KKU Drives ‘Pla-Ra For the Future’, Blending Isan Wisdom with Innovation to Elevate Thai Fermented Fish to Global Standards and Markets

20 July 2026
09:32

Khon Kaen University has joined the drive to transform Thailand’s identity food industry by integrating research, technology, and business mechanisms to upgrade traditional Thai fermented fish into a high-value, international-standard product.

Khon Kaen University (KKU) recently took part in advancing the Thai identity food industry at the event titled “Pla-Ra For the Future: From Local Fermentation to Global Innovation” (also known as the Thai Pla-Ra Academic and Innovation Fair of the Future: A Platform to Drive the Thai Identity Food Industry towards the Creative Economy and Global Markets). The event took place on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, at the Kaen Kaew Live House & Rooftop, Ad Lib Hotel, Khon Kaen Province. The primary objective was to exchange knowledge and collaboratively transform Pla-Ra (Thai fermented fish) from local wisdom into a high-value, high-quality, and safe food product capable of competing at an international level.

At the event, Prof. Thidarut Boonmars, D.V.M., Ph.D., Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability at Khon Kaen University, participated in a panel discussion on the topic “Value-Creating Innovation, Growth-Generating Market: Linking Research, Technology, Investment, and Entrepreneurs towards Developing High-Value Food Industries of the Future.” During the session, the Vice President presented strategic guidelines for integrating research, technology, innovation, and business mechanisms. This approach aims to add value to Thai identity food products, elevate manufacturing standards, and enhance the capabilities of entrepreneurs, enabling them to achieve sustainable growth in both domestic and international markets.

The event was organised to transform Pla-Ra—a cornerstone of the culinary wisdom and identity of the northeastern region (Isan)—from a community product into an international-standard food item. This transformation relies on the application of science, technology, and innovation at every stage of the value chain, encompassing raw material selection, fermentation processes, quality and safety control, processing, packaging design, branding, and marketing channel development. A core element in driving the Thai Pla-Ra industry is the creation of a collaborative ecosystem that connects academic institutions, government agencies, the private sector, industrial enterprises, and local entrepreneurs. This ensures that research findings and technologies are practically implemented, thereby enhancing the competitive edge of businesses and returning income to local communities and economies.

Another major highlight of the event was the proposal to establish the “Isan Fermentation Excellence Centre (สถาบันปลาร้า),” designed to serve as Thailand’s central hub for fermentation and food processing knowledge. The centre will support research and development, technology transfer, manufacturing standard upgrades, and product quality and safety assurance. It will also focus on product development and building collaborative networks to preserve local wisdom while generating sustainable economic value. Under the concept “From ISAN Wisdom to Global Standard,” the centre aims to systematically develop the culinary wisdom of the Isan people, whilst preserving cultural identity and heritage. This spans fermentation research, product development, packaging and brand design, culinary tourism promotion, and linkages with the creative industries, elevating Thai Pla-Ra from a local ingredient into a cultural product capable of driving economic value and national soft power.

The university’s participation in this academic forum reflects the pivotal role of KKU in deploying knowledge, research, and innovation to support grassroots economic development, enhance entrepreneurial potential, and channel cultural capital into a creative economy. By linking the university’s expertise with the demands of the industrial sector and local communities, the initiative ensures the practical application of that expertise and creates a positive impact on society. These efforts directly align with Khon Kaen University’s vision of being “A World-Leading Research and Development University Dedicated to Society,” which strives to create value from knowledge and innovation to improve the quality of life, boost national competitiveness, and foster balanced, sustainable development.

Furthermore, this initiative strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): By adding value to community products and creating economic opportunities for entrepreneurs.
SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): By utilising science and innovation to upgrade the food industry.
SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): By developing high-quality, safe, and resource-efficient production processes.
SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): by fostering collaboration among the university, government agencies, the private sector, industrial enterprises, and entrepreneurs to sustainably drive Thai identity food into the global market.