On 31 March 2026, Khon Kaen University, in collaboration with the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB), organised an Upskill & Reskill training programme under the topic “Biofuel Production for Agricultural Machinery.” The initiative aimed to pilot the transformation of agricultural waste, such as sugarcane leaves and tops, into bio-oil. This serves as a concrete solution to address the country’s rising energy costs and environmental crises.
The event was honoured by Mr. Sittirong Rengngiap, Deputy Secretary-General of the Cane and Sugar Board, who presided over the opening ceremony. Also in attendance were Ms. Phakawan Maneerat, Director of the Bio-Industry Division, and Mr. Jirawat Therdphithakphong, Director of the Cane and Sugar Industry Promotion Centre Region 3, along with the centre’s staff. On this occasion, Associate Professor Supasit Konyai, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Academic Affairs at the Office of Academic Service and a lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University, served as a special guest speaker. He transferred knowledge on smart agricultural innovations, highlighting guidelines for the practical application of technology within the sugarcane industry.
Overcoming the “Energy Cost” and “PM 2.5 Pollution” Crises
Currently, the agricultural sector and the sugarcane industry are facing significant challenges. These include the PM 2.5 particulate matter crisis, partly caused by the open burning of sugarcane leaves, and the continuous rise in the financial burden of fossil fuel prices. Recognising these issues, Khon Kaen University has researched and developed the innovation of “Bio-oil” production. This project maximises the potential of sugarcane leaves and tops, which amount to a staggering 16.79 million tonnes of agricultural waste annually, by processing them into clean energy. This prevents the wasted loss of biomass and creates added economic value for farmers.
Highlighting Four Prototype Innovations to Comprehensively Elevate Thai Agriculture
Through a continuous commitment to research, Khon Kaen University has developed automated prototype machines that address the entire sugarcane production cycle from upstream to downstream. The four innovations include:
- Bio-oil Production Prototype (2022): Utilising the pyrolysis process, this machine converts sugarcane leaves into bio-oil with a maximum yield of 44.7%, alongside by-products such as biogas and soil amendments (biochar).
- Automated Sugarcane Leaf Baler Prototype (2024): Enhances the efficiency of collecting sugarcane leaves from agricultural fields, reducing reliance on manual labour and saving operational costs.
- Automated Liquid Fertiliser and Chemical Sprayer Prototype (2025): Incorporates automated technology to control operations, increasing precision and reducing farmers’ risk of direct chemical exposure, thereby elevating their quality of life and safety.
- Liquid Fuel Distillation Prototype (2025): Builds upon previous successes by fractionally distilling bio-oil into high-quality products, including bio-diesel and bio-petrol, which possess properties equivalent to commercial-grade fuels.
Meeting the SDGs and Driving the Circular Economy
The success of this innovation represents a genuine driver for the Circular Economy. Farmers can efficiently blend bio-oil with standard diesel at a ratio of 10–14% for use in agricultural machinery without causing engine knocking.
Furthermore, the project fully aligns with Khon Kaen University’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly regarding affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and climate action (SDG 13). This initiative successfully transforms agricultural “waste” into economic “value” while restoring clean, smog-free air to society.
