From 12–14 September 2025, the Department of European Affairs, in collaboration with Kasetsart University and Yara (Thailand) Company, hosted an Agri-Hackathon under the theme “Farming the Future: Advancing Thai Agriculture through Innovation”. The event was organised to celebrate the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Norway.
The hackathon followed the official launch earlier this year at Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where representatives from the Norwegian Embassy, Kasetsart University and Yara Thailand joined the Department of European Affairs to announce the competition. It was designed to encourage Thai university students to apply technology and creativity to address real-world challenges in agriculture, with a focus on sustainability and innovation.
Over three days, 12 teams of students selected from universities across Thailand took part in workshops, skill-building sessions and mentorship activities. They then presented their solutions in a final pitching round, competing for a prize fund of more than 100,000 baht.
The winning team, Agri-Power from Maejo University, presented “WasteX,” a platform that transforms food waste into valuable resources. The judges highlighted the project’s potential to contribute both to environmental sustainability and to strengthening agricultural supply chains.
The competition was structured around three broad themes: food security and human well-being, environmentally sustainable farming, and agricultural supply chain resilience. According to the organisers, this framework encouraged participants to approach agriculture not only as a technical field but as an area deeply connected to people, the planet and long-term prosperity.
By linking innovation with the commemoration of 120 years of diplomatic ties, the hackathon underlined the strong partnership between Thailand and Norway in promoting sustainable development. It also provided a platform for young innovators to showcase forward-looking solutions that may shape the future of Thai agriculture.
Source: Facebook
