The Social Academic Service Centre, under the Academic Service Office (ASO) of Khon Kaen University (KKU), is advancing its mission to concretely drive the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). KKU has collaborated with the Ban Kho Subdistrict Municipality to plan the establishment of a “Model Community for Value-Added Products from Cassava Rhizomes,” turning agricultural waste into revenue and reaffirming the university’s role in social development. 

          On Thursday, 13 November 2025, at the Ban Kho Subdistrict Municipality Office, Assistant Professor Surapol Nasusinth, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Academic Services at the ASO, along with the working group from the Academic Service for Sustainability mission, met and held discussions with Mr. Chakraphong Phetchsan, Mayor of Ban Kho Municipality. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a framework for cooperation aimed at elevating the grassroots economy and improving the community’s quality of life through the application of knowledge and innovation.

Assistant Professor Surapol stated that this discussion focused on formulating the “Model Community Project for Value-Added Products from Cassava Rhizomes towards Sustainable Development.” This project applies the concept of the Circular Economy with the primary goal of transforming “cassava rhizomes”—materials previously considered agricultural waste—into value-added products that generate supplementary income for the community. This aligns directly with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The project has received funding support from the Issue-Based Integrated Model Community Development Project under the Royal Initiative for the 2026 fiscal year.

The project also aims to enhance the potential of large-scale cassava farming groups, positioning them as a source for producing and distributing high-quality cassava varieties. This action creates occupational security and increases income, directly addressing SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).