National Workshop Measuring what matters in sustainable rice production in Thailand

The TEEBAgriFood Thailand National Workshop was held on 13 November 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand, and was attended by 145 participants representing 60 institutions. For a list of participants, institutions, as well as the workshop agenda, please refer to Annexes I and II.

This workshop presented the study’s findings by local partners under the TEEBAgriFood initiative, with a focus on protecting biodiversity and contributing to more sustainable agriculture and food sectors. “Measuring What Matters in Agriculture and Food System” on sustainable production practices is advocated under the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) presenting the Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation (SRP Standard). The main attention was also given during the workshop to the follow-up TEEBAgriFood assessment, which is funded through the European Union Partnership Instrument and explores the potential impacts related to the adoption of SRP rice in Thailand’s commercial rice sector.

The main objectives of the workshop were to:

1. Present the findings of the pilot TEEBAgriFood assessment on Integrating the Value of Ecosystems and Biodiversity in rice production system of Thailand. Importantly, the focus of the project is on biodiversity and ecosystems, which underpin the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
2. Convey the project findings to key decision-makers in order for them to understand the potential scale of the costs and benefits of different rice production systems and policy options.
3. Identify, in collaboration with national and local authorities and other important stakeholders, how this project may contribute to policy development in Thailand by building on current initiatives and programs.