Thailand: Sustainable rice farms aid livelihoods and biodiversity
In Thailand’s northern Isaan region, a Sustainable Production project is improving environmental outcomes and livelihoods for local rice producers. Their efforts facilitate the production of a rice bran oil, a cosmetic ingredient known for enhancing skin hydration, which also acts as an antioxidant and anti-aging agent.
This region is one of Thailand’s largest rice-producing areas and faces a growing need to improve the appeal and sustainability of rice farming, crucial for maintaining the resilience of the rice supply chain. In recent years, many farmers have left for better job opportunities in cities such as Bangkok, and this has depleted the numbers of regional rice farmers.
Launched in 2021, the initiative has helped hundreds of farmers transition to more sustainable practices, focusing on reducing methane emissions and enhancing biodiversity. Farmers are trained in the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and agroforestry techniques, yielding positive results. By 2024, over 700 farmers had participated, with many diversifying their incomes through tree planting and water access loans.
The project also aims to plant thousands of trees every year starting in 2025, enhancing the ecosystem around rice farms.
Adopting these practices helps rice farms become more resilient to climate change, while improving soil health and boosting yields and contributing to a sustainable future for Thai rice production.
