Dr. Ratchaphon Samphutthanont, Director of AiroTEC at Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, participated in the “Clean Air Without Borders” project, a Thailand-Laos collaboration aimed at creating innovations to tackle air pollution. On April 1, 2024, at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) in Bangkok, he presented PM 2.5 pollution management strategies to high-ranking officials, ambassadors, government committee members, civil society, and academic representatives from both Thailand and Laos.

 
The presentation featured representatives from the AiroVet team, including Dr. Ratchaphon Samphutthanont from Thailand and Dr. Chanthaporn Singhvongsa from Laos. It began with an exploration of using satellite imagery to analyze burn areas with the dNBR index, combined with hotspot data to understand the spatial and temporal patterns of agricultural burning. This analysis led to innovative management strategies aimed at reducing burning.

One creative approach presented to farmers was using rice straw to ferment animal feed, which increases protein nutrition and accelerates cattle growth. Other sustainable alternatives tailored to community contexts included producing value-added items such as containers, plates, pots, and wall panels from rice straw, cultivating oyster mushrooms to increase income, and using multi-purpose straw bales. The strategy involved creating collaboration mechanisms between communities and resource-equipped agencies, connecting agricultural waste materials with buyers needing them for various uses.

The “Clean Air Without Borders” project is supported by the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Thailand, the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is a joint effort between the UNDP Accelerator Lab in Thailand and Laos and Youth Co Lab, providing a platform for Thai and Lao participants to exchange information and brainstorm cross-border solutions for sustainable innovation to address the shared challenges both countries face.