Around 1 000 members of the public made their way to Museum Siam in Bangkok for the EU Sustainable Food and Craft Market 2023 held on 20 May.

A comeback from its inaugural run on Europe Day 2022, the public event featured a diverse range of over 40 European and Thai vendors showcasing organic and sustainable food and craft products. Together, they presented innovative ideas for sustainability and fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food systems across Thailand.

The full-day event organised by the EU Delegation to Thailand and EU Member States embassies and co-hosted by Museum Siam was an opportunity for locals to try healthy foods and eco-friendly products and enjoy family-friendly activities around recycling, food waste reduction and other forms of sustainable consumption and lifestyle.

Ms Sara Rezoagli, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Thailand, and famous healthy-living influencer Cherry Khemupsorn co-hosted a cooking demonstration of pineapple-fried rice. The Thai-EU fusion recipe incorporated geographical indications (GI) ingredients, including Sriracha Pineapple and Jasmine rice from Thailand, Parma ham from Italy, and fleur de sel from France, along with Thai house cricket, which is listed as the EU’s Novel Food.

Geographical indications (GI) products are agricultural products or food with a unique link to the place where they are made. The GI recognition enables consumers to discern quality products while helping producers to better protect and market their products. It further preserves traditions, supports sustainability and boosts local economies. The EU’s ‘Sensational!’ cookbook by 27 top European chefs who put a twist on unique recipes using their local GI products, was also promoted among marketgoers to download.

Thai house cricket is designated in the Novel Food list of the EU—a classification of newly developed and innovative food which has not been traditionally eaten inside the EU.

Hands-on workshops organised by local environmental initiatives highlighted fun and innovative ways to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, while promoting culinary diversity and reinforcing the positive environmental impact of sustainable products.

A workshop with REFresh Farm, supported by Host International Thailand, showed how fresh and chemical-free plants can be grown at home using leftover mushrooms. Quiz games with French non-governmental organisation Climate Fresk raised awareness about climate change along with its causes, effects and possible solutions. A 'Colours from Nature' corner featured painting for kids and make-up for adults, using pressed flower glitters and lipsticks from plants. A workshop on how to make natural colours from rocks, flowers and vegetables was also carried out with influencer Amata Chittasenee (Pearypie) and Dr Jirawan Kumsao, supported by Local Diversity Foundation Tinniyom Classroom.

The market is one of a series of events connected to Europe Day 2023. Celebrated every 9 May, Europe Day is the EU’s annual commemoration of peace, solidarity, diversity and unity, in the spirit of the Schuman declaration in 1950. This year also marks over 60 years of diplomatic relations between the EU and Thailand, which was recently celebrated with a tree planting ceremony at Lumphini Park.

The activities throughout the event collectively highlighted support to the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy.

This year’s market was handpicked as one of the week’s most exciting events in the Guru section of Bangkok Post.

Photos from the event can be seen on EUD’s social media at Facebook and Twitter.