On 20 – 25 October 2025, the Tea and Coffee Institute at Mae Fah Luang University, in collaboration with the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation of Colombia (APC-Colombia), held a knowledge exchange activity focused on integrating coffee and agritourism. The event took place at Mae Fah Luang University and areas in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. This activity was a part of the "Training on a Sustainability of Arabica Coffee Production in Thailand" project, under the 2025 – 2027 framework of the Thailand–Colombia Bilateral Technical Cooperation Plan.
This project aimed to provide a platform for experts, entrepreneurs, and farmers from Thailand and Columbia (one of the world’s top coffee producers) to exchange knowledge, practical experiences, innovations on sustainable Arabica coffee processing and development. It also aimed to give participants the opportunity to build academic collaborative networks.
MFU executives, led by Prof. Dr.Sujitra Wongkasemjit, Vice President, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Romyen Kosaikanont, Vice President, welcomed the delegation during the welcoming session on 20 October 2025. The delegation, led by Mr. Andrés Leonardo Suárez Galvis, Second Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Political, Multilateral and Cooperation Affairs at the Embassy of Colombia to Thailand, included researchers from Cenicafé (Colombia’s National Coffee Research Center), lecturers from leading universities specializing in coffee, a Socio-Business Manager of Tecnicafé, and a coffee producer.
The project featured a presentation on potential academic cooperation, a visit to the university’s advanced laboratories and the Tea and Coffee Institute, and an exchange session with Thai coffee farmers including representatives from Magpie farm, Queen of Coffee, and Heramon farm.
Dr. Amorn Owatworakit, Head of the Coffee Division, Tea and Coffee Institute, Mae Fah Luang University, stated that this project provides an excellent opportunity for experts from both countries to exchange knowledge, technology, and innovations in sustainable coffee production, which will contribute to the advancement of Thailand’s coffee industry and promote sustainable agrotourism.
Altogether, the activity reflects Mae Fah Luang University’s commitment to elevating the quality of Thai coffee production to international standards and to building international collaboration networks for the sustainable development of the coffee industry. This initiative exemplifies the strong partnership between Thailand and Colombia, while bringing long-term benefits to farmers and local communities in both nations.
