KHON KAEN – Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Agriculture, in collaboration with public and private sector partners, academics, and local farmers, hosted “Soybean Field Day 2026” on April 8. The event, held at a farm in the Tha Phra sub-district, aimed to advance and strengthen the soybean cluster in Thailand’s northeastern region, promoting a sustainable grassroots economy.
The event brought together over 80 participants from various key organizations, including the Khon Kaen Provincial Cooperative, the Khon Kaen Seed Research and Development Center, the Royal Irrigation Department Office 6, and provincial agricultural offices. Private sector representatives from Boon Rawd Brewery Co., Ltd. (Singha R-sa) and Khon Kaen Brewery Co., Ltd. were also in attendance, alongside soybean farmers from the “Roi Kaen Sarasin” area (covering Roi Et, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, and Kalasin provinces).
Dr. Somsak Wiwithakayoonwong, the Khon Kaen Provincial Agriculture and Cooperatives official, presided over the opening ceremony. In her address, Assistant Professor Mallika Srisutham, a key organizer from the university, stated that the event’s purpose was to create a platform for knowledge exchange and to build a sustainable network for soybean growers.
Associate Professor Dr. Panupon Hongpakdee, the faculty’s Associate Dean for Research, Innovation, and International Affairs, emphasized the faculty’s role in supporting research and innovation to boost the local economy and enhance the global competitiveness of the country’s economic crops.
The event featured a group discussion format, allowing farmers to share experiences, discuss challenges, and propose development strategies. The information gathered will be used to improve the efficiency of the soybean cluster in areas of production, marketing, and value-added processing.
Organizers noted that the initiative is a key mechanism for driving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting food security, ensuring stable income for farmers, and fostering balanced growth in the grassroots economy through multi-sector collaboration.
