On November 14, 2025, the Institute for Population and Social Research (IPSR), Mahidol University, under the research project “Study of Local Food System Conditions in Thailand” supported by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), organized a feedback and consultation meeting on local food system indicators for Pa Or Don Chai Subdistrict (Mueang District) and Pa Tung Subdistrict (Mae Chan District) in Chiang Rai Province.
The meeting was led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jongjit Rittirong, Principal Investigator, together with the research team: Dr. Pattraporn Chuenglertsiri, Ms. Pimolpan Nitnara, and Ms. Thanaporn Kirdkaew. The team presented study findings and facilitated discussions with participants, including representatives from government agencies, the Provincial Food Committee, local administrative organizations, village health volunteers, and community networks.
The objective of this feedback forum was to enable local administrative organizations to apply the indicator data for planning and developing sustainable community food systems.
Key issues highlighted during the meeting included: solid waste management challenges, PM2.5 pollution from agricultural burning and forest fires, chemical contamination in water sources and in residents’ blood, limited knowledge of safe food practices, procurement challenges for providing safe and organic school lunches, and lack of safe food markets.
Participants jointly outlined development pathways for the next 1, 3, and 5 years, such as: establishing model villages for waste management, promoting household vegetable gardens, creating safe food markets, providing training on food and environmental literacy, strengthening networks of safe farmers, reducing monoculture farming, and advancing safe food policies at the subdistrict and school levels.
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