Thailand: Turning straw into gold | Global Ideas

Summary

In northern Thailand, rice farmers traditionally burn leftover straw, contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. However, an innovative entrepreneur, Yah-Won Kam-Won, is offering an alternative. She turns rice straw into biodegradable paper and packaging, helping reduce environmental damage. By employing local farmers and exporting the product to India, she is transforming waste into a valuable resource. Her efforts, supported by researchers, aim to make rice straw packaging more sustainable, benefiting both the environment and local communities. Through her work, the rice farmers have learned how to turn straw into gold, showcasing a promising solution for a greener future.

Takeaways

• 😀 Farmers in Thailand traditionally burn rice straw after harvesting, causing air pollution and harmful emissions like CO2 and methane.
• 😀 Burning rice straw contributes to environmental harm, including fine particulate matter that negatively impacts both people and the environment.
• 😀 Yakovon Kwan returned to her home village after studying in Bangkok, aiming to offer a solution to the environmental impact of rice straw burning.
• 😀 Yakovon pays farmers for their rice straw, turning it into a valuable resource instead of allowing it to be burned.
• 😀 The rice straw is transported to a factory where it is chopped up, boiled for four hours, and turned into a pulp for further processing.
• 😀 The rice straw pulp is used to create biodegradable paper and packaging, reducing the need for harmful plastic products.
• 😀 The entrepreneur exports the raw material to India, where manufacturers use it to create biodegradable tableware.
• 😀 The biodegradable products, such as plates and bowls, are coated with rice starch, making them resistant to grease, heat, and liquids.
• 😀 Researchers at Chiang Mai University are working on improving rice starch film to make it more durable and resistant to dissolving.
• 😀 There is a growing demand for biodegradable packaging in Thailand, particularly from food vendors who are seeking eco-friendly alternatives to plastic.
• 😀 Yakovon started her business in her home village and conducted her initial experiments with rice straw pulp in her grandmother's kitchen, where her grandparents are now proud of her accomplishments.

Q & A

Why do Thai rice farmers burn the remaining rice straw after harvest?

Thai rice farmers burn the remaining rice straw after harvest to clear their land. This practice, however, releases harmful emissions like CO2 and fine particulate matter, contributing to pollution and environmental harm.

What environmental issue arises from burning rice straw in Thailand?

Burning rice straw releases CO2, a greenhouse gas, and fine particulate matter, which is harmful to both people and the environment.

What alternative solution does Yakov Onkamon propose to burning rice straw?

Yakov Onkamon, an entrepreneur, proposes using rice straw as a valuable resource rather than burning it. She pays farmers to bring the straw to her factory where it is processed into biodegradable products like paper and packaging.

How does Yakov Onkamon pay farmers for their rice straw?

Yakov Onkamon pays farmers the equivalent of 3 cents per kilogram of rice straw, incentivizing them to bring the straw to her factory instead of burning it.

What process is used at Yakov Onkamon’s factory to turn rice straw into a usable product?

At the factory, rice straw is chopped up, boiled in hot water for four hours without chemicals, then cleaned and dried to produce a pulp. This pulp is used to make biodegradable paper and packaging.

Why does Yakov Onkamon export the raw rice straw material to India?

Yakov Onkamon exports the raw rice straw material to India because there is high demand from manufacturers of biodegradable products like tableware and packaging in India.

What is the special feature of the rice straw-based tableware produced by Yakov Onkamon’s company?

The rice straw-based tableware has a thin coating of rice starch, which helps the product resist grease, heat, and liquids. A two-hour test with papaya salad showed that the dish remained leak-proof.

Where does Yakov Onkamon go to explore innovations for her business?

Yakov Onkamon visits the Science and Technology Park at Chiang Mai University to work with researchers on improving the rice starch film for use in biodegradable packaging.

What are some considerations for starting a rice straw-based packaging business in Chiang Mai?

In Chiang Mai, considerations for starting a rice straw-based packaging business include ensuring that the sizes of the containers are appropriate for customers and that the price point is affordable. The cost of production is an important factor as well.

What does Yakov Onkamon’s grandmother think of her business idea?

At first, Yakov Onkamon’s grandparents were not thrilled about her business idea of using rice straw pulp. However, they are now proud of her success, as she has developed a sustainable and valuable product from rice straw.