Weerawut Announces 'Thai Sugarcane Without Burning' at 0% After Historic Low of 3.8% This Year
Thailand's sugar industry slashed burned sugarcane to a historic low of 3.8% this season, down from 60-70%, through collaboration between government, mills, and 1.5 million farmers shifting to fresh cane systems. Industry Minister Weerawut
Industry Minister Weerawut Silpaascha announced a major victory for Thailand's sugarcane and sugar industry in the 2568/2569 production season, successfully reducing burned sugarcane to just 3.8%—a historic low compared to the previous 60-70% burning rates. This represents a crucial turning point for Thai agriculture and industry in combating PM 2.5 dust pollution and climate change.
"This is not just a number, but evidence that Thailand can develop its economy while protecting the environment," Weerawut stated. "We achieved this through the coordinated efforts of three sectors: the government, 58 sugar mills, and approximately 1.5 million sugarcane farmers nationwide who have collectively transitioned from burning sugarcane to quality fresh cane systems."
This collaboration has dramatically reduced burned sugarcane while improving cane quality and production efficiency. Average sugar yield per ton of cane increased from 109.51 kilograms to 113.55 kilograms, demonstrating that fresh cane provides superior economic returns compared to burned cane.
Weerawut announced new targets for the next production season: reducing burned sugarcane to below 3% and eventually reaching zero percent through a full Zero Burn initiative. The ministry will simultaneously develop a "Green Value Chain" connecting green sugarcane to green sugar, bioindustry, biomass energy, and carbon credit markets, aiming to transform Thailand's sugarcane industry into a fully green economy.
Supporting measures for farmers and sugar mills include low-interest loans, agricultural machinery, investment promotion incentives (BOI), and carbon credit trading mechanisms to generate new income streams and enhance Thailand's sugar competitiveness in global markets.
"Thai sugar no longer sells just sweetness, but responsibility to the world," Weerawut emphasized. "We must position Thai sugar as 'green sugar' produced from fresh cane that is environmentally friendly and meets international trade standards."
Thailand ranks as the world's second-largest sugar exporter after Brazil, and this success in reducing burned sugarcane is viewed as a potential model for other Thai agricultural and industrial sectors to adopt green economy practices.
Deputy Industry Minister Nattapol Rangsitpol attributed the achievement to multiple proactive measures, including requiring sugar mills to accept fresh cane from day one, daily limits on burned cane intake, cessation of burned cane acceptance during New Year periods, and machinery credit support programs with low interest rates.
Secretary-General of the Sugar and Sugarcane Committee Bai Noi Suwannchart noted plans to implement modern technology throughout the system and introduce new business models, while accelerating value creation from agricultural residues through innovations such as wood pellet production.
