Mr. Peerapan Kothong, Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), revealed that amidst a world facing economic, trade, geopolitical, and new trade standards volatility, the Thai agricultural sector needs a practical foresight and risk management system. Therefore, the OAE has designed a research plan in the form of a research portfolio and an analysis portfolio to connect knowledge with timely policies. The research portfolios R1-R15 focus on building models and evidence to enhance competitiveness, covering research on climate risk to yields and prices, assessing the impact of geopolitics and trade standards, analyzing distortions in supply chains and input markets, and improving the economic efficiency of government policies to generate income and stability for farmers. Furthermore, it emphasizes shifting production systems to high-value goods, evaluating the cost-effectiveness of smart agricultural technologies, designing insurance systems and forecasting food consumption, carbon auditing and trade standards, analyzing household debt, and classifying commodities to determine future directions or adjustments. The development of the biomass, biomaterials, and bioenergy economy; upgrading labor skills; and defining the framework for special agricultural economic zones are key focus areas of cooperation.

The A1–A12 analysis plan series will serve as a policy radar system, transforming research into immediately usable reports. This includes the creation of agricultural risk dashboards and commodity price monitoring; comprehensive quarterly and annual economic trend reports; spatial economic situation analysis; and rapid reporting of sudden impact events. Furthermore, the budget structure will be reviewed to increase flexibility and closely monitor the financial well-being of farmer households. Both agencies also agreed to leverage research for practical application in the field through a spatial research (sandbox) model. The Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) will identify economic challenges and develop plans, while the Agricultural Research and Development Institute (ARDI) will provide research and innovation funding to accelerate the development of production systems, marketing, and product standards to meet global market demands. A system for monitoring measurable outcomes will also be established. This collaboration will enhance Thai agricultural policy, increase productivity, and create sustainable income security for farmers.

Go To Lead