varieties that perform well under organic farming methods.”

Conventional rice prices have more than doubled in both domestic and international markets. Chemical fertilizers have also risen in price. This situation may help stimulate conversion to organic methods.

“More and more firms are interested in organic farming,” says Commons. “We even receive groups from other Asian countries looking for training in organic production, certification, processing, and marketing, areas where Thailand already has a strong existing capacity.”

With respect to certification Thailand has ACT, its own IFOAM credited certification body, able to certify operators for all of the major market standards.

The Thai government has increased support for organic agriculture over the last five years, with funding for initiatives at regional and international levels.

The Thai Organic Trade Association (TOTA) was established in 2005. The organization’s mandate is to increase export capacity and exposure in the domestic and international market.

“Under one umbrella, it is much easier to channel attention from the government, market our products, develop further alliances with local and foreign organizations and achieve common goals,” says Wanlop Pichpongsa, president of TOTA and member of the STC-group, the first Thai company to export organic rice to Europe.

Under the TOTA banner, Thai companies have presented their products at Biofach Germany for the past three years, and made strong connections during their trade missions to Expo West in Anaheim and All Things Organic in Chicago. This year they will have a pavilion at Biofach Japan.

Thailand has positioned itself as a reliable supplier of tasty foods, fresh and frozen ingredients and ready-to-eat meals. A number of companies (not organic certified - yet) are successfully exporting all natural ready-to eat frozen meals, mainly to the United States. The challenges now are to increase organic production and consumption in Thailand and to diversify lines to export more products with added value, that are totally organic.

“We know how to produce good food and how to export it to meet the requirements of the international market, but we still do not have all ingredients to export a complete organic meal, say a Thai curry,” says Pichpongsa.

Besides rice, Thai exports include vegetables, coconut meal tapioca, sugar, Thai sauces and chilli peppers. The latest introductions include organic certified shrimp and a line of natural soaps and body care.