The global agricultural sector is facing challenges from a growing population, trade wars, climate change, and outbreaks of plant and animal diseases, which are leading to food insecurity and economic inequality. In response, many governments are pushing for “Agricultural Transformation” with the goals of increasing the quantity and quality of output, adding value across the supply chain, diversifying products, and mitigating risks from both natural and man-made disasters. The key technologies driving this agricultural transformation can be grouped into three categories: 1) technologies that change the overall production process, 2) technologies that improve specific parts of the process, and 3) technologies that create new products.
In Thailand, most farmers are small-scale, with limited capital and skills. Krungsri Research therefore believes that appropriate technologies should be ‘accessible, simple, low-cost, and deliver clear results.’ The proposed approaches are as follows: 1) Knowledge and Skill Enhancement: Focus on using group applications, learning platforms, providing online tools, and creating databases for decision-making; 2) Value Addition and Market Access: Implement basic processing technologies, traceability systems, and online marketplaces; 3) Transition to Smart Farming: Focus on cost reduction, promoting the use of applications for precise farm management, and utilizing small-scale agricultural machinery. With government support enabling farmers to access appropriate technologies, these measures can sustainably elevate the livelihoods of Thai farmers.
The agricultural sector has long been the backbone of the economy, playing a crucial role as the primary source of food-one of the four fundamental human needs-and providing shelter as well as economic security. However, increasing external risks such as trade wars, global warming, epidemics, and environmental degradation have led to agricultural output in certain areas and periods being insufficient for consumption. This has resulted in a lack of food security, which could ultimately lead to economic and social inequality. Therefore, to ensure food security and improve people’s livelihoods, many countries worldwide are prioritizing the transformation of the agricultural sector.
Agricultural transformation is the process of changing production methods and supply chain management within the agricultural sector to enhance efficiency. This is achieved by applying technologies, innovations, and new concepts to meet the evolving demands of consumers, society, and the global market. Key drivers of this transformation include:
Innovation and Technology: This is the core of agricultural transformation, as seen in the evolution of the agricultural sector from Era 1.0 to Era 5.0 (Figure 1), each driven by new innovations and technologies. The current era, Agriculture 5.0, integrates various technologies and innovations to boost production potential. Examples include the use of digital data combined with engineering tools, the application of biotechnology to enhance the traits of plants and animals, and the use of agricultural data to analyze production and sales strategies.
Population: The United Nations projects that the global population will increase to 9.7 billion by 20501/, leading to a more than 25% rise in food demand. Furthermore, the diverse global population-in terms of society, culture, religion, health, age, and income-has a variety of food needs. An increase in per capita consumption may also lead to competition for agricultural products to ensure food security. Therefore, many countries must transform their production models or develop new ways to increase agricultural output to meet their domestic needs.
Nature and Environment: Constraints from natural resources and environmental changes-such as natural disasters, invasive pests and diseases, rising global temperatures, desertification or increasing aridity, and water pollution-require people in frequently affected areas to accelerate development in order to cope with these challenges and overcome the limitations of existing resources.
Policies and Regulations: The interconnectedness of the global economy and trade means that policies and regulations in one country can impact the supply chain in another. For instance, increased tariffs can raise the cost of imported goods, while policies supporting environmental sustainability-such as avoiding agricultural products from deforested areas, reducing carbon footprints, and verifying sustainable production-encourage many countries to rapidly develop their agricultural sector to comply with the standards and regulations of their global trading partners.


The primary goals of agricultural transformation-increasing the quantity and quality of output, adding value across the supply chain5/, and reducing risks-all depend on innovation and technology as the key drivers of change in the agricultural sector. The technologies6/ used in agriculture can be divided into three main groups:
1. Technologies that Increase the Quantity and Quality of Agricultural Output throughout the Production Process. This group of technologies helps expand farming methods and overcome production limitations, such as cultivating crops in deserts or farming in the sea. The most popular method is greenhouse cultivation using various techniques, including hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics, and vertical farming.
These techniques use technology to mitigate constraints related to space, insects, and pests, allowing for the control of nutrients and a reduction in risk from natural disasters. As a result, crops can be cultivated year-round, which meets the needs of consumers or importing countries that demand high-quality produce or have limited space. However, the limitation of this technology is the high initial investment. There is also a risk from economic uncertainty, as the high cost of the produce may not be suitable during an economic downturn.


2. Technologies that Improve Efficiency, Output, and Quality in Agriculture, or Transform Specific Steps of the Agricultural Production Process: These technologies are particularly suitable for farmers with limited capital, as they are flexible and can be adopted incrementally based on needs and available funds. Widely known innovations include Precision Agriculture, Sensor Systems (for measuring moisture, light, and nutrients), GIS & GPS mapping and navigation systems, Drones, Robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Applications and Platforms, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), and 3D and 4D-Printing.
When used in combination, these technologies enable Smart Farming (Figures 3 and 4), which enhances efficiency and output, conserves resources, reduces damage, is environmentally friendly, and helps farmers make better, data-driven decisions. However, there are also some drawbacks, which include high initial costs, a reliance on advanced knowledge and infrastructure (such as electricity and the internet), the need for continuous software updates, and a long and uncertain payback period due to fluctuating produce prices.




3. Technologies that Increase Output and Improve Quality Through the Development of New Products: This involves enhancing quality or creating new products in a lab or through scientific processes to replace traditional, time-consuming production methods. Examples include Synthetic Biology, Cellular Agriculture, and Genetic Modification.
Synthetic Biology Technology: This technology offers several key advantages: 1) it produces higher yields from plants resistant to diseases, pests, and adverse weather; 2) it is resource-efficient and environmentally friendly by reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides; 3) it expands the market with new products that have increased nutritional value; and 4) it provides raw materials for high-value industries such as the pharmaceutical and vaccine industries (e.g., corn, tobacco, artemisia, and lettuce), the energy industry (e.g., soybeans, switchgrass, sunn hemp, and sugarcane), and the nutritional supplement industry (e.g., rice, wheat, tomatoes, and soybeans) (Figure 5). However, this technology has limitations, including high costs, particularly for research and development, making it difficult for small-scale farmers to access. There are also concerns regarding safety and ethics, as well as the need for appropriate laws and regulations. It also requires highly skilled personnel.

To determine the most suitable approach for the agricultural transformation in Thailand, Krungsri Research utilized a combined SWOT and PESTEL analysis framework. This involved integrating the analysis of 1) Internal Factors, which include Strengths and Weaknesses, and 2) External Factors, including Opportunities and Threats from the SWOT framework. These were then integrated with the environmental factors from the PESTEL framework: P - Political and government policies, E - Economic, S - Social, T - Technological, E - Environmental, and L - Legal. The analysis is presented as follows (Table 1):


Based on the analysis, a multi-stakeholder approach is necessary to accelerate the transformation of Thai agriculture. Key stakeholders, in particular, should focus on the following:
Farmers: From “Traditional Producers” to “Smart Agri-preneurs”. Thai agriculture has several strengths that can be leveraged.
Production: The focus should be on precision agriculture to reduce dependence on weather, leverage technology to ensure consistent product quality, and elevate products to high-value goods like organic and Geographical Indication (GI) items. This also requires developing products that comply with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards to build consumer confidence.
Business and Marketing: Farmers must evolve from being mere "producers" into "entrepreneurs" with business acumen in farm management, cost-benefit analysis, online marketing, production planning, and branding. They should also form groups through cooperatives, community enterprises, or associations to strengthen their bargaining power for both purchasing inputs and selling outputs.
Entrepreneurs or Exporters: From “Middlemen” to “Thai Agri-brand Builders”. Thai agriculture has numerous strengths that can be built upon.
Storytelling and Branding: Thai entrepreneurs can use the strengths of local wisdom and product uniqueness for storytelling. They should highlight organic and GI products that meet GAP and environmental standards and build a recognizable brand instead of just selling undifferentiated commodities.
Platform-based Market Access: Leverage Social Commerce (e-commerce and social media) to expand sales channels, promote products, and present compelling stories about their products.
The Ecosystem: Achieving Stability and Continuity. This involves creating a stable and continuous environment through: i) Government Policies, formulating policies that promote sustainable development throughout the entire supply chain; ii) Integrated Cooperation, fostering collaboration among government agencies, financial institutions, and the private sector to ensure support is coordinated and moves in a unified direction; iii) Modern and Clear Legislation, updating laws and regulations, especially those related to trade, investment, and import-export; and iv) Accessible Agricultural Technology, providing clear and accessible agricultural technologies to help farmers compete in the global market.
However, the key structural problem that the agricultural sector must urgently address is the lack of business and marketing skills among smallholder farmers. Their limited access to capital and technology is a “critical bottleneck”, preventing most farmers from capitalizing on existing strengths and opportunities. This keeps them trapped in a cycle of debt, high costs, and unstable income. Even with government support, excellent technology, or high-quality products, if farmers remain merely "producers" who wait for middlemen to purchase their goods, they will be unable to fully exploit these opportunities.
Given that most Thai farmers are smallholders with limited land and liquidity constraints, they face high production costs, low and uncertain returns, and significant debt. The agricultural workforce is also shrinking due to demographic changes, with the average age of farmers being higher than in other sectors. Therefore, the adoption of highly advanced technologies may not be suitable in the Thai context. Instead, technologies should be "accessible, simple, low-cost, and deliver clear results." Krungsri Research has analyzed the following approaches for guiding the Thai agricultural sector in its transition to modern technology:
1) Knowledge and Skill Empowerment Technologies: With Thailand's extensive communication networks and widespread smartphone access, these technologies provide a simple, low-cost channel that supports and facilitates other tasks.
Link > Forming Groups with Communication Technology: Farmers can use applications such as Line and Facebook to form groups, communicate, share experiences, solve problems collaboratively, strengthen networks, and enhance their bargaining power. For those without access to digital technology, traditional methods–such as cooperatives and village farming groups–remain effective for knowledge sharing and development.
Learn > Learning via Online Platforms: Platforms can serve as a bridge between farmers and experts or service providers. There are two types: 1) learning platforms (e.g., DOAE e-Learning15/, TARR16/, Kaset One Farmer17/) which offer video tutorials, modern farming techniques, and channels for expert consultation; and 2) business platforms (e.g., Agri Service Provider18/, Icon Kaset19/, ALLRENT20/) which provide services like drone spraying, harvesting machinery rentals, and other agricultural services.
Log > Collecting Data for Decision-Making: The government and other stakeholders can collaborate to develop a database system that supports farmers in cultivation planning. This system should encompass three main types of data: production factors (weather21/, soil and water conditions22/, pests23/), market information (agricultural product prices24/, market demand25/), and knowledge (cultivation techniques, fertilizer and water management, modern agricultural technology, production standards). This data, gathered from reliable sources, should be analyzed and simplified into easy-to-understand graphs and infographics. This information can then be disseminated through familiar applications like Line26/ and Facebook27/. This approach will help farmers reduce risks in production planning, improve marketing strategies, and make rational decisions based on real data, leading to sustainable farming and stable income.
2) Value Addition and Market Access Technologies: Farmers who can utilize communication tools or have sufficient capital for simple processing machinery can leverage technology to add value to their agricultural products and thereby increase their income.
Technology for Processing > Basic Processing Technology: Farmers can apply simple technologies to develop and process their agricultural products. Examples include solar drying, chilling/freezing, pelletizing, and compressing. These processes not only add value but also reduce spoilage, extend shelf life, and facilitate storage and transportation (Figure 6).

Traceability > Track and Trace Technology: Farmers acting as entrepreneurs can implement simple data recording systems, such as QR Codes or Barcodes on their products. This allows consumers to access information on the origin of raw materials, production methods, and product standards, which builds consumer trust, elevates product standards, and increases opportunities to enter new consumer markets.
Trade Platform > Online Trading Platforms: The growing number of online trading platforms provides farmers with easier market access, reducing their reliance on middlemen, offering transparent access to market prices, and enabling them to quickly and widely expand their customer base. In Thailand, several online agricultural marketplaces exist, including DGT Farm30/, Ortorkor Delivery31/, Taladkasetronline.com32/, Thailandpostmart.com33/, Farmto34/, DurianTradeX35/, and Thai Rubber Trade36/. Farmers can also utilize social media and popular e-commerce platforms such as Line, Facebook, TikTok, Shopee, and Lazada to promote and sell their products.
3) Smart Farming Technologies for Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement: If farmers can use basic digital technology, as well as small-scale machinery or equipment, or have sufficient investment capital for modern technology, they can apply the following:
Manage > Precision Management: Farmers can utilize basic technologies such as: 1) smartphone applications combined with simple soil testing kits to analyze crop nutrient needs and optimal water levels, providing quick information for immediate problem-solving; and 2) applications or platforms with accurate weather forecasts or information on regional plant disease outbreaks, enabling farmers to prepare and prevent damage in a timely manner, reducing losses and the cost of rehabilitating their plots.
Machine > Small-Scale Machinery: The market now offers an increasing number of small agricultural machinery products tailored for small farm plots, such as walking tractors, tillers, and drones for small-area spraying. These machines are becoming more affordable and offer multiple functions, making them more convenient to use than larger machinery.
The aforementioned approaches demonstrate that a sustainable transformation of Thailand’s agricultural sector does not depend solely on expensive technologies. Rather, it must be adapted to the realities of the country's smallholder farmers. The government should serve as a central hub for building a digital agricultural ecosystem that effectively connects farmers to knowledge, information, and markets. The priority is to promote access to technologies that are easy to use, low-cost, and deliver tangible results, whether for learning, data-driven decision-making, or market access. Such measures will help reduce production risks, increase returns, and strengthen long-term livelihood security. Ultimately, the transition to a new agricultural era will only be successful when every farmer can truly utilize technology as a tool to improve their quality of life.

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