GPSC teams up with NSTDA for a collaborative project, “Science Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Social and Community ” The project, which is a smart farming development project aimed at strengthening community economy, has been successfully piloted at two locations, namely Baan Suan Tonnam in the Khao Chamao district of Rayong Province and Baan Huay Khab, a village in Nan's Bo Klue district. With smart farming, smart greenhouses are equipped with IoT technology to create added value that will help boost productivity and reduce cost. The technology-driven project will be further expanded to other sites across the country, as it moves toward smart agriculture.

Mr. Worawat Pitayasiri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Global Power Synergy Public Company Limited or GPSC, the innovative power flagship of PTT Group, disclosed (17 March  2022) that today Global Power Synergy Public Company Limited had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation to carry out the “ Science Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Social and Community” project, with an implementation period of three years (October 2021 – October 2024). Under the cooperation, GPSC will support the implementation of NSTDA’s research studies on energy, environment, health and medicine. The initiative has been successfully piloted at two communities, helping to build the community’s economic and environmental sustainability. 

The collaboration marks a significant step for NSTDA in applying its research work on innovation and nanotechnology to a range of energy and environmental platforms that can be employed in remote areas with limited utility access to promote community employment opportunities and create a value chain in manufacturing to strengthen community economy. In this regard, GPSC is prepared to support the implementation of NSTDA’s research work in developing the technology for energy and environmental management, ensuring that through GPSC’s network, participating communities will receive necessary forms of support, including the relevant body of knowledge, energy technology, and essential human and non-human resources. The company also plans to expand the smart-farming platforms like the ones at the two piloted sites to other target communities in the future.

GPSC’s Smart Farming pilot project with nanotechnology for energy and environment application has been implemented at two community sites. The first site is Baan Huay Khab, a village in Nan's Bo Klue district, where there are two sub-projects: 1.1 The promotion of economic crop rotation practices through training workshops aimed to provide knowledge and understanding about seasonal crop rotation and its benefits; and 1.2 The installation and testing of a customized smart farming system, including a setup of a renewable energy system, LED greenhouse lighting, a smart watering system, and environmental data monitoring sensors. 

Another site is Baan Suan Tonnam in the Khao Chamao district of Rayong Province, where the following initiatives have been undertaken. 2.1 ‘Magik Growth,” an innovative fruit wrapping bag for durian fruits, is used as a substitute for pesticides, which is not only cost-saving and environmentally friendly but also improves the quality of the fruits, serving as an excellent example of the Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) model.  Research also shows that fruits wrapped with Magik Growth have 30% thinner shells and are 10% heavier. The flesh color and skin appearance are also more appealing. 2.2 A mobile application that measures sound waves to indicate durian ripeness is used to ensure optimum harvest timing and maximum pricing.

“Smart farming ideally aligns with the New Normal way of life post-COVID-19 pandemic, where a lot of educated members of the workforce decide to go back to their hometown and make a safe and secure living through agriculture by using relevant technology and body of knowledge. Four advantages of smart farming include 1. Reducing manufacturing cost; 2. Improving the manufacturing and product standards; 3. Lowering the risk of pest infestation and natural disasters; and 4. Transferring of knowledge on energy technology and innovation. This is to ensure that agricultural products are efficiently managed and that their quality and standards are met, which will lead to sustainable employment and income generation for people in every part of Thailand. Under the cooperation, GPSC will provide support in the forms of equipment and personnel while NSTDA will be responsible for the development of technological platforms and their applications,” said Mr. Worawat.

Dr. Narong Sirilertworakul, the President of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) said that “the Science Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Social and Community project” which is the collaborative project between the 2 agencies, focuses on bringing the science, technology, and innovation-related knowledge to apply in various areas across the country. It aims to develop and improve the quality of life of the people in the country corresponding to the economic development plan based on BCG model. NSTDA, as a secretary of the BCG Executive Committee of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), has taken part in bringing science and technology to drive the advancement in agriculture, food, medical healthcare, energy, biological chemistry, tourism, and creative economy. This can lead Thailand beyond the middle-income trap to become a high-income country with sustainable economic and social development.

“This cooperation will bring technologies, innovations, knowledge, and specialists of NSTDA to join the GPSC Smart Farming project, such as, IoT in smart greenhouse systems, innovative greenhouse films (MultiTech and MultiTech-Ultra), nonwoven fruit wrappers that increase agricultural productivity, seeds that promote crop rotation, nano-chelated fertilizers, durian ripeness application, and nano-organic waste shredder for the production of carbon and soil conditioners, etc., which is an integration of the knowledge in all dimensions. This could drive communities and the country with science, technology, and innovations, in an environmentally friendly, quality, and sustainable way.” Dr. Narong said.

Mr. Worawat also added that GPSC is committed to its social and environmental responsibilities as the company believes that to achieve sustainable business development, the community and the society should prosper together and that the use of technology should be a priority in bettering the livelihood of the Thai people. GPSC’s smart farming project creates practical applications of energy innovation and IoT technology for agricultural purposes, including integration of renewable solar and heat energy. As a result, commitment to clean energy will not only enhance agricultural efficiency, strengthen the community economy, and equip the community with technological knowledge but will also support GPSC’s business strategy, which is in line with global energy trends and Thailand’s National Energy Plan, in which clean energy is of top priority. 

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