One of the significant roles of the Thai Rubber Association (TRA) is to participate in academic conferences in Thailand and other countries to bring technical knowledge, updated information, and rubber news to the Thai Rubber Association members. In 2024, Ms. Piyaporn Saelim, TRA Manager, was assigned by the TRA committee to attend the International Rubber Conference: IRC 2024 on the theme "Inspiring Natural Rubber Innovation to Secure a Sustainable Future," hosted by the collaboration between the International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB) and the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) on February 19–21, 2024, at Dusit Thani Pattaya Hotel, Pattaya, Thailand.

The conference was honored by Capt. Thamanat Prompow, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, to give the opening speech. He stated that Thailand is committed to sustainable agricultural development by giving importance to rubber products, an important economic crop for Thailand and the world. Therefore, this International Rubber Conference is an excellent opportunity to exchange views, share knowledge, and cooperate in changing the rubber industry through innovation and new ideas from experienced experts and young researchers to develop sustainable practices and deal with the challenges in the rubber industry, both climate change and environmental degradation, to drive the rubber industry in the future with maximum efficiency. In addition, Mr. Nakorn Tangavirapat, Governor of the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), stated that the conference will be an important platform for building a cooperation network among stakeholders in the rubber industry throughout the supply chain, from upstream, midstream, and downstream, to lead to the determination of a common approach to pushing the rubber industry towards sustainability in terms of society, environment, and economic equality. It aims to benefit small rubber farmers, which will concretely lead to the development of farmers' livelihoods.

The International Rubber Conference divided topics into 8 groups, including Crop Harvest, Crop Improvement, Crop Management, Plant Protection, Rubber Technology, Socio-economic, and Sustainability, with expert speakers from IRRDB member countries. In addition, the participant had the opportunity to visit and have information on latex collection and rubber trading from the Bangbutr rubber plantation farmer group and the production of smoked rubber sheets from Bothong Rubber Fund Cooperative Ltd.

The International Rubber Conference (IRC 2024) is an important activity in building cooperation among IRRDB member countries. It also plays an important role in creating knowledge and understanding of up-to-date international rubber research and development information for involved parties. In addition, it is beneficial to the development of the world rubber industry towards sustainability.

Mr. Chaiyos Sincharoenkul

President

The Thai Rubber Association