Tackling PM2.5: MFU and NRCT Partner to Establish 6 "Smoke-Fighting" Model Communities in Northern Thailand

On 26 July 2026, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), hosted a certificate and award ceremony honouring six model communities designated as "Smoke-Fighting Farmer Community Centres."

The initiative is part of the research project "Sustainable Area-Based Integrated Innovation for Solving PM2.5 Problems in Northern Thailand," led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anak Khantachawana from King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), in collaboration with Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) and Kasetsart University (KU), with financial support from the NRCT.

Dr. Wiparat De-ong, Executive Director of the NRCT, presided over the ceremony. Mr. Norasak Suksomboon, Deputy Governor of Chiang Rai Province, delivered welcome remarks, while Prof. Dr. Sujitra Wongkasemjit, Vice President of MFU, attended alongside research teams, government officials, private sector representatives, local administrative organisations, and community leaders in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province.

Dr. Wiparat De-ong stated that the NRCT prioritises supporting research and innovation that deliver concrete solutions to critical national issues, particularly PM2.5 air pollution, which remains a national agenda. Honouring the six model communities in Chiang Rai and Phayao provinces highlights the success of multi-sectoral collaboration—bringing together research bodies, academic institutions, government agencies, the private sector, and local communities to turn innovation into practical biomass management, reduce open burning, lower PM2.5 emissions, and improve people’s quality of life as a scalable model for other regions.

Mr. Norasak Suksomboon added that Chiang Rai Province continues to prioritise smog and PM2.5 mitigation. Support from the NRCT has allowed research and innovation to be deployed directly in the field, fostering cross-sector collaboration and empowering local communities to manage agricultural waste efficiently, contributing to sustainably reducing open burning and building a healthier environment.

Prof. Dr. Sujitra Wongkasemjit highlighted MFU’s key role in driving the initiative by integrating science, research, and innovation with area-based community engagement. This approach develops suitable agricultural waste management strategies, transfers practical technologies, minimises open burning and hotspots, and creates value-added products from local resources—generating income, advancing the quality of life, and strengthening rural communities sustainably. MFU's primary research team includes Asst. Prof. Dr. Sutthiwal Setha and Asst. Prof. Dr. Phunsiri Suthiluk from the School of Agro-Industry, along with MFU researchers.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anak Khantachawana, Head Researcher, explained that the project aims to integrate scientific knowledge with community participation to manage agricultural residue, reduce open burning and hotspots, and transfer processing technology to turn waste into value-added biomass products—such as biochar, wood vinegar, and bio-based products. These efforts generate local income across Chiang Rai and Phayao while tackling PM2.5 pollution effectively. 

The six model "Smoke-Fighting Farmer Community Centers" comprise:
1. Learning Center under Royal Initiative, Ban Dai Subdistrict, Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province
2. Organic Rice Community Center, Mae O Subdistrict, Phan District, Chiang Rai Province
3. Thung Tom Organic Rice Farmers Group, Sri Don Chai Subdistrict, Thoeng District, Chiang Rai Province
4. Ngio Mega-Farm Farmers Group, Ngio Subdistrict, Thoeng District, Chiang Rai Province
5. Organic Rice Farmers Group, Huai Yang Kham Subdistrict, Jun District, Phayao Province
6. San Khong Rice Community Center, San Khong Subdistrict, Dok Khamtai District, Phayao Province

These centers serve as local learning hubs for biomass management, agricultural fire reduction, and network building across government, academic, civil society, local administration, and community sectors to expand PM2.5 solutions continuously. 

This project underscores MFU's commitment to translating research into real-world applications alongside regional partners, scaling up environmental innovations to curb open burning, tackle PM2.5, and sustainably elevate the quality of life across Northern Thailand.