Bangchak Offers “Thai Rice NAMA” as Premium Gifts to mark World Environment Day, Raising Awareness of Global Warming Impacts and Presenting Alternative Consumption Options

Somchai Tejavanija, Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing Business Group, Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited, received 40 tons of Thai Rice NAMA (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action) from representatives of Plang Yai Kaset Samai Mai Community Enterprise, Doem Bang Nang Buat, Suphan Buri Province, through Oamsuk Social Enterprise. The rice will be presented as premium gifts for customers at participating Bangchak service stations in Bangkok Metropolitan during the period of 5 – 30 June 2023 (or until supplies last) on the occasion of World Environment Day (5 June). The project was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives represented by Peeraphan Korthong, Deputy Permanent Secretary, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Thailand, represented by Dr. Bernd Christiansen, Counsellor for Food and Agriculture, on behalf of the Ambassador, Thai Rice Department, represented by Chitnucha Buddhaboon, Deputy Director-General, Department of Agricultural Extension represented by Rapeetouch Unjittphan, Deputy Director, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Agency for International Development - GIZ) represented by Dr. Nana Kuenkel, Director and Cluster Coordinator Agriculture and Food, and Thai Rice NAMA Project represented by Ole Henriksen, Director, along with Oamsuk Social Enterprise represented by director, Gloyta Nathalang, Executive Vice President, Corporate Branding, Communication and Sustainability Activation, Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited.

“Bangchak has placed great importance on creating marketing channels for community products since 1998. Community agricultural products and processed goods are selected as premium gifts for customers. This approach is distinctive in connecting producers and consumers, supporting our Thai farming community. The support of Thai Rice NAMA will help raise awareness of global warming protection, an effort that requires everyone's collaboration and participation” said Somchai.

Thai Rice NAMA is the product of a change in perspective and adoption of new rice cultivation “alternate wetting and drying” techniques from the Thai Rice NAMA initiative introduced to Plang Yai Kaset Samai Mai Community Enterprise through the collaboration, between the Ministry of Agriculture and GIZ Thailand. The aim of this collaboration is to enhance rice production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. The four mitigation technologies to reduce costs are: 1) Laser land leveling to enhance production efficiency, 2) Alternate wetting and drying, 3) Site-specific nutrient management, and 4) Straw and stubble management. Research and monitoring conducted on Thai Rice NAMA found that alternate wetting and drying rice cultivation can reduce greenhouse emissions by approximately 30% compared to conventional methods. Thus, providing an alternative for consumers to combat global warming which affects all sectors.