The Office of the Royal Development Projects Board (ORDPB), as the Committee and Secretary to the Administrative Committee on the Development and Promotion of the Utilization of Vetiver Grass According to the Royal Initiatives, organized the seminar for drafting the 7^th Master Plan on the Development and Promotion of the Utilization of Vetiver Grass According to the Royal Initiative (B.E. 2566-2570) on Friday 13^th January 2023. The objectives of the seminar are to listen to the opinions of the participants, the problems and obstacles found by the practitioners from government and private sectors, the academics as well as the general public. This seminar is also aimed at encouraging all sectors to continually develop and promote the utilization of vetiver grass according to the royal initiatives, and to open the floor for discussion and brainstorming among the concerned agencies to draft the 7^th Master Plan on the Development and Promotion of the Utilization of Vetiver Grass According to the Royal Initiative.

            There are 166 participants joined this event both at Chulalongkorn University and via ZOOM Cloud Meeting. On this occasion, Mr. Hatai Vasunant, Advisor on Project Coordination, Acting Deputy Secretary-General of the Royal Development Projects Board came to preside over the ceremony and Professor Dr. Chakkaphan Sutthirat, Vice President for Research Affairs, Chulalongkorn University, warmly welcomed the participants.

           One of the principal points of the seminar is the discussion on “Reviewing the Results and Looking Ahead to the Direction of the Vetiver Promotion under the Context of Thailand and the VUCA World.” The key discussants include Ms. Benjaporn Chakranon, the former Director-General of the Land Development Department; Dr. Pitayakon Limtong, a member of the Sub-committee on Academic, Monitoring, and Evaluation of the Development and Promotion of the Utilization of Vetiver Grass According to the Royal Initiatives, and Mr. Tanongsak Ninnoi, the President of the Vetiver Conservation Network. After the talks, Asst. Prof. Dr. Unruan, from Social Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, presented the draft of the 7^th Master Plan for the Development and Promotion of the Utilization of Vetiver Grass According to the Royal Initiatives Making (B.E. 2566-2570) before opening the floor for brainstorming.   

            The summary of the key points from brainstorming include promoting the integrated implementations among all agencies; keeping the network of the partners and making utmost use of the network; promoting the application of the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy for the sustainable development with the use of vetiver grass as a supporting tool, and for disaster prevention. However, the use of vetiver for economic purposes should be the supplementary point and the promotion should consider on other aspects apart from handicraft making. Moreover, after the discussion, a collective learning platform should be created for public learning. Most importantly, the continuation of the works in respond to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great’s royal initiatives and His Majesty King Maha Vajralongkorn Phra Vajraklaochaoyuhua’s wish to nurture, conserve and extend the royal legacy in developing and promoting the utilization of vetiver grass for soil and water conservation should be the main direction of the aforementioned master plan.