The School of Engineering, University of Phayao, extends its sincere congratulations to the project entitled “Development of a Cocoa Drying Process for Solar Dome Systems Using Internet of Things (IoT) Technology to Add Value to Agricultural Products for Farmers” led by Assistant Professor Sutham Arun, a researcher from School of Engineering, University of Phayao. The project has been honored with the Social Innovation for Community Well-Being and Sustainability Award under the Social Innovation Driving Unit (SID) for the Upper Northern Region 2, Fiscal Year 2025, granted by the Institute of Innovation and Technology Transfer, University of Phayao.
The award was presented at the 15th National Academic Conference “Phayao Research Conference”, held under the theme “SDG Global Connect: Learning from Best Practices,” in recognition of the project’s research and development outcomes that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conference took place on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, at Room UB002, the 99th Anniversary Building of Phra Ubali Khunupamachan (Puang Thammappañño), University of Phayao, and was organized by the Division of Research Administration.
The project has been implemented in collaboration with the Ban Napong Cocoa Cultivation Learning Center, located in Oi Subdistrict, Pong District, Phayao Province. The center serves as a hub for knowledge transfer and learning in cocoa cultivation for local farmers and interested youth. At present, Phongthayod Limited Partnership has been actively engaged in processing cocoa products to enhance their added value and market competitiveness, with a strong emphasis on product development for both domestic and international markets. The enterprise currently produces fermented and dried cocoa beans using traditional fermentation and sun-drying methods; however, it has encountered challenges related to inconsistent product quality due to the inability to effectively control temperature and humidity during the drying process. These limitations provided the impetus for the development of an intelligent IoT-based cocoa drying greenhouse.
Currently, the community produces a range of cocoa-related products, including fermented dried cocoa beans for further processing and chocolate manufactured from locally sourced cocoa beans. In addition, the project supports community capacity building through training programs and knowledge dissemination on basic cocoa processing techniques.
Field investigations and preliminary problem analysis revealed that the production of dried cocoa beans consists of five main stages: harvesting of fresh pods, fermentation, drying, packaging, and distribution. Among these stages, the drying process remains the most critical bottleneck, as key environmental parameters—particularly temperature and humidity within the drying facility—cannot be adequately controlled. As a result, the quality of dried cocoa beans is often substandard, leading to reduced marketable yields. Inadequate control of temperature and humidity contributes to common quality defects, including mold growth, excessive acidity, and astringent flavors, which prevent the products from meeting market and processing standards.
In response to these challenges, the research project focuses on the development of a smart cocoa drying greenhouse powered by solar energy and integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The system is designed to monitor and regulate temperature and humidity levels within optimal ranges for cocoa drying. It features real-time data visualization and centralized data storage, enabling systematic data collection and analysis. This data repository serves as a valuable knowledge base and reference framework for cocoa drying practices in northern Thailand, while simultaneously contributing to improvements in product quality that meet national processing standards and international export requirements.
The success of this project represents a compelling example of the effective application of engineering technology and digital innovation to address localized, real-world challenges. It demonstrates how evidence-based research and technological integration can add tangible value to agricultural products, strengthen community-based economies, and foster sustainable livelihoods. Moreover, the project strongly supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across multiple dimensions—economic, social, and environmental—thereby reinforcing the role of higher education institutions in driving socially responsible innovation and sustainable development at the community level.