{"id":25524,"date":"2026-11-11T16:58:34","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T09:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/?p=25524"},"modified":"2026-11-11T16:58:34","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T09:58:34","slug":"stop-burning-rice-straw-pm25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/stop-burning-rice-straw-pm25\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop Burning Rice Straw, Cut PM2.5: When Field Leftovers Become Raw Materials with a Price"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Every year after the harvest season, fine particulate matter <strong>PM2.5<\/strong> returns as major news in Thailand. One of the most discussed causes is <strong>agricultural open burning<\/strong>, especially the burning of rice straw and stubble to prepare fields for the next planting.<\/p>\r\n<p>For farmers, burning is the fastest and cheapest way to get rid of leftovers, because straw and rice leaves have almost no market value. For society, the cost of burning is air quality and the health of a great many people. The key question is therefore not only &#8220;how do we ban burning?&#8221; but <strong>&#8220;how do we make field leftovers valuable enough that nobody wants to burn them?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>This article looks at the scale of the problem, the measures the government is using, the options for using rice straw, and a new approach that turns rice leaves into raw materials for the food and cosmetics industries.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"rice_straw_burning_and_pm25_the_scale_of_the_problem\"><\/span>Rice straw burning and PM2.5: the scale of the problem<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Rice is Thailand&#8217;s most widely grown crop, so the volume of leftovers from rice fields is enormous. A study by Junpen et al. (2018) from King Mongkut&#8217;s University of Technology Thonburi, published in the journal Atmosphere, assessed emissions from burning rice field residues in Thailand and found that:<\/p>\r\n<ul><li>Rice field residues nationwide amounted to about 61.87 million tonnes<\/li><li>About 23.0% of all residues were subject to open burning<\/li><li>Burning rice field residues in the study year (2018) released about 38 \u00b1 22 kilotonnes of PM2.5<\/li><\/ul>\r\n<p>Another dataset, from Thai PBS Policy Watch (February 2025), states that agricultural areas had the highest cumulative number of burn spots in 2023, at 55,470, and that rice fields had the largest share of hotspots in the agricultural sector, at around 38%.<\/p>\r\n<p>These figures show that changing how rice field leftovers are managed, even in part, would have a significant effect on the country&#8217;s air quality.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why_farmers_still_burn\"><\/span>Why farmers still burn<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Burning does not come from a lack of knowledge. It comes from economic and time constraints.<\/p>\r\n<ol><li><strong>Short field preparation time.<\/strong> Especially in areas that grow rice several times a year, farmers must clear their fields as fast as possible.<\/li><li><strong>Management costs more than burning.<\/strong> Ploughing under, baling straw or hauling it out of the field requires machinery and labour.<\/li><li><strong>Leftovers have almost no value.<\/strong> When they cannot be sold, or sell only at a low price, there is little incentive to collect them.<\/li><li><strong>Buyers are not everywhere.<\/strong> Some areas have straw buyers, but many areas still have no reliable outlet.<\/li><\/ol>\r\n<p>A lasting solution therefore has to make not burning &#8220;pay better&#8221; than burning, in terms of both income and convenience.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"government_measures_banning_burning_and_rewarding_not_burning\"><\/span>Government measures: banning burning and rewarding not burning<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Over the past several years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has issued measures to manage PM2.5 from the agricultural sector, covering two sides.<\/p>\r\n<ul><li><strong>Control:<\/strong> setting burning ban periods in agricultural areas. For example, in 2025 burning was banned from 17 January to 31 May 2025, and announcement (No. 2) of 2025, dated 6 November 2025, set a nationwide burning ban from 1 February to 31 March 2026. Violators lose eligibility for government agricultural assistance for 2 years. The periods may change each year, so the latest announcement should be followed.<\/li><li><strong>Incentives:<\/strong> according to news reports, the measures set out benefits for farmers who produce without burning and for private companies that buy agricultural products produced without burning.<\/li><\/ul>\r\n<p>It is this incentive side that opens the door for the private sector, because creating &#8220;buyers&#8221; for leftovers or for no-burn produce gives farmers a better option than lighting a fire.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"options_for_using_straw_and_other_field_leftovers\"><\/span>Options for using straw and other field leftovers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Rice straw is already used in several ways, for example:<\/p>\r\n<ul><li><strong>Animal feed and bedding<\/strong>: baled straw for cattle and buffalo<\/li><li><strong>Growing materials<\/strong>: such as straw mushroom cultivation, and mulch<\/li><li><strong>Compost and ploughing under<\/strong>: to return organic matter to the soil<\/li><li><strong>Biomass energy<\/strong>: as fuel in biomass power plants<\/li><li><strong>Substitute materials<\/strong>: such as packaging and containers made from plant fibre<\/li><\/ul>\r\n<p>Most of these options use straw as a &#8220;high-volume, low-price material&#8221;, so the income per rai that farmers receive is still limited. The option that could really change the game is to find leftovers worth many times more than before.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_the_soil_gains_when_burning_stops\"><\/span>What the soil gains when burning stops<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Besides reducing dust, not burning straw also affects the field itself, because straw and stubble are a source of organic matter that can return to the soil. When they are burned, some organic matter and nutrients are lost with the smoke and heat, and the soil surface may be affected by the high temperature.<\/p>\r\n<p>Options such as ploughing under, or using microorganisms to help break down stubble, have long been promoted by agricultural agencies. But these options still cost time and machinery, so many farmers also need an income incentive.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"who_a_no-burn_supply_chain_needs\"><\/span>Who a no-burn supply chain needs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Moving from burning to using leftovers does not depend on farmers alone. It needs players across the whole chain.<\/p>\r\n<ol><li><strong>Farmers and community enterprises<\/strong> willing to change how they manage their fields, and to group together so there is enough volume for buyers<\/li><li><strong>Researchers and breeders<\/strong> who develop varieties and methods that make leftovers more valuable<\/li><li><strong>Processors<\/strong> who set up production units near the growing areas, to reduce the cost of transporting material that is heavy or spoils easily<\/li><li><strong>End buyers<\/strong>, meaning manufacturers and brands, who are willing to pay for raw materials verifiably produced without burning<\/li><li><strong>Government<\/strong>, which sets the rules and benefits so that not burning pays better than burning<\/li><\/ol>\r\n<p>If any one player is missing, the chain does not form. A buying market therefore has to be designed together with raw material development from the start.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"a_new_approach_coloured_rice_leaves_as_a_high-value_raw_material\"><\/span>A new approach: coloured rice leaves as a high-value raw material<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>One interesting approach from Thai research is <strong>breeding rice so that its leaves have value<\/strong> from the outset. The Rice Science Center, Kasetsart University, developed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/?p=25522\">Rainbow Rice (Khao Sanpasi)<\/a>, rice whose leaves are pink and purple from anthocyanins, under the concept of &#8220;the whole rice plant is food&#8221; (Whole-plant Food), and has stated the aim of using the stems and fresh leaves to reduce straw burning.<\/p>\r\n<p>When rice leaves carry their own colour, one batch of leaves can be developed into several raw materials:<\/p>\r\n<ol><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/?p=25465\">Rice leaf extract<\/a><\/strong>: an anthocyanin colour for cosmetics and food development work<\/li><li><strong>Protein hydrolysate<\/strong> from the protein in the leaves<\/li><li><strong>Dietary fibre<\/strong> from the leaf residue left after extraction<\/li><\/ol>\r\n<p>Unlike straw, which is sold as a high-volume material, rice leaves in this approach are bought as <strong>an industrial starting raw material<\/strong>, purchased by quality. Farmers thus gain new income from a part of the rice plant that used to have almost no value.<\/p>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"questions_that_still_need_proof\"><\/span>Questions that still need proof<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>This approach still has key questions that must be answered with real data, not assumptions.<\/p>\r\n<ul><li><strong>Leaf-cutting timing<\/strong>: finding the period when leaves have accumulated enough pigment and cutting them does not affect grain yield<\/li><li><strong>The cost of collecting and transporting fresh leaves<\/strong>, which spoil faster than dry straw<\/li><li><strong>The readiness of processing units<\/strong>, which need to be close to the growing areas<\/li><li><strong>End markets<\/strong> willing to pay for raw materials with a verifiable origin<\/li><\/ul>\r\n<p>The project to develop raw materials from Rainbow Rice (Khao Sanpasi) RBR02 leaves sets these questions as proof gates in sequence. It starts by measuring pigment content in leaves from several fields and at several stages, before installing a pilot extraction unit and producing pilot batches from real farmers&#8217; leaves.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"tibds_role_in_building_a_market_for_no-burn_raw_materials\"><\/span>TIBD&#8217;s role in building a market for no-burn raw materials<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Not burning can only last when there are clear buyers. TIBD sees its role as <strong>a connector between research, farmers and manufacturers<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n<ul><li><strong>Matching manufacturers&#8217; needs<\/strong>: connecting food and cosmetics manufacturers looking for traceable plant raw materials with raw materials from rice leaves<\/li><li><strong>Acting as a partner<\/strong> in the RBR02 rice leaf project of the Rice Science Center, Kasetsart University, together with K-API Co., Ltd. and the network of organic farming community enterprises in Uthai Thani province<\/li><li><strong>Setting up quality systems and documentation<\/strong> so that raw materials from no-burn fields can actually enter industrial supply chains<\/li><\/ul>\r\n<p>For brands, choosing raw materials produced without burning is not just CSR. It is a verifiable story that fits the sustainability expectations of consumers and overseas trading partners, though brands should take care not to claim more than the data show.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"tibds_recommendations_for_brands_that_want_to_help_reduce_burning\"><\/span>TIBD&#8217;s recommendations for brands that want to help reduce burning<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<ol><li><strong>Look for raw materials traceable to the field<\/strong>, and ask for information on how that field manages its leftovers.<\/li><li><strong>Test new raw materials during their development phase<\/strong>, so your product is ready when the raw material goes on sale.<\/li><li><strong>Communicate carefully.<\/strong> Use verifiable data and avoid claiming impact figures that have not been measured.<\/li><li><strong>Become a long-term buyer<\/strong>, because market certainty is what gives farmers the confidence to change how they produce.<\/li><\/ol>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"burning_can_really_stop_when_rice_leaves_have_a_price\"><\/span>Burning can really stop when rice leaves have a price<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>PM2.5 from rice straw burning will not disappear through bans alone. A more lasting solution is to make field leftovers valuable enough that farmers keep them to sell instead of setting them on fire. Breeding rice varieties whose leaves have value, and building a market that buys rice leaves as an industrial raw material, is one of the options now being proven in Thailand.<\/p>\r\n<p>Read about the project and the three raw materials from rice leaves on the page <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/rainbow-rice\/\">Deep Tech Innovators 03: Rainbow Rice RBR02<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you are a manufacturer interested in raw materials produced without burning, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">click to contact the TIBD consulting team<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"references\"><\/span>References<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<ol><li>Junpen, A., Pansuk, J., Kamnoet, O., Cheewaphongphan, P., &amp; Garivait, S. (2018). Emission of air pollutants from rice residue open burning in Thailand, 2018. Atmosphere, 9(11), 449. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/atmos9110449<\/li><li>Thai PBS Policy Watch (13 February 2025). PM2.5 from the agricultural sector (in Thai). https:\/\/policywatch.thaipbs.or.th\/article\/agriculture-42<\/li><li>Government Public Relations Department. Nationwide ban on burning agricultural areas, 1 Feb to 31 Mar 2026, to curb PM2.5; violators lose assistance for 2 years (citing the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives announcement on measures to manage, prevent and solve the problem of fine particulate matter not exceeding 2.5 microns in the agricultural sector (No. 2) of 2025, dated 6 November 2025) (in Thai). https:\/\/www.prd.go.th\/th\/content\/category\/detail\/id\/39\/iid\/467764<\/li><li>Prachachat Turakij. News on agricultural burning ban measures (in Thai). https:\/\/www.prachachat.net\/economic\/news-1918871<\/li><li>Rice Science Center, Kasetsart University. Khao Sanpasi Mak Sanphakhun (Rainbow Rice, many properties) (in Thai). https:\/\/dna.kps.ku.ac.th\/research\/articles\/rainbow-rice-thailand<\/li><\/ol>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":237,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[156,157],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deep-tech-en","category-local-expert-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/237"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25524"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25524\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25530,"href":"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25524\/revisions\/25530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tibdglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}