The University of Phayao (UP) has announced a major success on the national innovation stage. Student teams from the Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, secured two major awards for their projects: "Artificial Pollen from Marine Fish" and "BeetleFlora Plus Breeding Material." This achievement reflects UP's high-level research potential and its integration of knowledge to genuinely address agricultural challenges. The success stems from hands-on teamwork with farmers during the academic break, focusing on student benefits, network collaboration, and the practical application of innovation to drive a sustainable grassroots economy.
The first victory came on June 3, 2026, at the national competition "The 4th Young Ocean for Life Innovation Challenge," held under the 10th PTTEP Teenergy Project by PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP). Competing against over 190 teams nationwide, two top students—Mr. Kritjutha Bunprathueng and Mr. Kantharakon Thaensaeng—successfully won the 2nd runner-up prize for their innovation, "Artificial Pollen from Thai Marine Fish Resources: A Highly Superior Alternative Bee Feed to Natural Pollen."
Later that month, from June 21 to 24, 2026, another student team consisting of Ms. Nattaporn Koktrakul, Mr. Kritjutha Bunprathueng, Ms. Pinmanat Pasawan, Ms. Phrueksa Suriya, Ms. Thapanee Khampui, and Ms. Piyatida Saensaen brought further recognition to the university. They competed in the Higher Education Innovation Awards 2026, organized by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). Their project, "BeetleFlora Plus: A Microbial-Fermented Breeding Substrate for High-Value Beetles," proudly won the Gold Innovation Award (3rd place nationally) in Category 1: Agriculture and Food Industry.
All-Round Benefits: Nurturing a New Generation of Innovators
Beyond the national trophies and honors, the most significant benefit went to the student developers themselves. The invention and competition process provided them with deep knowledge and advanced research skills outside the traditional classroom. They learned the product development process from the initial prototype phase to standardized efficiency testing, aligning perfectly with "Action Learning"—learning by doing.
Furthermore, students developed 21st-century skills, including critical thinking for problem-solving, teamwork, and an entrepreneurial mindset. These traits are crucial in preparing students to become a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs ready to drive Thailand's agricultural sector forward.
Learning Process for Sustainable Development
Throughout the second semester break (March – June 2026), students worked directly in the field under the close supervision of Ajarn Pornprapha Saenluang. They gathered feedback and suggestions from actual users to refine their innovations, ensures the products were fully optimized before continuous on-site efficiency testing.
The Power of Collaboration: Cross-Institutional and Community Integration
A key factor behind the success of both projects is the strong collaboration among network partners. The artificial pollen from marine fish project resulted from an academic partnership across three institutions: the University of Phayao, Chiang Mai University, and Yala Rajabhat University. This collaboration effectively combined agricultural knowledge from the North with marine and coastal resources from the South. Similarly, the BeetleFlora Plus project enjoyed excellent cooperation between the University of Phayao and Chiang Mai University.
More importantly, the core of this success lies in the involvement of local farmers and communities. During the semester break (March – June 2026), students and their advisor jointly surveyed the actual needs and issues of users through a user-centric design approach. They integrated university knowledge with local wisdom, guided by Ajarn Pornprapha Saenluang as a coach and network connector. This approach ensured that the innovations perfectly fit the local social and economic contexts.
From Shelf to Shop: Transforming Innovation into Practical Industrial Use
The ultimate goal for both innovations is practical implementation to create a broad positive impact. "Artificial Pollen from Thai Marine Fish Resources" addresses bee feed shortages during the off-season, boosting honey yields and securing livelihoods for beekeepers. It also repurposes byproducts from the fisheries industry, maximizing resource efficiency in line with the Circular Economy concept.
Meanwhile, "BeetleFlora Plus," the microbial-fermented breeding substrate for beetles, directly benefits the agricultural sector and the economic insect industry—one of Thailand’s new target S-curve industries. This fermented material reduces breeding time, increases survival rates, and improves the quality of high-value beetles. It meets the demands of breeders raising both decorative and commercial insects, generating supplemental income and ensuring steady growth for the grassroots economy.
This achievement does not only prove the capabilities of University of Phayao students on a national level, but it also serves as a model for educational management that integrates universities and communities to create tangible innovations ready to drive Thailand toward true agricultural sustainability.