Bangkok Post : AIT boosts bio-innovation

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Earlier this month, two Thai research proposals, along with five other foreign research papers, won grants awarded in the "2009 Bio-innovation Asia Competition", a project organised by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in collaboration with Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

The aim of the project is to stimulate and support research in bio-innovation in Asia,which emphasizes poverty alleviation. The awardees were selected from a total of 94 entries from 14 Asian countries. Each winner was granted C$18,000 (541,000 baht) to carry out the proposed study.

One of the Thai awardees, Dr Juthathip Chalermphol from Chiang Mai University, proposed that research be undertaken on "Social Dimensions and Institution Factors that Enable and/or Constrain a Biogas Programme at the Community Level".

"Generally, local agriculturists tend to have the idea that adopting new technology is likely to create some [negative] changes in their lives, and might affect their household incomes and productions," said Dr Juthathip. "The study investigates the primary factors that agriculturists will have to consider when adopting new innovations." She hopes that the study will foster an understanding and an amicable relationship between agriculturalists and technology providers.

She is studying vegetable-production groups in Mae Wang and Saraphi districts in Chiang Mai, and expects to conclude her work within a year.

Dr Louis Label and Songphonsak Ratanawilailak from the Unit for Social and Environmental Research at Chiang Mai University teamed up to produce a research proposal on the topic of "Lazy Gardens: A Sustainable Alternative for Remote Poor Rural Communities in Northern Thailand". This one-year research study has just taken off by looking at the poor villages in the mountainous area of Mae Wang district, Chiang Mai.

According to Mr Songphonsak, in a "lazy garden", or literally suan kheekiat, in Thai, agriculturists use their plot of land for gardening in accordance with the principles of self-sufficiency without relying on intensive care, expensive chemicals or new technologies.

"The study aims to examine the procedures for operating, and the productivity of, lazy gardens," said Mr Songphonsak. He expects that this kind of cultivation will sooner or later become part of mainstream agriculture business with the support of outside parties.

The other grant-winning research proposals include "Exploring the Effects of Bio-innovation by Shrimp Farmers in Vietnam" by Dr Le Thi Van Hue from Vietnam, "Social Dimensions and Institutional Factors that Enable and/or Constrain a Biogas Programme at the Community Level" by Tuong Vi Pham from Vietnam, and "Impacts of Bio-innovative Drugs on Health Disparity Between Asian and Developed Countries" by Dr EunJeong Ma from South Korea.

The two remaining successful papers are entitled "Role of Professional Associations in Pro-poor Biofertiliser and Biopesticide Innovation Systems" by Dr Sunita Sangar from India and "Challenge and Recommendations to Harness the Poverty Alleviation Potentials of Bio-Nitrogen Fertiliser in the Philippines" by Dr Linda Penalba from the Philippines.

According to Prof Dr Sudip K. Rakshit, vice-president for research at AIT, and Dr Ellie Osir, senior programme specialist at the IDRC, the project organisers intend to compile and disseminate the knowledge gained from the funded researches as well as to sensitise policymakers to the needs and benefits of bio-innovation.

"The idea is to establish a capability for research in this area, which can be achieved through networking, learning and sharing," said Dr Osir.

"As for the long-term goal, we are hoping that all the successful candidates who responded enthusiastically to this first call will form a big-family network of researchers together with the awardees in future exercises since everyone concerned is, after all, working on a common theme for universal advancement," Prof Rakshit added.

The second call for proposals for the next round of grants will be in July.

For more information about bio-innovation collaboration between AIT and IDRC, visit http://www.bioinnovationpolicies.ait.asia .