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RMUTT ‘Thai Traditional Medicine College’ spearheads 6 provinces of Thailand in improving their local herbs to meet the national standard
Thai Traditional Medicine College (RMUTT) brought back 6 unique local herbs from Thailand’s 6 provinces to help enhance natural product quality and to transfer ownership rights back to locals through the Project of enhancing product quality for SME Thai herbal manufacturers
Assistant Professor Dr. Korawinvitch Boopisuthinan, a lecturer at Thai Traditional Medicine College, Rajamngala University of Technology Thanyaburi who is also responsible for the project revealed, “The needs of consumers today is far more interested in self-care by choosing healthy and safe products made from herbs. Many Thais seemingly address their needs in holistic medical care approach which is now very popular among Thai people and the world. Concerning Thailand‘s annual growth rate of economics, amounts of those who prefer herbal products grow correspondingly to those mounting numbers of SME herbal manufacturers and community enterprise. However, in order to create brand creditability, production research, testing, and analysis must be made creditable and yet the product itself has to be innovative, efficient, and safe. With awareness and its importance, RMUTT’s Thai traditional college has decide to help improve the production of herbal products for the SME manufacturers by bringing in Thai herbs from the local communities in 6 provinces including Pathum Thani, Prachin Buri, Srakaew, Nakorn Sri Ayutthaya as well as Saraburi and Nakron Panom as a pilot project for driving and enhancing natural product innovation.
The project operation started off by arranging workshops for those who are as part of natural product manufacturing industry with the objective of providing them career opportunities and improving businesses. The innovative enhancement of natural products made from local Thai herbs has been conducted by applying efficient research and development with precise safety evaluation on those herbs before turning them into marketable products. Related to project activities on production technology transfer conducted by Innovative and Knowledge Center (RMUTT), an exhibition of natural Thai herbs from Thailand’s provinces was held at DD Mall, Chatuchak district, Bangkok. Associate Professor Dr. Prasert Pinpathomrath acting as a senator presided over the opening ceremony and during the event, he also handed over certificate of transfer ownership of research insight to the 6 provincial representatives for the benefits of local herbal product manufacturers in those provinces.
Vice Governor of Prachin Buri province, Mr. Ronnarong Nakornjit described that the project on enhancing herbal product manufacturing process is a collaboration between Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi and Prachin Buri. The aim of this cooperation is to help SME herbal product manufacturers in Prachin Buri exploit the benefits of local herb using research to help develop into innovative natural products for the like of mouth washer mixed with grapefruit skin extract, skin scrubber mixed with bamboo ash and ‘Dok Peep’ flower skin serum. Besides, during the event, certificate of transfer ownership of research insight had also been handed over to representatives of each province who participated in the ceremony. Mr Ronnarong also hoped that project would be conducted continuously in order to facilitate manufacturers commercially and raise the awareness of the benefits of local Thai herbs that is driven and supported by RMUTT researchers.
While, Mr. Roongruthai Muanprasitiporn, a provincial health officer, revealed that entrepreneurs in Saraburi province have widely accepted and glad to be as part of the project. Mulberry, Kao Punsa flower, and ‘Jek Chei’ rice are considered to be three of the many widely known herbs in Saraburi. These natural herbs had been researched, developed and extracted through efficient and yet very safe procedures and closely observed evaluation until they became natural and organic herbal extracts ready for production. RMUTT has given its full collaboration in terms of organizing training sessions, conducting research, transferring technology insight, holding exhibitions, and handing over certificate of transfer ownership. It could be said that this project is useful and yet very beneficial to both the people and the country’s economy particularly when local Thai herbs are developed into high quality natural products that meet the national standard.
“The outcome of the project helps raising local Thai herbal product standard, and popularity which can correspondingly increase the herbs’ commercial values that benefits the local entrepreneurs. Moreover, the project itself in a way could help promote and support preservation Thai local intellects for years to come” concluded Asst. Dr. Korawinvitch Boopisuthinan.
