"Strengthening Cooperation on Agriculture"
12 May 2015
Australia has presented the Thai Department of Agriculture a high-resolution microscope and imaging system to help manage pests and weeds that threaten Thai agriculture.
Specialist staff at the Thai Department of Agriculture will use the equipment to obtain high quality images of weed seeds that will be kept in an Australian, web-based, pest image library and used in diagnostic training activities for ASEAN members.
Australian Ambassador to Thailand, Paul Robilliard, presented the equipment to Dr Surmsuk Salakpetch, Deputy Director General of Thailand’s Department of Agriculture.
“Australia and Thailand are both net exporters of agricultural products and are keenly aware of the important role that biosecurity plays in facilitating trade. Pleasingly, we also have a long history of working collaboratively together” Ambassador Robilliard said.
The equipment was provided under the ASEAN Regional Diagnostic Network Project which is managed by Australia’s Department of Agriculture and funded through the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Economic Cooperation (AANZFTA) Work Program.
Ambassador Robilliard also highlighted that “over a number of years, the ASEAN Regional Diagnostic Network Project has delivered a series of specialist training activities for ASEAN member countries on important plant pests and diseases. This type of project demonstrates that free trade agreements are not just about trade, but are also about enhancing capacity and people to people links.”
Paul Robilliard, Australian Ambassador to Thailand and Dr Surmsuk Salakpetch, Deputy Director General of Thailand’s Department of Agriculture, with the high-resolution microscope and imaging system.
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