Smart farming to drive wolffia's rise

Protein-rich plant is a staple in Northeast

- JUTAMAS TADTHIENROM

Wolffia, a high-protein aquatic plant locally known as pham, has long been a part of the traditional diet of Northeast Thailand.

As a versatile culinary ingredient, it not only offers a mild vegetable taste and slightly crunchy texture to a dish but also serves as a source of various other nutrients, including vitamin B12 and amino acids.

Over the past decade, wolffia has emerged as a promising contender in global trends toward functional future food and climate-conscious diets. However, despite its potential, fewer than 20 farming sites in Thailand currently produce wolffia under world-class hygienic standards, according to the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). Thus, over the past years, the NSTDA has explored ways to increase wolffia's value, for both communities and the environment.

In 2024, NSTDA partnered with Pro-T Farm in Chon Buri to launch a programme to develop solutions that elevate Thai wolffia to global standards, including boosting protein content and speeding up the harvest cycle.