Background
Agricultural mechanization plays a critical role in improving productivity, addressing rural labor shortages, and supporting sustainable agricultural development across Asia and the Pacific. However, the lack of harmonized testing and certification systems for agricultural machinery remains a significant barrier to regional trade, innovation, and farmer access to safe, reliable and efficient equipment.

The Asian Network for Testing of Agricultural Machinery (ANTAM) is an initiative of the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which promotes harmonized testing procedures (codes) and the mutual recognition of agricultural machinery test results across the region. Through collaboration with governments, testing institutions, and industry stakeholders, ANTAM supports the adoption of internationally aligned testing procedures and strengthens national testing capacity, in support of quality standards for more efficient, safe, and environmentally sound agricultural machinery.

Thailand is a key agricultural machinery manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia, with a dynamic domestic market and growing exports to neighboring countries. Aligning national testing systems with harmonized regional testing codes can help ensure that Thai machinery meets recognized performance and safety standards, thereby strengthening the sector’s competitiveness and credibility in regional markets.

Against this backdrop, CSAM together with the Thai Society of Agricultural Engineers (TSAE) will organize a dedicated associated event during Agritechnica Asia to present the ANTAM initiative and engage Thai stakeholders, particularly the local manufacturers and distributors, in a dialogue on the terms and benefits coming from the potential adoption and application of ANTAM testing codes in Thailand. In particular the discussion will examine how adopting harmonized testing codes can generate tangible benefits for both Thai manufacturers and national standards institutions, namely:

For Thai agricultural machinery manufacturers and distributors, harmonized testing codes can:

• Improve product credibility and market trust through recognized and transparent testing procedures.
• Facilitate timely access to regional and international markets by reducing the need for multiple national tests and certifications.
• Lower compliance costs and streamline product development through standardized performance benchmarks.
• Encourage innovation and product improvement by providing clear and comparable technical standards.
• Enhance competitiveness in regional value chains by aligning products with regionally recognized standards.

For the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), alignment with ANTAM testing codes can:

• Strengthen Thailand’s national standards framework through cooperation with regional testing networks.
• Enhance the efficiency and consistency of machinery testing procedures.
• Support the development of mutually recognized testing results with other countries, reducing duplication and administrative burden.
• Reinforce Thailand’s leadership role in regional agricultural mechanization and standards development.

Objectives
The event aims to:

• Introduce the ANTAM initiative and its harmonized agricultural machinery testing codes to Thai and regional manufacturers, distributors, and standards authorities.
• Facilitate dialogue with the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (and regional standards institutions and authorities) on possible pathways for adopting or aligning industry needs, national standards with ANTAM testing codes.
• Highlight the benefits of harmonized testing for manufacturers, including improved product quality, enhanced credibility, and easier access to regional markets.
• Provide a platform for regional manufacturers’ associations and stakeholders to explore opportunities for participating in ANTAM at national and regional levels.
• Strengthen collaboration between governments, testing institutions, and the private sector to advance agricultural mechanization standards in the region.
• Explore opportunities for round robin tests, Training of Trainers programmes for ANTAM codes in Thailand.
• Strengthen regional dialogue on reducing non-tariff barriers related to machinery testing and certification.

Format
The event The event will feature brief presentations on the ANTAM network, followed by perspectives from testing and industry representatives, and TISI. This will be done through two panels focusing on the benefits of testing and the advantages of international certifications, respectively. The entire event will be organized as an interactive discussion session to allow participants to exchange views on challenges and opportunities related to agricultural machinery testing, standardization, and regional cooperation perspectives could be brought by regional manufacturers’ associations and OECD. By bringing together policymakers, standards institutions, and industry stakeholders, the event aims to advance harmonized testing systems that support sustainable agricultural mechanization and regional market integration.

Expected Participants 
The event will not only be open to Thai participants, but all interested parties and in particular the manufacturer’s associations from ANTAM participating countries that are also members of CSAM’s ReCAMA initiative, with an aim to share benefits and perspectives of mutual recognition of harmonized tests in the region.

The event is expected to bring together approximately 30-40 participants, including:

• Thai agricultural machinery manufacturers and distributors (through TSAE);
• Representatives from the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI)
• National and regional agricultural machinery associations from ReCAMA and ANTAM
• Testing institutions and research organizations
• Development partners and policy experts working on mechanization standards (OECD)

The event will promote inclusivity by encouraging the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as youth and women entrepreneurs involved in the agricultural machinery sector, recognizing their important role in driving innovation and market growth.