PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology
Current position: Vice President for Research and Academic Services at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, Thailand
Research focus: climate change mitigation and adaptation for the agricultural sector
Suraphon has broad scientific experience in eco-efficient farming, and his research addresses Thailand’s three key agricultural challenges: achieving economic sustainability in the face of low profitability, falling farm-gate prices, and low productivity.
Suraphon has coached his students to compete in different community development projects hosted by Red Bull or Siam Commercial Bank, which they have won several years in a row.
CV as submitted for the Green Talents award (2012):
Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, Thailand
Research focus: eco-efficient farming
With a background in molecular biology, plant biotechnology and bioenergy, Suraphon Chaiwongsar is combining technology with a people approach to promote eco-efficient farming in his native Thailand.
Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna is Thailand’s leading university in the area of sustainable community development. Since joining the university faculty as a lecturer and researcher, Suraphon Chaiwongsar has applied his background in molecular biology, plant biotechnology and bioenergy to help improve the livelihoods of farmers in Thailand by increasing agricultural productivity while conserving natural resources and biodiversity. His extensive experience with life cycle assessment and carbon footprint analysis has also helped his research group obtain international funding for several research projects. These include the development of a low carbon policy for the agriculture sector and the 2012 project funded by Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), the government of Japan “Harmonious development of alternative energy system, agriculture practice system and clean environment system for a sustainable community”.
Chaiwongsar believes strongly in combining technology with a people approach. “My strategy to ensure food security and sustainable development is to use systems analysis and modelling approaches combined with farmer-focused experimentation and resource assessment,” he explains. “This will ensure robust solutions for raising the eco-efficiency of agricultural systems.”
The jury highlighted Chaiwongsar’s broad scientific experience in eco-efficient farming, his tireless research and his contribution to addressing Thailand’s three key agricultural challenges: achieving economic sustainability in the face of low profitability, falling farm-gate prices and low productivity.
