Announced in conjunction with Earth Day, Prof. Shabbir H. Gheewala from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) has been named Thailand’s National Champion for the Frontiers Planet Prize by the Frontiers Research Foundation. He joins 18 other national champions from across five continents, honored for pioneering scalable solutions to help keep humanity safely within planetary boundaries.
The National Champions were selected by the “Jury of 100,” a distinguished panel comprising 100 independent experts in sustainability science, chaired by globally renowned scientist Prof. Johan Rockström.
Prof. Gheewala received this recognition for his groundbreaking study, which applied a planetary boundary-based life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental sustainability of rice production in Pakistan. The findings revealed that rice farming in the country contributed to the global triple planetary crisis, viz., global warming and nutrient pollution as well as unsustainable use of water resources. The study highlights the need for sustainable practices, including improved irrigation systems, better fertilizer management, and high-yield rice varieties to reduce environmental burdens.
