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Dialogue Forum 6 (in Thai): A Ban on Toxic Farm Chemicals: Thailand’s Long Road to Food Safety and the “(safe) Kitchen of the World”
30 September, 2020 @ 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
In times when society has become widened with gaps and differences of views and opinions, one issue could be escalated into a crisis if there are no platforms available for appropriate discussion among all concerned.
The media, while informing and inspiring their audience, could also take an educating and facilitating role to serve such the purpose, acting as a bridge and helping connect the dots into one big picture.
In collaboration with its partners and with the support of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (Thailand Office), Bangkok Tribune News Agency has come up with a monthly forum on issues of importance, under the project, “Dialogue Forum”.
This is to facilitate and provide a space for discussions and exchanges of dialogues and views on issues of importance especially in regard to social and environmental issues both in Thailand and the Mekong region, thus not only helping connect the dots as wished but also forging understanding among the public and the parties concerned, encouraging them to find a common ground and seek solutions together.
Since late last year, Thailand has been seen seriously moving towards the “safe and clean” state of its Kitchen of the World, the country’s flagship farm policy with an ambition to feed the world’s populations with its farming capacity, as the government decided to limit and ban uses of three farm chemicals most widely used in the country’s farm sector; be they Glyphosate, Paraquat, and Chropylifos, the herbicides and pesticide.
This has resulted in the ban on uses, sales, as well as imports of the chemicals to the country, starting from June 1 onwards, with the deadline to clear all stocks in the market, worth billions of baht, set at the end of this month.
However, the matter has not finished just there as pro-farm chemicals groups, as well as some giant agro-business firms, have not given up. They have recently filed complaints to the Administrative Court, asking it to revoke the ban.
Such the moves have brought the new challenge to the country’s efforts in banning farm chemicals found hazardous to the public health as well as the environment, as there are also benefits and losses of pro-chemical farmers and these multinational agro-business firms at stake.
How the moves will shake the government’s determination as well as its ambition to gear the country towards food safety and security as well as the ”safe and clean” Kitchen of the World, and how such the policies could be materialised and sustainable in a long term are all a challenge worth discussing.
The Dialogue Forum, therefore, would cordially like to invite you to explore the sustainable path for the country’s food safety and food security, which are one of the most challenging farm policies of the country in this challenging time in its Dialogue Forum 6: A Ban on Toxic Farm Chemicals: Thailand’s long road to food safety and the “(safe) Kitchen of the World” at SEA-Junction 408, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, on September 30, 2020 (10.00 am-12.30 pm)
Contact:
SEA Junction: southeastasiajunction@gmail.com
Bangkok Tribune coordinator: Piya Wong @089 920 8027/ Bangkok Tribune News FB Messenger
**In accordance with the COVID-19 regulation, please confirm your participation ahead of the event (limited seats available).
***You can also watch the event live at FB Live: Bangkok Tribune News FB Page
Partners
- Thai Society of Environmental Journalists
- Project SEVANA South-East Asia
- SEA-Junction
- Bangkok Tribune News Agency
Supported by: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (Thailand Office)
Programme
Dialogue Forum 6 (in Thai)
A Ban on Toxic Farm Chemicals: Thailand’s long road to food safety the “(safe) Kitchen of the World”
Venue: SEA-Junction, 4th Floor, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
Time: September 30, 10.00 am-12.30 pm
| 10.00 am | Registration |
| 10.25 am | Brief introduction of the forum and the topic of the forum |
| 10.30 am | Overview: Development and the state of farm chemicals uses in Thailand and food safety and security policies to address chemical-based farming Mr.Witoon Lianchamroon, Director, Biodiversity, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Action Thailand ( BioThai Foundation) |
| 10.40 am | Forum discussion: A Ban on Toxic Farm Chemicals: Thailand’s long road to food safety and the “(safe) Kitchen of the World” Speakers: • Mr. Chavalit Vichayasuthi, Pheu Thai Deputy Leader chairman of the House’s ad-hoc committee on toxic farm chemical controls study • Mr. Witoon Lianchamroon, Director, Biodiversity, Sustainable Agriculture, and Food Sovereignty Action Thailand (BioThai Foundation) • Mr. Adisak Sreesunpagit, Former Director-General of the Department of Agriculture • Prokchol Ousap, Coordinator, the Thai Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-Pan) • Khun Orapin Lilitvisitwong, Editor, Thai PBS’s website, Decode (/moderator) |
| 11.40 am | Q&A session |
| 12.30 pm | Wrap-up and closing of the forum |
