Issues in Thai cuisine: From green revolution to MSG

Post 1945 : agricultural development Leaning toward achieving the first

goal while neglecting the second. The first goal is to be competitive

and second one is to sustain famers livelihoods.

Response to the failure of convectional agriculture

Green revolution

In the 1960s Introduced by the world bank , the

Rockefeller Foundation Norman Borlaug; father of green

revolution promoting GMO’s

Pre- Green Revolution

In 1964, 75 percent of workforces were in

agricultural sector Generation of families were born into

life of farm Did not have access to improve plant

varieties Too poor to buy pesticides or

fertilisers

Pre Green Revolution

Subsistence agriculture: feeding one’s family first.

Exceptional hard work Poor soil, seed never germinated, flood,

drought, insects and diseases were common.

Low yield Season dependency & insufficient food

supply Farming minus proper technology: hard

life

Green revolution

It was Thai Government policy to Promote export oriented agricultural

system Higher yield to be price competitive

in the market Increase country growth’ rate Improve poverty conditions for Thai

farmer Nation food security.

Green revolution

The fight is over: never look back Minister of Agriculture introduced

NEW RICE VARIETY developed by The Philippines

Improved yields & resistance to rice hopper insects

Irrigation system increase yield up to six tones per hectare : significant increase produtivity

Green Revolution is about

GMO’s seed & GMO techonology Chemical Fertilizers Chemical Pesticides Irrigations systems Mechanic farming equipment To achieve the policy that laid down

by government.

Green revolution

New agricultural technology became corner stone of Thailand’ agricultural policy

Toward light industrial development utilizing labour resources no longer required on the farm.

Green revolution

Some forest has to make way for agricultural land

Between 1961 and 1989Forest land decrease from 187.5

million rai ( 1 rai =1600) to 85 millions rai ( office of agricultral Economic 1992)

Consequences of green revolution Increase yield per hectare; productivityNational development plans can be move

toward industrial base economy Competitive edge ( price and quality) Important agricultural product exporter Increase country’s revenue Economy figures Better standard of living in general ??

Consequences #2

Environmental effects: soil erosion and soil exhaustion

Deforestation: more erratic rainfall pattern, flood, ,loss of top soil, decline in farmers’ traditional diets.

Socio-economic effects Health; death & illness due to pesticide 1998 there were 4234 people reported

to suffering from pesticide poisoning

Not the same…..

“ Jasmine rice is losing its fragrance because the Ministry of Agriculture is promoting ne varieties. The new varieties cross with the old and made them less fragrance. Farmer are in debt because the price is reduced due to the loss of fragrant” ( Farmer interviewed at Rice conference.

Consequences

Socio-economic effects Farming became more productive. Kids can go to school, get some education. There are more lifestyle choice to choose from and other workforce sector.More time for ladies of the family for handicrafts, regional processed food and etc The structure of Thai family

Agricultural movement

1980 initiated by local farmers & local non-government organization.

1984 AAN Alternative Agriculture Network

National network who provides main discussion forum of experience sharing and policy advocacy for sustainable agriculture including organic farming.

Agricultural movement

1995 Agriculture certification Thailand ( ACT) set up to provide professional organic certification services for all farm product as well as processing and handing products.

2005 NIA National Innovation Agency Initiate strengthening export capacity of

Thailand organic agricultural products.2008 Thai government allocated 4.8 billion

baht of developing the local organic industry.

Government focuses on….

Thai government focuses on Developing national standard,

certification and accreditation Government offer little help toward

organic production

An estimate of 8958 hectares of farmland are now under organic management

Only 0.04% of total farmland. Primary food products: rice and fresh

vegetable Diversify to other organic products:

medicinal herbs, tropical fruit, shrimp, palm oil

As a result

Export incomes of about 700 to 800 million baht in 2008

The value is less than 1% of country food revenue.

NIA create a significant collaborative network among private sectors, researcher, and organic producers.

BUT

At Tops Market Outlet70% of TOPS 300 items are imported. Thai producers are far from producing

them The retailerr is willing to replace

imported product with local products.

(Phattaraporn, as quote from Bangkok Post, 18 May 2005)

Not 100% organic but “pesticide safe” Safe food Labels indicating “ pesticide safe

vegetable” Differentiation label pesticide safe is

challenging in Thai market

Why buy “pesticide safe”

Healthier perception Environmentally friendly Are two main reasonsWHO? OlderHigher educationHigher family income

Why

Why organic products tends to be more expensive?

Slow food

Clean: Good: Fair: PLUS; Promote biodiversitySafeguard food heritageFood from scratch

MSG

Monosodium Glutamate Kikunae Ikeda Crystal of Glutamic acid (AMINO ADIC) Unami = supreme Deliciousness

( Jeffery Steingarten) Vogue food’s writer

Combination of all senses not only taste

1909 Aji no mo to

MSG

University of Miami School of Medicine discovers “ that adding monosodium glutamate makes food taste better and makes you want to eat more”

The Chicago Manual of Style

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