The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is looking at whether technology based on genetically modified organisms (GMO) could improve four so-called economic crops.
The government is looking at ways to develop maize, cassava, palm and sugar cane. GM technology is considered "an option" for increasing yields, controlling costs, and cutting down on pesticide use.
A working group comprising 21 representatives from state agencies, the business sector, academics and NGOs was appointed last month to study the issue. It met for the first time on Tuesday.
Alongkorn Konthong, director of the Biotechnology Research and Development Office, the Department of Agriculture, said the meeting discussed the possibility of holding GM crop field trials to test the effectiveness on yields.
Mr Alongkorn said some participants raised concerns the field trials could lead to GM contamination of the environment. Concerns about the market domination of GM seeds by agro-giants were also raised.
"If cabinet's 2007 resolution banning GMO field trials is an obstacle, we might ask the National Council for Peace and Order to lift it," he said, adding no decision had been made.
Mr Alongkorn said a law change would be needed to underpin the field trials. A biological safety law, another option, is before the Council of State, the law-vetting body.
In 2007, cabinet banned field trials for GM crops after GM papaya trees were found in farms in Khon Kaen and later in some northeastern provinces. At the time papaya trials were allowed only in the laboratory, but some seeds found their way into the environment.
Withoon Liemchamroom, director of the BioThai Foundation, also a member of the working group, said the Agriculture Ministry seems keen to lift the ban on GM field trials to unlock difficulties in the GM seeds market.
"We will not let it happen. We are discussing the matter next week," he said.
Mr Withoon, who opposes GM agriculture, said GM crops will have a big impact on the food export industry as many foreign countries have yet to accept GM products.