WU Provide access to Laboratory for plant & animal feed to local farmers and food producers in Nakhon Si Thammarat to improve sustainable farming practices

07Nov 2022 by Krittayot Ritthijak

Outreach and Engagement

School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry Walailak University has the vision to produce new innovators in agriculture and food for economic, social, and environmental development from local to international and a mission to produce graduates with expertise in agricultural and food innovation, which is the universal skills. The institute advances teaching, research, and academic service in agriculture and food to meet local and national needs toward international excellence. Formerly, the school has produced over 1,000 high-quality graduates in agriculture and agro-industry for the country and nearly reached 1,200 the following year.

The School of Agricultural Technology graduates are employed in the fields of agriculture and agro-industry and have a successful personal business. In addition, we have developed 3,200,000 square meters (2,000 rai) of the farm in the university to support the teaching and learning process and develop a shop that sells agricultural products and safe food.

In the production of research learning and academic services, the School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry Walailak University has a center of excellence in all aspects of food, plant, fishery, and animal sciences, including:

1) Food Technology and Innovation Research Center of Excellence

2) Research Center of Excellence in Innovation of Essential oil

3) Center of Excellence Thai Medical Marijuana

4) Agricultural Biology Production and Service Center

5) Agritech and Innovation Center (AIC) under the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives

The primary keys are to push modern agriculture technology utilization, innovation, and wisdom in agricultural product development to raise the value, quality, and standards of agricultural products; to be safe and sustainable for producers and consumers.

School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry, cooperating with the Center for Scientific and Technological Equipment, has focused on supporting academic services, teaching, and researching students, lecturers, research assistants, and outsiders by providing laboratory services and science equipment, including advanced scientific equipment. In addition, various laboratories exist in the Center for Scientific and Technological Equipment buildings. Furthermore, there are diverse laboratories in Building for science and technology, working on academic services to promote sustainable agriculture by supporting agricultural laboratories for local farmers and food producers to learn and perform for free.

There are advancements to support laboratories usage in 2021 (2564 B.E.) as follows:

1. Promoting the use of Plant laboratory

Agricultural Biology Production and Services center, School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry WU has implemented the “Safe Agriculture with Biological Methods” project focusing on sustainable farming practices to reduce the chemicals usage of diseases and pest control in plants. In addition, the technology of applying Trichoderma asperellum (NST-009), which are highly effective fungi in controlling various plant diseases; Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae fungi are used to control insect pests. The project transfers the technology of each type of fungal proliferation process applied to control pests for maximum efficiency, along with finding ways to reduce costs and raise crops value for 120 farmers covering four districts of Nakhon Si Thammarat, namely:

- Durian growers community Taling Chan Subdistrict, Tha Sala District
- Grapefruit growers community “Tubtim Siam Pomelo” Khlong Noi Subdistrict, Pak Phanang District
- Mangosteen growers community Ban Ko Subdistrict, Phrom Khiri District and Lan Saka Subdistrict, Lan Saka District in 2021

In addition, the farmers mentioned above are interested in proliferating each type of fungus in the community and pushing the outcome to a biotechnology laboratory at the community level.

WU supports practical training and provides access to “AIC Laboratory” to create in-depth

knowledge in the proliferation of Trichoderma asperellum (NST-009) in the matter of “Proliferation of Trichoderma Asperellum, NST-009 strain, at Laboratory Level” for grapefruit growers at Ban Saeng Wiman, Khlong Noi Sub-district, Pak Phanang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat and durian farmers, Taling Chan Subdistrict, Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat, at Biotechnology Laboratory 2 and Building for science and technology 7. Consequently, such activities can develop the results in the Community Biotechnology Laboratory, which is interested in external agencies to continue to support, such as Tiang Chirathivat Foundation, Central Group.

2.Promoting the use of Animal feed laboratory

School of Agricultural Technology, collaborating with The Center for Academic Services working group, has organized the “The Workshop on Uncomplicate Food Production for Feeding Sows” at the Animal feed laboratory and Building for science and technology 3 (B3) in WU to develop a feed formula for breeder sow to increase the efficiency of production. This workshop was provided for the community enterprise group of swine farm and Sathit Walailak Pattana Community, totaling 15 people free of charge.

The sharing technology of knowledge brings the new breeder-sow feed formula. Further, letting the farmers practice making production in a group forms the understanding to design the swine-feed technology development prototype with suitable local materials, which enhance their career and income, generating the knowledge to be grown into corporation activities or local products for distribution to members.