Balancing the Food Chain for Sustainability

Balancing the Food Chain for Sustainability


Through Healthy Soil, Clean Water, and Pure Air, Life Will Thrive Sustainably

All living organisms on Earth exist under the rules of nature and are part of the food chain as producers, consumers, and decomposersthe latter being microorganisms. A balanced food chain ensures smooth coexistence of all life forms. However, todays changes in society, economy, and environment have disrupted this balance.

Dr. Suwan Yimcharoen, or Dr. Jeab, Chairman of the Eastern Black Tiger Shrimp Cluster, esteemed advisor for economic animals at ARDA (Agricultural Research Development Agency), and Executive Board Member at Siam Agri Supply Co., Ltd. (SAS), unravels the root causes of food chain imbalance and offers clear solutions to restore harmony.


Plants, Water, and Animals: From Producers to Consumers

A decade ago, farmers widely used chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These chemicals not only killed pests but also destroyed beneficial microorganisms in the soil. Residual chemicals remained in the soil, and when rainfall occurred, they washed into water sources, causing plankton blooms. This deprived water bodies of oxygen, leading to mass fish deaths, sometimes in the hundreds of thousands. Consequently, farmers reliant on these water sources, such as cage fish farmers or natural fishermen, faced significant economic losses.

Regarding soil, continuous use of chemical fertilizers depleted microbial populations, deteriorating soil quality. Degraded soil cannot retain nutrients, and plants lose their natural immunity, making them more prone to diseases. In terms of crop preparation, burning fields became a common method, causing severe PM2.5 air pollution, which directly affects healthespecially in children and the elderly. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 weakens the immune system and increases the risk of lung cancer. This issue also impacts tourism. For example, tourists avoid destinations like Chiang Mai during peak pollution periods, choosing safer alternatives instead.

In food production, consumers now prioritize safe food. Contaminated grapes or meat containing antibiotic residues deter purchases. Hospitals report increasing deaths caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which arise from multiple sources: self-medication with incomplete antibiotic courses, consumption of meat with antibiotic residues, and consumption of raw or undercooked food harboring resistant bacteria.

Throughout the food chain, overuse and misuse of chemicals have caused imbalances. Dr. Jeab offers a natural solution: using microorganismsnatures decomposersto restore balance.

From Researcher to Farmer and Producer

I worked as a researcher on animal diseases for nearly 20 years at a major company before transitioning into agriculture. My research mindset remained, so I combined in-depth research with practical agriculture using microorganisms and bacteria to create safe and complete farming systems. Complete here means no use of antibiotics. Seeing success in this approach, I expanded it to livestock, including aquatic and terrestrial animals.

Microorganisms fall into two categories: pathogenic and non-pathogenic. The key principle is to allow non-pathogenic microorganisms to outcompete pathogenic ones. Beneficial microorganisms produce enzymes that inhibit pathogens, similar to the function of antibiotics. Microorganisms are essential for environmental control and internal balance in animals, focusing on prevention rather than treatment. In livestock farming, maintaining healthy animals through strong biosecurity systems increases productivity and profitability.

For farm environments, microorganisms address two main areas: disease prevention and immune enhancement. They also reduce toxic conditions and odors. For example, in large poultry farms housing tens of thousands of chickens, ammonia from chicken waste creates foul odors. Adding probiotics to feed and applying microorganisms to farm floors neutralizes ammonia, improving air quality. In aquatic farms, such as shrimp and fish farms, microorganisms detoxify water, reducing illness and the need for antibiotics.

Moreover, wastewater from livestock farms treated with microorganisms meets environmental standards, ensuring no chemical contamination of natural water sources.


Microorganisms: Safeguarding the Food Chain

SAS's microbial products use strains sourced domestically, supported by a team of researchers and experts from leading Thai universities. With advanced techniques and stringent standards, SAS produces 100% Thai-made, high-quality products that have garnered international interest for distribution.

Dr. Jeab emphasizes that Thailand must compete globally in emerging industries that focus on environmental sustainability and food safetyglobal trends that are here to stay. With climate change and extreme weather becoming more severe, the future depends on countries providing safe food while protecting the environment.

For example, imagine cooking a plate of Pad Krapao Goong (stir-fried basil shrimp): the basil is sourced from chemical-free farms, the rice comes from fields where straw is decomposed naturally without burning, and the shrimp are raised in antibiotic-free ponds. The result is a safe, healthy meala product of a balanced food chain supported by microorganisms.

A Role Model for Microbial Biotechnology

Dr. Jeab cites His Majesty King Rama IX as the pioneer of microbial biotechnology in Thailand:

The Kings work serves as a model, beginning with projects like Artificial Soil Degradation, which addressed acidic soils. While conventional approaches added chemicals to neutralize acidity, the King employed a natural method of increasing acidity to release it from the soil.

Another example is the Vetiver Grass theory. Chemical fertilizers harden soil, making it unfit for crops. The King used vetiver grass to restore degraded land. Vetiver roots, which penetrate 3-4 meters deep, aerate the soil and retain organic matter. His projects, such as rehabilitating bare mountains with vetiver grass, prevented soil erosion during rainfall, particularly in areas like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

The Kings initiatives began over 30-40 years ago, long before microbial biotechnology became a global focus. His foresight laid the foundation for sustainable agricultural solutions in Thailand.