RMUTL Drives Low-Carbon Innovation through Agricultural Practices and Community-Based Tourism Development

Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna (RMUTL) continues to strengthen its commitment to sustainability and innovation by providing technical assistance, knowledge transfer, and innovation support to both private enterprises and local communities. Two key initiatives led by RMUTL campuses in Lampang and Chiang Rai illustrate the university’s mission to advance low-carbon innovation and build a sustainable economy through research-based collaboration.

Agricultural Innovation for Carbon Reduction and Sequestration – RMUTL Lampang

On October 16–17, 2024, lecturers Dr. Suraphon Jaiwongsa and Dr. Manoch Koompanalaisatit from the Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, RMUTL Lampang, served as trainers in a technical workshop on “Developing Agricultural Practices for Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Carbon Sequestration.”
The workshop was hosted by Charoen Pokphand Produce Co., Ltd. at RMUTL Lampang’s Learning Innovation Center (Room 15-603).

The training focused on:

• Agricultural adaptation to climate change;
• Land-use management for emission reduction;
• Application of agricultural standards such as VERRA and Gold Standard;
• Developing Low-Carbon Product Plans and environmental performance indicators;
• Hands-on sessions for participants to assess and report their agricultural areas and carbon management goals.

This collaborative workshop represented RMUTL’s role in assisting private companies and start-ups to develop low-carbon products and processes. It also demonstrated the integration of academic knowledge and applied innovation into the private sector, strengthening the low-carbon transition in Thailand’s agri-business supply chain.

Low-Carbon Tourism and Community Innovation – RMUTL Chiang Rai

RMUTL Chiang Rai launched a project titled “Innovations and Appropriate Technologies for Developing Low-Carbon Model Tourism Communities through Participatory Processes to Improve Quality of Life.”
Led by Lecturer Suphatrjit Manosot from the Faculty of Business Administration and Liberal Arts, the project received funding from the Under the Royal Shade Program (FY2024).

The initiative targeted the Royal Project Development Center, Phatang, Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai Province, where waste management challenges affected sustainable community tourism development.

RMUTL researchers and community stakeholders collaborated to design low-carbon waste management solutions, including:

• Waste separation and recycling systems tailored to local contexts;
• Organic waste processing technologies for value-added products;
• Development of green accommodation and eco-tourism services;
• Applying the Public–Private–People–Partnership (4P) and ARC (Adjust–Reduce–Change) frameworks to foster behavioral change and environmental awareness.

The project succeeded in creating a model low-carbon tourism community, combining social innovation, appropriate technology, and participatory governance. It promoted collaboration among universities, local authorities, entrepreneurs, and villagers, setting a replicable standard for low-carbon community development across Northern Thailand.

Sources:

• RMUTL Lampang News – Low-Carbon Agricultural Practices Workshop (Oct 16–17, 2024)
• SDGs RMUTL Portal – Low-Carbon Tourism Community Development, Chiang Rai