The Office of Academic Service transfers sustainable agricultural waste-processing technology to establish a self-reliant model community under royal initiatives.
On 25 August 2026, the Office of Academic Service at Khon Kaen University (KKU) hosted a handover ceremony for pyrolysis kiln technology and convened an exhibition entitled “Model Community Project for Upcycling Cassava Rhizomes towards Sustainable Development” at Ban Kho Town Municipality, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province. Supported by the Khon Kaen University Model Community Development Project under Royal Initiatives, the project aims to transform low-value agricultural residue into high-value, environmentally friendly products.
During the event, Professor Thidarut Boonmars, D.V.M., Ph.D., Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability at Khon Kaen University, presented the pyrolysis technology to Mr. Jakkapong Phetsaen, Mayor of Ban Kho Town Municipality. The municipality and local community will use the system to convert cassava rhizomes and other agricultural biomass into high-grade biochar, a valuable soil conditioner, through thermal conversion in an oxygen-limited environment.
Assistant Professor Surapol Nesusin, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Lifelong Learning and Sustainability at the Office of Academic Service, reported that the project’s success stemmed from strong collaboration among Khon Kaen University, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Ban Kho Town Municipality, and network partners. This synergy resulted in concrete outcomes, including the customised kiln innovation, the commercial launch of community products under the “Ban Kho Biochar” brand, and the successful cultivation of local “community innovators”.
This initiative puts the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model into practice. It integrates biological resource utilisation (Bio Economy), material recycling and upcycling (Circular Economy), and environmentally conscious production processes (Green Economy), directly advancing royal principles to strengthen the grassroots economy.
The Office of Academic Service emphasises the principle of “building people alongside innovation”. As a result, the technology transfer delivers not only equipment, but also practical knowledge and economic opportunities, enabling community innovators to utilise local resources, create sustainable careers, and generate income. This milestone highlights Khon Kaen University’s commitment to putting research and academic service to practical use for sustainable community development.
News: Mr Chanachai Rittsongmuang
Photographs: Mr Prapaporn Khanchai and Mr Chanachai Rittsongmuang
