Showing 1 - 10 of 10
Cleaning up the kitchen
Oped, Editorial, Published on 21/10/2022
» Thailand is not shy about promoting its farm products and national cuisine -- a perhaps over-sized sense of pride that has emboldened the government to position the kingdom as the "kitchen of the world" and enshrine our gastronomic heritage as "soft power".
Agri-pact unlikely to bear fruit for UN
News, Editorial, Published on 22/11/2020
» The newly developed partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the global agrochemical industry should be a cause for great concern. The collaboration shows the industry's tentacles reach deep even into organisations whose job it should be to insist upon rigorous standards and practices within the global food supply chain, both in terms of health and ethics.
An unsavoury pesticide saga
Oped, Editorial, Published on 06/11/2020
» Local news reports that Taiwan is to return or destroy a batch of a famous tea brand and ground chilli from Thailand because of insecticide residues look bad for Thailand, which promotes itself as the kitchen of the world.
Boost organic farming
Oped, Editorial, Published on 03/10/2020
» The National Hazardous Substances Committee (NHSC) deserves praise for displaying tenacity in maintaining its ban on two toxic farm chemicals: herbicide paraquat and pesticide chlorpyrifos.
Toxic seesaw not helping
Oped, Editorial, Published on 16/07/2020
» Local farmers are protesting at the Ministry of Agriculture's plan to reclassify 13 herbs and plants, commonly used by local farmers as "green pesticides", as Type-1 toxic substances. While this means they are now considered to have the lowest toxicity compared to other substances, the farmers' anger is understandable.
Shaking up the sugar biz
Oped, Editorial, Published on 13/06/2020
» There's no denying that Thailand's sugarcane industry is in a state of crisis. With prices heading to all-time lows, farmers -- many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet -- will need a lot more than ad hoc handouts to survive over the long run.
Glyphosate slant omits legal cases
News, Editorial, Published on 27/10/2019
» The Prayut Chan-o-cha government is doing the right thing in standing up to the US after its demand that Thailand lift the ban on three extremely toxic farm chemicals: the herbicides paraquat and glyphosate, and the pesticide chlorpyrifos.
Paraquat must be banned
News, Editorial, Published on 16/02/2019
» The decision by the National Committee on Hazardous Substances not to ban paraquat over the next two years is shameful and shows a lack of responsibility. The committee on Thursday voted 16:5 in favour of continuing to allow the use of the chemical, which is prohibited in 53 countries due to its high toxicity. Five members abstained.
Chemical ban a must-do
News, Editorial, Published on 13/08/2018
» Two court cases last week in California are set to affect and perhaps change the future of Thai farming. The legal decisions are stark. Courts and a jury ruled that two of the most popular chemical products used in Thai agriculture pose huge risks to humans even in tiny quantities. One causes irreparable damage in babies' brains. The other is carcinogenic. It is exactly what Thai campaigners have been saying in an effort to eliminate the two products.
Paraquat ban still needed
News, Editorial, Published on 25/05/2018
» A final decision made this week by the Hazardous Substance Committee, refusing to ban the import of paraquat and two other toxic chemicals, is flawed with doubt and controversy.