On 9 September 2026, the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra hosted a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, led by Dr. Pongthai Thaiyothin, Inspector General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The delegation visited Australia to participate in the 26th Joint Working Group (JWG) on Agriculture and the 22nd Expert Group on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Food Standards (SPS Expert Group) with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Australia, held from 8-10 September 2026 in Canberra.

On this occasion, H.E. Ms. Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia, welcomed the delegation and underscored the importance of Thailand-Australia cooperation in agriculture, covering trade and market access, agricultural and food standards and safety, as well as the exchange of knowledge, innovation and technology. The Ambassador also highlighted the potential for the two countries to further advance agricultural cooperation in response to current challenges.

The JWG on Agriculture and SPS Expert Group meetings are key mechanisms for Thailand-Australia cooperation in agriculture. The JWG on Agriculture provides a forum for policy discussions and promoting cooperation in areas such as sustainable agricultural and food production, soil and land management, water resources, livestock and fisheries. Meanwhile, the SPS Expert Group, established under the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA), provides a platform for discussions on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, agricultural and food standards, market access and technical cooperation.