Study tour in Bavaria offers fresh perspectives on renewable energy production and income diversification for Thailand’s agricultural sector

With mounting uncertainties from climate change, fluctuating market prices, and growing production costs, farming is becoming less attractive in Thailand. The average farmer is over 58 years old, with few successors willing to take over family farms. Imagine a young engineer who inherits a family farm and installs solar panels on his family’s barley fields, generating income from both barley and electricity. This transformation reconnects younger generations with farming in a way that aligns with their education and values.

Combining Agri-PVs with soybean agriculture

Integrating energy solutions such as Agricultural Photovoltaics (Agri-PVs), biogas systems and wind power present compelling opportunities for future farmers. From 6-12 July 2025, a Thai delegation comprising high-level decision-makers and technical staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives participated in a study tour to Bavaria, Germany, to explore these synergies. The week-long programme focused on practical examples and policy approaches demonstrating collaboration between the agricultural and energy sectors.

Learning from Germany: Practical Solutions and Policy Exchange
The delegation began with a strategic dialogue at the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism (StMELF) about policies encouraging energy production on farms, aligning agriculture, energy and food security. They then visited the Agri-PV research plant at the Bavarian State Estates in Grub, which generates enough electricity for about 250 households while maintaining 85% of the land for farming.

Observing three types of Agri-PVs

Presentation by the Technology and Support Centre (TFZ) of StMELF

Sheep grazing underneath Agri-PVs

They also met with the Technology and Support Centre (TFZ) of StMELF, which provides advice on renewable energy in rural Bavaria. The group visited a site combining Agri-PVs with grazing land, where sheep manage the land, and solar panels generate electricity – even from moonlight.

Further visits included the Energy Park Eiselfing, a biogas facility converting agricultural residues into energy, supplying electricity to about 670 households and creating additional income sources. At the organic farm Müllerhof, they saw a water wheel used for power generation, which helps keep the farm profitable, highlighting the importance of integrated energy systems for long-term sustainability.

Turning green waste into compost and electricity at the Energy Park Eiselfing

Visit to the organic farm ‘Müllerhof’

Highlight: Wildpoldsried – A Model Energy Village
The delegation visited Wildpoldsried, known as Germany’s ‘energy village’, producing more than seven times the energy it consumes through wind, solar, biogas, and hydropower, and selling the excess back to the grid. Strong citizen ownership and investment in renewable energy not only contributes to the village’s success but also gives them economic return from these projects. The Deputy Mayor guided the delegation through Wildpoldsried’s energy infrastructure, discussing how similar approaches could be adapted in Thailand.

Presentation by Günter Mögele, Deputy Mayor of Wildpoldsried

Wildpoldsried produces more than seven times the energy it consumes

As Thailand navigates its energy and climate commitments (51% renewable energy by 2037 and carbon neutrality by 2050), the integration of agriculture and renewable energy offers tangible solutions to reach these goals and exciting pathways for the next generation of farmers.

Revitalising the agricultural sector, especially in the face of climate and demographic challenges, will require more than just agricultural reform. In fact, remember the type of young farmer described at the beginning of this article? Coincidentally, during the study tour, the group met someone who fit this profile exactly. His name is Phillip. His family owns a farm they hope he will take over one day. Phillip is currently studying renewable energy and plans to install Agri-PVs on his family’s land once he completes his research. He is a living example of the need to think beyond silos and embrace cross-sectoral collaboration. By doing so, he is transforming farming into a profession of the future – not the past.

Knowledge transfer and planning workshop on the final day

“I would like to thank GIZ and all relevant stakeholders for organising this integrated agricultural and energy study visit in Germany. This has been an opportunity for us to clearly see how the agricultural sector can play a key role in addressing climate change alongside the energy sector. Collaboration between the government, private sector and farmers has been vital to Germany’s success. We will take what we have learned to further promote and drive benefits for Thai farmers in the future,” Krongsak Songraksa, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Agricultural Extension, said.