Nanotechnology: Thai scientists to focus on nano-agriculture

Last Updated on Monday, 21 February 2011 12:41

Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), and its Department of Agriculture's Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives have signed a research collaborative memorandum of understanding to identify and initiate agricultural research activities. The initial phase of the collaboration will focus on nanotechnology particularly in the area of food packaging and encapsulation technology for control release of fertilizers.

Thailand's nanotechnology research is based at the National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), which is located in the Thailand Science Park, Pathumthani Province – Thailand's education and technology hub, about 30 km north of Bangkok.

"The application of nanotechnology is diverse," says Sirirurg Songsivilai, executive director of NANOTEC. "It is predicted that nanotechnology will have major impacts on the entire food industry, changing the way food is produced, processed, packaged, transported and consumed. Therefore, as an agriculture-based economy, it is important that relevant ministries and research agencies work together to build knowledge in the area of nanotechnology in agriculture."

Somchai Charnnarongkul, director general, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives adds, "The research collaboration initiative will be a positive experience for our researchers, especially because the use of nanotechnology in agriculture in Thailand is still considered ground-breaking, but it will come in a dramatic way."

The research collaboration will focus on research and development of agricultural technology, sharing of human resources and infrastructure, knowledge exchange and human resource training. In addition, the collaboration will also look at areas related to intellectual property of research output.

Dr Chamorn Chawengkijwanich from the NanoHybrid Laboratory will lead the research team from NANOTEC for nano food packaging technology.

The duration of the collaboration will be five years, from 12 July 2010 until 11 July 2015. For further information, contact:

Ramjitti Indaraprasirt
Manager
International Relations Section
NANOTEC
113 Thailand Science Park, Pathumthani
Thailand 12120
tel 02-564-7100 ext 6617
e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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