HIA 2008 Chiangmai

From the past to the present, Thailand’s rice seeds have been improved in various patterns to meet the objectives and visions of breeders. The technologies of seed improvement can be divided into the following 3 main categories:

Seed selection and improvement by farmers and local academics (farmers’ school). The strengths of this category are the ability to preserve and improve indigenous seeds with a concern over their suitability to local ecosystems, disease and insect resistance, and high nutrition.

Seed selection by governmental agencies (open pollinated seed). The seeds from these technologies can be cultivated throughout the year in different environments with high yields and may better react with fertilizers and chemicals than those improved by farmers.

Seed selection by private companies (hybrid seed). Hybrid seeds provide higher yield than normal seeds and have a short harvest period. They react well with chemical fertilizers. They are, however, questioned in terms of their resistibility to diseases and insects. Besides, the cultivation of genetically modified seeds is not permitted in Thailand.

The difference of technologies leads to various concerns over Thai people’s health including food security (yielding, nutritional values, impacts on natural food source, chemical and biological safety), economy (harvest period, yielding, costs, and prices), and socio-cultural dimensions (self-reliance and local wisdom, culture, and tradition).

Furthermore, since rice is a staple food of Thai people and closely linked with Thai ways of life, it is necessary that Thai people know the existing impacts of the different technologies in rice production in order to be aware of future impacts and appropriate technological alternatives.

With the awareness of the importance of this issue, National Health Commission Office and Healthy Public Policy Foundation have jointly organized a brainstorming meeting on “Health Impact Assessment of Seed Improvement Technologies in Thailand” on August 4, 2008 at Nursing College Building, Bamrasnaradura Institute, Nonthaburi province. The meeting was attended by over 20 participants from governmental agencies, higher education institutes, and civil society organizations that have had experience and are directly involved in seed improvement. The participants agreed that in-depth studies should be conducted in specific issues since these are related to the health of Thai people in a broad scope and in a long term.

Posted: 17/09/08