4th National Rice Research Conference set early Sept

BANGKOK, August 23 (TNA) - The 4th National Rice Research Conference will be held in Bangkok early next month, aimed to be a platform for shared knowledge and research projects on the further development of Thai grains. Anan Suwannarat, Director-General of the Rice Department, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, told journalists on August 22 that his department will organise the 4th National Rice Research Conference at the Government Complex and Convention Centre in Chaeng Watthana area on the outskirts of Bangkok during September 1-3. Anan said Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will inaugurate the upcoming four-day conference, themed "Rice Research to Cope with World Changes", where rice research projects of both public and private agencies, as well as local communities will be presented. Anan acknowledged that the conference is also aimed to create a network of rice researchers to boost Thailand's rice research standard to the international level beneficial to national utilisation practically through future rice strategies. According to the senior official, Thailand is a world most major rice producer, generating income from rice exports up to 200 billion baht annually. However, the senior official acknowledged, Thailand needs to apply advance scientific and technological approaches for coping with impacts from climate change and enhancing national competitiveness. Other activities at the four-day event also include a public discussion on the development of Thai rice and farmers to cope with world changes, as well as special lectures on "How to Feed Five Billion Rice Consumers in 2050" and "Thai Rice and Cosmetics Industry", along with the presentation of rice research projects through over 80 posters from researchers nationwide. (TNA)