Thailand to host Largest Organic Expos in Southeast Asia

Tanakorn Sangiam

 

 

BANGKOK, 06 July 2019 (NNT) - Healthy living is an increasingly popular global trend. Thailand, as a major farm products manufacturer, is developing its organic products market, and is to hold the largest organic and natural product fairs in Southeast Asia with BIOFACH Southeast Asia 2019 and the Natural Expo Southeast Asia 2019 taking place in July, promoting organic products from Thailand to the world.

 

The events this month will be held on the concept of "Organic Gateway to Southeast Asia," aiming for Thailand to become ASEAN’s hub of organic products and farming development. The events will feature some 400 Thai and international organic and natural product manufacturers in all product categories such as food, skincare, cosmetics, packaging, and pet care, as well as services such as restaurants, spas, and tourism attractions. They will also feature business negotiating sessions, and consolidation services for organic product standard certification by Thai and international agencies, such as Organic Agriculture Certification Thailand, and Germany-Thailand Chamber of Commerce.

 

The Department of Internal Trade’s Director General, Wichai Pochanakit disclosed the current market value of Thai organic products has reached 3 billion baht annually, with 10 percent annual growth. This figure results from 900 million baht domestic market value, and 2.1 billion baht foreign market value. The total global organic product market value is 100 billion US dollars, providing great expansion potential for Thai manufacturers.

 

BIOFACH Southeast Asia 2019 and Natural Expo Southeast Asia 2019 events will be taking place on 11th-14th July at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani Exhibition Center, Nonthaburi. It is expected product sales from these events will be no less than 72 million baht, a 97 percent increase on last year.

 

-- © Copyright nnt 2019-07-07

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I wonder if all these organic products come packaged in plastic?

We are going to need a bigger HUB...

 

Wow....that was quick!

 

Only five days a go  I read this article:

 

"In response to the Thai Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN)’s latest survey that found high toxic contamination on vegetables and fruits, FDA secretary-general Thares Karasnairaviwong said the FDA has been continuously monitored the situation across the country".

 

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/thailands-issues-chemical-alert-for-fruits-and-vegetables.html

 

 

Organic?

Does that mean where they spray everything with organic pesticide?

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Largest Organic Expos in Southeast Asia

So, so sorry.  I misread the headline thinking it was orgasmic so I immediately booked tickets.  ????

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Thailand to host Largest Organic Expos in Southeast Asia

Will the "perfectly safe" pesticide and herbicide manufacturers be providing sponsorship funding for this expo?

1 hour ago, mok199 said:

We are going to need a bigger HUB...

Seems like Thailand is fast becoming the Hub of Hubs,or a hubbub if you like!

1 hour ago, FarFlungFalang said:

I wonder if all these organic products come packaged in plastic?

With plenty of chemical residues...biggest con out "organic"

26 minutes ago, Prairieboy said:

So, so sorry.  I misread the headline thinking it was orgasmic so I immediately booked tickets.  ????

youre  going to find it a  bit of an anticlimax!

1 hour ago, mok199 said:

We are going to need a bigger HUB...

problem is all the spokes are broken

When the trust the public puts on the produce safety is - and rightly so - at its lowest, trumpeting about hosting an international organic expo in Thailand is simply pointless.. except if the aim is just to artificially change perceptions without fixing the main underlying issue

Edited July 7, 20197 yr by Mitker
corrected "hub" for "expo" (heard about far too many of the first, probably..)

3 hours ago, Prairieboy said:

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Largest Organic Expos in Southeast Asia

So, so sorry.  I misread the headline thinking it was orgasmic so I immediately booked tickets.  ????

 

people like you should bypass everything except the cucumber growers.

4 hours ago, fishtank said:

Organic?

Does that mean where they spray everything with organic pesticide?

Yes,and they do exist.

1 hour ago, Mitker said:

When the trust the public puts on the produce safety is - and rightly so - at its lowest, trumpeting about hosting an international organic expo in Thailand is simply pointless.. except if the aim is just to artificially change perceptions without fixing the main underlying issue

I would have thought raising the awareness of the benefits of organic farming practises would help contribute to fixing the main underlying issues.I don't see the "trumpeting" as useless in fact I think the more noise the better.I agree it is a steep uphill battle,so I wish them luck and success! 

And if you are to believe the hyperbole please explain just how Thailand can sustain or even entertain organic farming with its diminishing farm land. Since yields are lower under organic than conventional practices, more land is required to produce the same amount of agricultural crops. A 35% yield gap means that 50% more arable land is required.

There are many consumers who are willing to spend more for organic food because they believe that they are making a positive difference for the environment.  While it is commendable that people are willing to do that, the pre-scientific basis for the organic rules means that the environmental superiority of organic cannot be assumed. While “only natural” is appealing as a marketing message, it is not the best guide for how to farm with minimal environmental impact. Between rigorous, science-based regulation, public and private investments in new technology development, and farmer innovation, modern agriculture has been making excellent environmental progress. That trend, not organic, is what we need to encourage.

1 minute ago, expatfromwyoming said:

There are many consumers who are willing to spend more for organic food because they believe that they are making a positive difference for the environment.

Despite a complete lack of independent evidence to support the proposition that "organic" food is any better than standard farmed food

2 minutes ago, ThaiBunny said:

Despite a complete lack of independent evidence to support the proposition that "organic" food is any better than standard farmed food

Mmmmm think I implied that

 
Wow....that was quick!
 
Only five days a go  I read this article:
 
"In response to the Thai Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN)’s latest survey that found high toxic contamination on vegetables and fruits, FDA secretary-general Thares Karasnairaviwong said the FDA has been continuously monitored the situation across the country".
 
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/thailands-issues-chemical-alert-for-fruits-and-vegetables.html
 
 

Yeah great Mr. Thares, monitoring will solve the problem.
How about taking some action, huh?

Honestly, I buy organic vegetables but mostly for the peace of mind.
I don't think they are free of pesticides but maybe the chances are higher it's less than conventional grown.

Thailand is doing better and better each year with more awareness from my observation.   Coming from the USA where I worked in the Organic Products Industry for 35 years, this is encouraging news.   Yes, there is still some contamination and folks cheating on certification but that is true for Europe and the USA also.   Think of your alternatives...just declaring "Organic" is a hoax and comfortably eating pesticide laden products does not sound appealing and will not assist in the evolution/progression towards healthier foods.   Buy organic products when you think the cost is fair and when you intuitively feel good about who you are buying from.   If we continue to buy more organics, the farmers will grow more and the cost will go down for everyone and your children are the winners  and you may be investing less time in hospitals when you're older.

"GIVE (ORGANIC) PEAS A CHANCE."  

3 hours ago, ThaiBunny said:

Despite a complete lack of independent evidence to support the proposition that "organic" food is any better than standard farmed food

There was a recent report on this forum that 6,000 people went to hospital last year with illnesses related to the incorrect use of chemicals.I knew an organic farmer in Australia that went organic after nearly dying of chemical poisoning.For me this would be the biggest reason for going organic and not for any perceived benefits from eating the stuff.

Edited July 7, 20197 yr by FarFlungFalang
Correction

It would be interesting to see the statistics for throat cancer in Thailand , if they keep them. many caused by Chemicals,

4 hours ago, ThaiBunny said:

Despite a complete lack of independent evidence to support the proposition that "organic" food is any better than standard farmed food

 

It's hard to imagine that eating Thai-grown foods with varying levels of toxic chemical residues -- including ones that show up in Thailand that have never even been permitted for legal use here and others that have been banned internationally but still permitted here -- is somehow going to be healthier for a person that eating "natural" foods that don't have any, or have much less, toxic chemical residues.

Sponsored by Monsanto? free samples of agent orange and glyphosate 

Organic does not mean pesticide-free.  There is a long list of pesticides that are approved for use in organic farming.  The only requirement is that they be derived from natural sources.  This is a bald appeal to the naturalistic fallacy: that which is natural must also be healthful or at least not harmful, and that which is synthetic is not healthful and quite possibly harmful.  Of course neither is necessarily true.  There are plenty of toxic natural substances and safe synthetic ones.  If somebody tries to tell you that a substance is toxic or poisonous, without mentioning the exposure level that translates into actual harm, they are most likely trying to sell you something.

 

Statement from Dan Glickman, USDA Secretary at the time when organic standards were published:
 

“Let me be clear about one thing. The organic label is a marketing tool. It is not a statement about food safety. Nor is ‘organic’ a value judgment about nutrition or quality.”

 

Organic food is the ultimate veblen commodity.  I generally oppose it because of its lower yields and increased negative environmental impact compared to conventional produce.

Of course Thailand doesn't have any produce that they can sell as organic.

13 hours ago, doremifasol said:

 

Wow....that was quick!

 

Only five days a go  I read this article:

 

"In response to the Thai Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN)’s latest survey that found high toxic contamination on vegetables and fruits, FDA secretary-general Thares Karasnairaviwong said the FDA has been continuously monitored the situation across the country".

 

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/thailands-issues-chemical-alert-for-fruits-and-vegetables.html

 

 

Perhaps you forget a year or 2 ago at an organic fair in bkk. They tested the organic foods from many stalls and found them to be full of contaminants like embalming fluid being used as preservative or other insecticides inside their so called organic produce and meat. I would like to read if they continue to test these places for the customers who really want true organic foods free of chemical.