Key Takeaways

• Over 15,000 dairy farming households in Thailand face challenges from rising costs, climate change, and international trade.
• The Chula Dairy Conference & Expo 2026 aims to transform the Thai dairy industry towards sustainability.
• Emphasis on quality-focused dairy farming and creation of value-added products are crucial for farmer survival.

Industry Challenges and Conference Overview

Today, Thailand’s dairy sector is experiencing significant pressure, with over 15,000 farming households struggling under rising production costs, climate change, and heat stress. These factors adversely impact both the quality and quantity of milk production. Compounding this issue, environmental concerns regarding greenhouse gas emissions are intensifying. Trade liberalization further complicates matters by permitting duty-free imports of milk powder, which undermines the competitiveness of locally produced raw milk and contributes to market oversupply.

To address these pressing challenges, the Agricultural Technology and Innovation Center of Chulalongkorn University (AIC Chula Saraburi) and the Faculty of Veterinary Science organized the Chula Dairy Conference & Expo 2026. Scheduled for June 11–12, 2026, at the Saraburi Building 4 in Saraburi Province, the event is themed “Transforming the Thai Dairy Industry Toward Sustainability.” It provides a collaborative platform for stakeholders across the dairy value chain to develop innovative solutions that support farmers and elevate industry standards to align with international environmental practices.

The conference features a variety of activities, including a “Dairy Crisis Solutions forum” focused on data-driven strategies for overcoming industry obstacles. Success stories from model farms and cooperatives will be shared, with discussions centered on managing climate impacts on dairy cattle and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

A brainstorming session, the “Chula Dairy Transformation Platform,” aims to pinpoint future directions for the Thai dairy sector. Additional highlights will include the Main Conference & Expo, which showcases innovations suited for tropical dairy farming, the AIC Saraburi Marketplace to foster business networking, and the engaging Youth & TikTok Zone, where a video competition promotes milk consumption under the campaign “Real Cow’s Milk: Good for Every Age.”

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittisak Ajariyakhajorn, Director of AIC and the conference chairman, Thailand currently meets only about 50% of its domestic milk demand. The influx of cheaper imported milk powder has placed local farmers at a disadvantage in terms of production costs and product quality. Dr. Ajariyakhajorn stresses the need to transition from volume-based production to a focus on quality, including the development of value-added products like cheese and ice cream, which can provide stable income streams.

Chulalongkorn University has also established a technology transfer center in Kaeng Khoi District, featuring a demonstration dairy farm that showcases practices enabling farmers to achieve substantial milk yields while maintaining competitive costs. Additionally, the Chula Dairy School collaborates with 30–50 dairy farms to strengthen outreach, supported by the Chula Freshmilk platform that integrates farms with processing facilities, facilitating the entry of Thai dairy farmers into premium markets.

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