In July 2024, a group of ten participants from NUS Residential College 4 travelled to Chiang Mai, Thailand, for a research-focused trip centred on food systems resilience. The team delved into the complexities of Northern Thailand's food system through lectures at Chiang Mai University and fieldwork, engaging with individuals across various food economy sectors including paddy farm owners, community-based organic food producers, and coffee farmers. The participants’ efforts aimed to uncover and understand the local challenges and opportunities related to food security and sustainability.

During their visit, the team actively contributed to the local communities by conducting interviews and gathering insights, which were highly beneficial in enabling academics at Chiang Mai University and their community development partners to support ongoing efforts to enhance food systems resilience in the region.

The trip provided several key learning experiences for the participants. They gained a deeper appreciation for the significance of transdisciplinary research and the co-creation of knowledge with diverse stakeholders. Additionally, they recognised the value of unwritten, local knowledge in addressing specific challenges, highlighting the importance of building relevant networks and asking insightful questions to obtain such knowledge.

For Winnie Tan, third-year undergraduate from NUS Business School, her experience at a market with stalls run by community-based organic food producers, where they had to conduct fieldwork and speak to the stall owners, turned out to be the most memorable for her. The students had to apply their skills and exposure from the past few days to engage in meaningful discussions with local community members about sustainable practices.

Despite facing challenges in integrating diverse perspectives from various interviews, the team effectively managed this by dedicating time to daily synthesis and team discussions. The experiences in Chiang Mai were a reminder that “your impact can extend far beyond classroom theories,” said Winnie.

Originally posted on NUS News. Read the full article here: https://news.nus.edu.sg/southeast-asia-friendship-initiative-advancing-sustainability-through-experiential-learning-and-engagement/