Here we go again for the Thnot d’Or!

After more than two years of interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Thnot d’Or, a competition organized by the Kinal Foundation for students in agronomy and agri-food, is back on track.

A meeting of the jury took place on December 1st via Zoom, with the participation of MM. Sok Sarang, Philippe Monnin, Hay Pisey, Hym Piseth and Pierre Gillette. Ms. Hélène Obry was unable to attend but shared her thoughts on the theme of the Thnot d’Or 2023, which was the main item on the agenda of this jury meeting.

Organized by the Kinal Foundation with the support of the Ministries of Agriculture and Education, the Thnot d’Or aim to encourage students in the agricultural and agri-food sectors to develop a spirit of research and innovation in the service of eco-responsible and sustainable agricultural development.

The Covid 19 pandemic has forced the Kinal Foundation to suspend the Thnot d’Or in 2020 and 2021. It was emphasized by the jury that for the resumption of the competition, the theme chosen should take into account the lessons of this health crisis with regard to food production.

This crisis has indeed made all actors in the chain aware that it must favor short circuits between the producer and the consumer, reduce waste emissions at all levels (packaging, transport, carbon, etc..) and enhance through innovation all local productions.

It was also noted that the Thnot d’Or should support the efforts of Cambodian agronomy and agri-food students to reach the level of international curricula in their fields.

Finally, it was said that the theme of the Thnot d’Or should allow all participants, regardless of their level of study in the agricultural sector and their specialization, to have an equal chance of reaching the podium.

From all these considerations, the following 4 main points were endorsed by the jury.

– The written and oral presentations must be in English. However, in the final phase, the question and answer session may be held in Khmer.

– The topic is: Presentation of a local agricultural/agro-food production project according to the circular economy concept with integration and recycling of waste in the production and distribution cycle. It could concern a final product intended for the consumer or a product entering the production chain (example: cattle feed or other). Among others and as an example, the valorization of the coconut could be one of the themes of work of the teams engaged in the TO 2023.

– The projects will be judged on the following criteria: respect of the environment, innovation, feasibility on a local scale, creation of added value and income.

Meetings to present the competition will be organized in the coming weeks in the institutions concerned in order to encourage as many students as possible to enter the competition.