{"id":608894,"date":"2026-04-27T07:59:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T07:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/608894\/"},"modified":"2026-04-27T07:59:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T07:59:13","slug":"bangkok-post-beyond-organic-agriculture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/608894\/","title":{"rendered":"Bangkok Post – Beyond organic agriculture"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an era of climate change, volatile commodity prices and increasingly discerning consumers, Thailand’s agricultural sector is facing a profound shift. The challenge for farmers is no longer simply producing more crops at lower cost, but producing them in a way that demonstrates sustainability, traceability and environmental responsibility.<\/p>\n

Against this backdrop, a small aromatic coconut farm in Ratchaburi province is emerging as a case study of how sustainability can become a business strategy rather than merely a marketing slogan.<\/p>\n

Founded in 2017 by entrepreneur Nuanla-Or Dherdkiattikun, Aromatic Farm began as a passion project driven by a love for Thailand’s iconic aromatic coconuts. Today, it has evolved to utilise organic agriculture, circular economy practices and carbon accounting, illustrating how Thai farmers can increase competitiveness in a rapidly changing global market.<\/p>\n

“I have wanted to have my own business since I was young, and I wanted to run it in my own direction. I also love drinking coconut water and I’m a coconut lover,” Ms Nuanla-Or told the Bangkok Post.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A bench welcomes visitors to Aromatic Farm, which has a teaching academy.\u2009photos: Aromatic Farm<\/p>\n

BEYOND ORGANIC<\/p>\n

Located in Damnoen Saduak district in Ratchaburi, a traditional coconut-growing area west of Bangkok, the 10-rai farm adopts a farming philosophy that goes beyond standard organic agriculture.<\/p>\n

The farm follows a concept known as regenerative agriculture, which focuses not only on avoiding chemicals but also on restoring ecosystems. Practices include planting ground cover crops, growing multiple species in the same area, producing compost and integrating animals such as ducks, geese and stingless bees into the farm environment.<\/p>\n

This approach helps improve soil fertility, increase biodiversity and strengthen the resilience of the agricultural system.<\/p>\n

“Organic farming alone focuses mainly on eliminating chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Regenerative agriculture goes further by improving the condition of soil, water and surrounding ecosystems,” said Ms Nuanla-Or, who won an award from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as the Apec Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Award in San Francisco in the US.<\/p>\n

Aromatic Farm transforms what would normally be a monocrop coconut plantation into a diversified ecological landscape where plants, animals and microorganisms coexist.<\/p>\n

The results are visible: fish thrive in the irrigation canals, ducks roam between the trees and bamboo is planted along the perimeter to help improve air quality.<\/p>\n

More than 20 bird species fly in and out of the farm, and their chirping can be heard throughout the day. She said the different species call at different times of the day, from early morning until early evening.<\/p>\n

\"Rows<\/p>\n

Rows of coconut trees blanket the farm in Ratchaburi.<\/p>\n

TURNING WASTE INTO VALUE<\/p>\n

The farm follows a circular economy model, extracting value from every part of the coconut.<\/p>\n

Instead of discarding byproducts such as shells, leaves or damaged fruit, the farm converts these materials into biochar, a charcoal-like substance used to improve soil fertility and capture carbon.<\/p>\n

In addition to its agricultural benefits, biochar is also useful in construction materials. For example, using 20% biochar can reduce cement usage in the production of pavement blocks, making it an eco-friendly product.<\/p>\n

Ms Nuanla-Or said the idea is simple: waste is actually an opportunity to create additional value.<\/p>\n

This philosophy is embedded in the farm’s three business units.<\/p>\n

Aromatic Farm Coconut focuses on producing and distributing coconut products, while Aromatic Farm BCG processes agricultural waste into biochar and value-added products.<\/p>\n

Aromatic Farm Academy serves as a training centre where farmers and organisations can learn about sustainable farm management.<\/p>\n

Together, these businesses form an integrated ecosystem where agriculture, knowledge sharing and environmental innovation reinforce one another.<\/p>\n

The approach reflects a broader trend in Thailand’s BCG economic model, which aims to combine environmental sustainability with economic growth, she said.<\/p>\n

\"Ms<\/p>\n

Ms Nuanla-Or says the farm follows regenerative agriculture, which not only avoids chemicals but also restores ecosystems.<\/p>\n

CARBON FOOTPRINT<\/p>\n

One of the farm’s most innovative efforts has been adopting carbon accounting.<\/p>\n

Working with the digital platform PI Carbon, Aromatic Farm began tracking the carbon footprint of its coconut production process, from seedling cultivation and fertiliser use to packaging and transport.<\/p>\n

The goal is to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing a single coconut.<\/p>\n

The analysis found one coconut from the farm generates 6.88 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide equivalent across its production lifecycle.<\/p>\n

At first glance, this number might appear high compared with some industrial producers. However, the farm views carbon accounting not as a tool for blame, but as a diagnostic instrument.<\/p>\n

By measuring emissions, farmers can identify where improvements are possible, whether in fertiliser use, transport logistics or energy consumption.<\/p>\n

The result is a “carbon invoice” that transparently communicates the environmental impact of each product batch to customers.<\/p>\n

For buyers such as luxury hotels or environmentally conscious consumers, this information provides reassurance that the product aligns with sustainability standards.<\/p>\n

The farm has been coordinating on carbon footprint initiatives with Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok since July 2025.<\/p>\n

“The farm is seeking collaboration with more hotels this year, or other enterprises that share the same vision of sustainability, especially for carbon footprint initiatives,” said Ms Nuanla-Or.<\/p>\n

\"above\u2002<\/p>\n

An organic coconut produced by the farm.<\/p>\n

BUILDING A PREMIUM BRAND<\/p>\n

The emphasis on transparency and sustainability has helped Aromatic Farm target a niche but growing market: consumers who care about where their food comes from.<\/p>\n

Rather than competing purely on price, the farm positions its coconuts as a premium product linked to responsible farming practices.<\/p>\n

For example, some of its coconuts are supplied to high-end hospitality clients that value sustainable sourcing.<\/p>\n

In this sense, the farm’s business strategy reflects a shift taking place across global food systems.<\/p>\n

“Consumers increasingly want to know not only whether a product tastes good, but also how it was produced, what environmental impact it had and whether it supports local communities,” she said.<\/p>\n

“For farmers who can answer these questions convincingly, sustainability becomes a competitive advantage.”<\/p>\n

\"left\u2002<\/p>\n

Geese roam between the trees at the farm.<\/p>\n

RURAL COMMUNITIES<\/p>\n

The farm’s model also emphasises social sustainability.<\/p>\n

Aromatic Farm works with 34 farming households covering roughly 1,020 rai of land, mainly in Ratchaburi and neighbouring provinces.<\/p>\n

Through this network, farmers receive guidance on sustainable cultivation methods and can sell their produce under the same standards.<\/p>\n

This structure creates a traceable supply chain while providing stable income opportunities for local growers.<\/p>\n

The farm also employs more than 20 staff, encouraging them to adopt sustainable practices such as waste separation and carbon awareness.<\/p>\n

While such measures may appear small at first, they gradually build a culture of environmental responsibility within the organisation and surrounding community, said Ms Nuanla-Or.<\/p>\n

AGRICULTURAL COMPETITIVENESS<\/p>\n

Thailand remains one of the world’s major agricultural exporters, but the sector faces increasing pressure from climate change, stricter environmental regulations and evolving consumer expectations.<\/p>\n

Aromatic Farm offers several strategies that could help farmers remain competitive.<\/p>\n

First, sustainability can differentiate products.<\/p>\n

“Instead of competing solely on price, farmers can build brand value through environmental responsibility and traceability,” she said.<\/p>\n

Second, data and transparency are becoming essential.<\/p>\n

“Carbon footprint tracking and supply chain documentation allow producers to meet emerging international standards,” said Ms Nuanla-Or.<\/p>\n

Third, diversification reduces risk.<\/p>\n

“By combining agriculture, education and circular economy activities, farms can generate multiple income streams,” she said.<\/p>\n

Finally, community networks strengthen resilience.<\/p>\n

“Working with neighbouring farmers expands production capacity while sharing knowledge and resources,” noted Ms Nuanla-Or.<\/p>\n

SUSTAINABLE FARMING<\/p>\n

“The journey from coconut enthusiast to agricultural entrepreneur was not easy. I did not study agriculture, instead relying on curiosity, experimentation and a belief that sustainability must lie at the heart of modern farming,” she said.<\/p>\n

“Over time, that philosophy evolved into a guiding principle: if a business is truly sustainable, profitability will eventually follow. In a world where climate risks, environmental regulations and consumer expectations are reshaping the food industry, this mindset may become increasingly important.”<\/p>\n

For Thailand’s farmers, the lesson is clear: agriculture is no longer just about growing crops.<\/p>\n

Farming is about cultivating ecosystems, building transparent supply chains and creating products that meet consumer values.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In an era of climate change, volatile commodity prices and increasingly discerning consumers, Thailand’s agricultural sector is facing…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":608895,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[264639,264643,134336,28,264642,22248,101,192,264641,264640,79,31450,2024],"class_list":{"0":"post-608894","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"tag-aromatic-farm","9":"tag-bcg-economic-model","10":"tag-biochar","11":"tag-business","12":"tag-carbon-accounting","13":"tag-circular-economy","14":"tag-economy","15":"tag-environment","16":"tag-ratchaburi","17":"tag-regenerative-agriculture","18":"tag-science","19":"tag-sustainable-farming","20":"tag-thailand"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/608894","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=608894"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/608894\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/608895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=608894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=608894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=608894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}