Chula Hosts Chula Dairy Conference & Expo

Today, more than 15,000 dairy farming households in Thailand are facing mounting challenges on multiple fronts. Rising production costs, climate change, and heat stress are directly affecting both the quantity and quality of milk production. At the same time, environmental pressures related to greenhouse gas emissions are increasing. Trade liberalization, which allows duty-free imports of milk powder, has further reduced the competitiveness of domestically produced raw milk, contributing to oversupply in the local market and placing many dairy farmers at a critical crossroads for survival.

To address these challenges, the Agricultural Technology and Innovation Center of Chulalongkorn University (AIC Chula Saraburi), in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, organized the Chula Dairy Conference & Expo 2026 on June 11–12, 2026, at Saraburi Building 4, the Center for Social Engagement, Kaeng Khoi District, Saraburi Province. Held under the theme “Transforming the Thai Dairy Industry Toward Sustainability,” the event served as a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, develop solutions to support dairy farmers, and elevate farm standards to meet international environmental benchmarks. The conference brought together participants across the dairy value chain, from farmers and cooperatives to private sector partners. The opening ceremony was presided over by Associate Professor Dr. Yootthana Chuppunnarat, Vice President of Chulalongkorn University.

The conference featured a wide range of activities, including the “Dairy Crisis Solutions forum,” which explored data-driven approaches to overcoming industry challenges. Participants also examined success stories from model farms and cooperatives, strategies for managing climate change and heat stress in dairy cattle, and solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A brainstorming session titled “Chula Dairy Transformation Platform” focused on shaping the future direction of Thailand’s dairy sector. Additional highlights included the Main Conference & Expo showcasing innovations for dairy farming in tropical climates, the AIC Saraburi Marketplace for business networking and agricultural innovation exhibits, and the Youth & TikTok Zone, featuring a short-video competition promoting milk consumption under the campaign theme “Real Cow’s Milk: Good for Every Age.”

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittisak Ajariyakhajorn, Director of the Agricultural Technology and Innovation Center and Chairman of the conference, Thailand currently produces only about 50% of its domestic milk demand. However, the industry continues to face milk oversupply due to the influx of lower-cost imported milk powder. As a result, Thai dairy farmers are disadvantaged in both production costs and product quality. He emphasized that the key to survival lies in shifting from volume-based production to quality-focused dairy farming while creating value-added products such as cheese, butter, and soft-serve ice cream to generate stable and sustainable income streams.

He further noted that Chulalongkorn University has established a technology transfer and research center in Kaeng Khoi District, Saraburi Province, covering more than 4,000 rai. The center operates a demonstration dairy farm that showcases how farmers can achieve milk yields of 20 liters per cow per day while maintaining competitive production costs. The university has also expanded its outreach through the Chula Dairy School, a network involving 30–50 dairy farms, and the Chula Freshmilk platform, which integrates dairy farms with processing facilities. These initiatives aim to help Thai dairy farmers successfully enter and compete in premium dairy markets. 

Read more at: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/413633/