One year ago, when a UW–Madison research team traveled to Thailand by royal invitation, a clear hope emerged for bilateral benefit — an exchange of ideas, experts and research; improvement of Thailand’s domestic dairy and crop production; and market development for Wisconsin dairy products abroad. That vision is inching closer to reality, as key stakeholders develop plans for various efforts in Wisconsin and abroad.

Jennifer Kushner, director of global and industry partnerships for UW–Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, recently returned to Thailand to meet with collaborators at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), and report progress to Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn and Foreign Agricultural Service staff at the U.S. Embassy. This burgeoning relationship between CALS, KMUTT and other partners involves several teams and three years of activities, including the development of a data management system, launching a “dairy school,” and implementation of various technological solutions. Siwat Sangsritawong, a UW–Madison Animal and Dairy Sciences alumnus, has been a technical lead for the project so far and continues to play a key role in implementation.

Initially the data management system would monitor about 30 farms across six regions, with plans to scale up to more than 800 farms by the third year. The “dairy school” concept envisions a substantial technical assistance role for CALS personnel: “training the trainers” and helping Thailand become a leader in dairy extension services. Student exchanges and joint research opportunities are also contemplated. CALS has applied for a funding opportunity through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emerging Markets Program that, if awarded, would assist in funding the “dairy school” concept.

Lora Klenke of the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) and Kushner met with the association’s Thailand chapter, WAAT, about development efforts and plans for a 2027 celebration of Olbrich’s Royal Pavilion.

Kushner attended the National Dairy Festival in Saraburi province, with HRH Sirindhorn presiding over the festival’s opening. While at the festival, the princess reviewed a poster about the U.S.-Thai partnership’s progress, and Kushner presented a cheese basket from Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, as well as plans for a future Babcock ice cream flavor to be created in HRH Sirindhorn’s honor.