On 22 March 2025, Mr. Charin Thongsuk, Governor of Chiang Rai, presided over the opening ceremony of MFU Coffee Fest 2025, organised by the Intellectual Property Management and Innovation Office of the Mae Fah Luang University Research and Innovation Institute. The event, held from 22–23 March 2025 at Saen Hotel, was attended by Mr. Sarutanan Sopanik, Assistant to the President of MFU, along with executives and representatives from various government agencies.
This event is part of MFU's Arabica Coffee Processing Promotion Project, which aims to enhance the value of Arabica coffee through innovation, integrating the university’s resources, including knowledge, technology, and innovations to improve and elevate agricultural products, particularly Arabica coffee in Upper Northern Thailand 2, the region with the highest coffee cultivation in the country.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Charin Thongsuk stated that this initiative aligns with the province’s mission to apply research, innovation, and university knowledge to economic and social development. He emphasised that tea and coffee are key agricultural products in Chiang Rai and the Upper Northern Thailand 2 region. Currently, Thailand produces approximately 9,000 tons of Arabica coffee annually, with more than 3,000 tons coming from this region. The governor highlighted the growing coffee market trend in Thailand, which has been increasing at a steady rate of 5–7% annually, presenting significant business opportunities. Additionally, expanding coffee plantations helps reduce forest fires and haze problems, as coffee is typically grown under large shade trees, providing both environmental and community economic benefits.
MFU Coffee Fest 2025 offered a diverse range of activities, blending academic insights with hands-on experiences. Key highlights included discussions on "The Future of Thai Coffee Research for Sustainability," as well as seminars by experts focusing on coffee plantation management, climate change impacts on coffee varieties, value-added coffee product innovations, and market trends.
The event also featured the MFU Brewing Challenge 2025, a coffee drip competition, and workshops on making coffee-scented perfumes, candles, and body oil, as well as crafting coffee cherry soda, demonstrating the full utilization of coffee by-products. Coffee lovers also had opportunities to take part in Sensory Tests and Cupping Sessions to explore different coffee flavors and aromas.
Throughout the two-day event, attendees could visit exhibition booths featuring premium coffee, cocoa, and tea products directly from producers. Additionally, the Coffee Connect business matching event provided networking opportunities for entrepreneurs to expand their coffee-related businesses.
MFU Coffee Fest 2025 is set to be a key platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and business development in Thailand’s coffee industry, reinforcing the country's position in the global coffee market.
