On February 20, 2020, the Research and Service Division
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Monchai Duangjinda, Vice President for Research and Academic Services, Khon Kaen University, said that Khon Kaen University has a vision to be a world-class research and development university. One of its important missions is Spiritual, creating collaboration for development, promoting large-scale research projects that work as a team to solve large-scale problems with high impact. Therefore, creating academic collaboration with the private sector and external agencies on researching cannabis for medical benefits and cannabis extract products is in line with this policy and has also created knowledge for creative economic and social development.
“Currently, Khon Kaen University has received permission for cannabis from the Food and Drug Administration in 3 parts: Part 1 is possession, such as evidence from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board; Part 2 is a license for extraction, which has a lab at the Science Park, which has been continuously renewed yearly; Part 3 is product development, which is at the Faculty of Pharmacy. When all 3 systems are ready, it will enter the final part, which is cultivation. It is expected that Khon Kaen University will receive the license within the next 2-3 months. The university will apply for all licenses, whether it is closed-system cultivation in containers, greenhouse cultivation, or open-system cultivation with a fence around the perimeter, which is safe. It is expected to be a good learning center for academics, farmers, and the general public who are interested.”Assoc. Prof. Dr. Monchai said
Asst. Prof. Dr. Pramet Banteing, Deputy Dean for Research, Innovation and International Affairs, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, said that This greenhouse was created through the cooperation of three parties: Aladdin Corporation Company Limited, which supported the construction of the fence and security system worth 5,136,000 baht; Malee Sampran Company, which supported the house with a usable area of over 2 rai for use in promoting research and teaching for industrial-level plant production; and the Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, which supported the control system and management of water and hydroponic fertilizers.
“The Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, would like to thank all parties for their cooperation and support. This cannabis cultivation prototype greenhouse is an example of academic cooperation, a prototype of cannabis cultivation in a large plastic greenhouse, and the production of high-value cannabis plants within Khon Kaen University, supported by funding from Aladdin Corporation Co., Ltd., as well as cooperation from various sectors. This is a promotion to enable cannabis cultivation for research to be carried out completely and appropriately. It is believed that this cannabis cultivation prototype greenhouse will be of great benefit to the country in developing technology and creating new innovations in the use of cannabis in medicine, which will further develop the country’s economy in the future.”Asst. Prof. Dr. Pramet said
The cannabis cultivation prototype greenhouse is divided into 5 rooms: an operation room, an extraction room, a storage room for harvested seeds and flowers, a destruction room, and a security room. The security system around the building has 2 floors. The outermost floor is a fence about 3 meters high, protecting safety by releasing low-current electricity not exceeding 220 volts, which will make intruders exhausted and unable to climb in. The next floor is a fence about 2 meters high. After that, there is an irrigation system, consisting of 2 parts: a groundwater system and a tap water system.
Photo credit: Kannika Rattanaprasitsri
