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Sustainability & economic growth, hand in hand.
Ubon Ratchathani
In Ubon Ratchathani, a province in Northeast Thailand, 60% of households are smallholder farmers.
Despite their hard work, incomes remain low and unpredictable, trapping families in a cycle of economic stagnation with little opportunity for growth or change.
To make matters worse, widespread slash-and-burn practices are environmentally harmful, limiting future sustainability.
Our solution?
Bamboo.
Why Bamboo?
Low Input Costs
As a fast-growing, regenerative plant, bamboo keeps input costs low. Its ability to regrow from the same root system means farmers spend less on seeds and replanting, while its rapid growth needs less time, labour, and resources. Bamboo also adapts well to different environments and needs minimal fertilizers.
High Output
Bamboo yields up to three times more than traditional crops like corn, and a single stalk can sell for nearly ten times the price of one kilogram of rice.
Regenerative
Bamboo also produces up to ten times more oxygen than the average tree and restores soil health by preventing erosion, adding organic matter, and improving water retention — making it both economically and environmentally powerful.
Our Initiatives
Workshops
We offer workshops for three groups:
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Farmers learn about different bamboo species and practical skills to plant, grow, maintain, and treat bamboo.
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Artisans learn how to craft quality bamboo products, and we connect them to fair deals.
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Students discover how bamboo can drive a sustainable future.
Museum
At our museum, we showcase the power of bamboo through both tradition and modern innovation. Visitors can explore a wide range of bamboo products made across different countries and eras, highlighting how bamboo has shaped communities through time.
Treatment Center
Our treatment centre provides villagers with an affordable way to treat their bamboo, making it stronger and more durable. This helps increase the market value of their bamboo and opens up better income opportunities.
Library
Our library embodies the community spirit of the BLC, with books for all ages and interests that encourage people to visit, read, and connect. It also holds a valuable collection of books dedicated to bamboo knowledge and craftsmanship.
Our Bamboo Learning Centre (BLC) is the heart of our work — a lively hub for learning, making, and sharing. Here, we run workshops, preserve bamboo heritage through our museum and library, and provide high-quality treated bamboo through our treatment centre.
Our Stakeholders
Farmers
Farmers gain a clear, reliable pathway to integrate bamboo into their livelihoods. Through hands-on workshops, they learn about bamboo species, their uses, and how to plant, maintain, and harvest them. They also receive access to a borax treatment tank, which increases the durability and market value of their bamboo. Most importantly, they get connected with buyers, which helps them diversify their income streams.
Artisans
Local artisans gain access to dedicated workshops where they receive treated bamboo and learn to craft a wide range of bamboo products. They also get support in finding buyers and securing fair, sustainable deals — helping turn their skills into stable sources of income.
Community
The Bamboo Learning Centre is a place where the community comes together to learn about bamboo and strengthen local bonds. People can visit the museum and library to explore bamboo’s history in Thailand and discover its potential as a sustainable material for the future. Students take part in workshops that help them gain knowledge and skills, shaping them into informed citizens who can build stronger, more resilient communities.
Our Impact
Workshops
10
150
Participants
14
rai of bamboo
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