TAT partners with Thai Organic Consumer Association to create a platform that connects travellers with organic farmersTOGETHER WITH the opening of Phuket tomorrow (July 1st), the Thai Organic Consumer Association will launch its platform to global markets in partnership with Thailand's Tourism Authority (TAT).Arrut Navaraj (managing director of Suan Sampran), who has been leading the organic food movement and tourism in Thailand for over ten years, set up TOCA two years ago. TOCA was inspired by the similar non-profit model in the US, such as the Organic Consumers Association. It aims to connect travellers, restaurants, and hotels with certified organic farmers across the country.Arrut Navaraj : After focusing on the supply side for the past decade, and building a network farmers, TOCA now focuses on the demand side. TOCA aims to connect travellers, consumers and businesses with organic farmers in Thailand.We have been working on the supply side for the past 10 years. We worked with farmers across the country to spread organic farming practices and put in place certification as well as a Participatory Guarantee System.We now want to focus on the demand side. This means getting travellers, consumers and businesses to join the movement, and then making it easy to connect them with farmers. Navaraj's journey into organic tourism began when he converted his family's 60-year-old resort into an organic farming hub located in Nakhon Pathom's Sampran district. The attraction, which began as a tourist attraction that offered Thai cultural shows, now boasts 50 acres of organically certified gardens along the river. There is also a popular Patom Organic Living Caf in Bangkok that sells Patom organic products.Sampran organic farmers: TOCA worked closely with local universities to make the Participatory Garant System (PGS), available to them.TOCA was awarded an initial grant by the National Innovation Agency for the development of its platform using blockchain technology. This platform now connects approximately 4,000 members to the networks of organic farmers in the country, including 200 families in Sampran, where his 50-acre family resort is situated. It will soon expand to Chiangrai and Amnajaroen as well as Trang, Nakorn Si Thammarat, Phuket, and Trang.The TAT approached the association to open its platform to international travelers, in conjunction with the reopening Phuket.Navaraj stated that our vision aligns with the national agenda to promote a Bio, Circular, and Green economy. He also said that tourism can be used as a support for the value chain through fair trade and sustainable developments.It is intended to make it easier for inbound travelers to find restaurants or hotels that buy organic produce and to provide details about the businesses' activities in areas like food waste management, carbon reduction, and other aspects.Bio stands for organic agriculture, bio innovations. Circular refers the circular use of natural resource, waste management, and Green for ecosystem management. Local economy means buying from local farmers to reduce carbon and cost.TOCA will allow travellers to search for restaurants and hotels that purchase organic produce. Eventually, they will be able to redeem points and earn them.The platform will continue to add new features as it releases features that allow travelers to earn points and redeem them at participating restaurants, hotels, and other businesses.Navaraj admits that this will take some time. In any case, he knows that inbound tourism is not going to be in full swing anytime soon so he has the time to build the platform slowly. The closure of inbound Thailand tourism has been a blessing in disguise. TOCA can now focus on its local members and farmers.To encourage consumer demand, membership is free. TOCA relies upon sponsorships and partnerships like the one it just signed with the TAT.Navaraj said that the biggest problem is getting farmers to join. We have been working hard to increase the supply over the past decade, even though not all farmers are IT-savvy. It was difficult to get them to use it and to enter the data to ensure that the hoteliers who buy their produce can trace it back.TOCA collaborated with local universities, government officials and other authorities to make the Participatory Garant System (PGS), accessible to farmers. Navaraj stated that most farmers don't have the resources to obtain certification from overseas bodies. USDA Certification, for example, is not an option for many farmers. We felt it was crucial to create our own traceability system that is transparent.It is our goal to make all things quantifiable so that hoteliers can know exactly what they get, and consumers can see what they are purchasing and what impact they are making. Our platform should empower customers to become agents of change. It will also create a community of responsible travelers who can share their experiences with others and earn points.It is seeking organic farmers from southern Thailand to help with the reopening Phuket. TOCA has reached out to neighboring areas like Trang and Nakhon Sil Thammarat, even though there isn't a lot of farmers on the island. Navaraj said that this is how we truly spread economic benefits to other provinces.Covid taught us many lessons. One of these is the importance and quality of our food supply. Organic tourism will allow Thailand to increase its inbound tourism and make it more sustainable. It will also benefit the local economy and international tourists. It is a unique position for Thailand.
