Welcome to the vibrant fields of Kamphaeng Saen Campus at Kasetsart University, nestled within the charming province of Nakhon Pathom, where the essence of innovation blooms amidst the greenery. Monday, December 11th, marks the finale of a groundbreaking event that promises to sear its brilliance in the annals of agricultural science. What has unfolded here could very well be a pivotal moment in our battle against climate change, and the headliner of this fair is none other than the revolutionary Khao Hom Siam 2.
Enter Meechai Siangliw, not merely a researcher but a visionary at the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), who has been toiling with noble fervor to bestow upon us a grain capable of mighty feats. Khao Hom Siam 2, cultivated with painstaking care, is envisioned to not only enchant our senses with an aroma reminiscent of the famed Hom Mali—jasmine rice to the world—but also to serve as an eco-warrior, slashing the noxious release of greenhouse emissions such as nitrogen during its growth.
The incubators of this vegetative marvel—BIOTEC alongside the university’s Rice Science Centre—aren’t just content with fragrance; they yearn for an impressive yield per rai coupled with a significant reduction in gaseous rebellion against our atmosphere. This new breed isn’t a delicate flower; it is toughened against the whims of climate—it laughs in the face of drought and paddles through floods, unharmed by the diseases and pests that prowl the granaries of Thailand.
As if that weren’t enough, the tenacious minds behind Khao Hom Siam 2 have been busy bees, pollinating the fair with a plethora of rice breeds tailored to the complex tapestry of climates and aquatic treasures that drape our regions. Let us crane our necks towards the Hom Malai Man rice, an off-season champion against leaf blight disease. Now behold the year-round soldier, Hom Naga sticky rice, and the Nan 59, a variety designed with an elegant, shorter stem to resist the tragic fate of snapping under pressure.
But why stop at rice? The fair brims with agricultural delights, a showcase of human innovation. Slink through the exhibits and find a cunning greenhouse gas detector that whispers the secrets of farm emissions, or gaze upon the pioneer cherry tomatoes that scoff at the mere mention of disease. Wander through a mesmerizing rice-field art exhibition or mingle among the bustling booths where OTOP products—beacons of local craftsmanship—tempt visitors with their allure.
This fair is more than an exhibition; it’s a celebration of human ingenuity and the tenacity of life. As families come together, farmers share wisdom, and researchers unveil their latest quests, remember the name Khao Hom Siam 2—a grain not only designed to feed but to protect, not only to grow but to sustain. This isn’t the epilogue of an event; it’s the prologue to an era where agriculture and the environment no longer have to be at odds, thanks to the seeds of change planted at Kamphaeng Saen Campus.
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