They received their award in the non-agricultural application category for outstanding research in making use of Vetiver phytoremediation technology to mitigate dioxin–contaminated soils at Bien Hoa Airbase in Dong Nai province.

Vetiver is a very unique tropical plant, which is sterile, noninvasive and having to be propagated by clump subdivision. The plant can grow over a very wide range of climatic and soil conditions if it is planted correctly.

Vetiver grass can be used in order to protect river basins and watersheds against environmental damage, particularly point source environmental problems which relate to sediment flows, excess nutrients, heavy metals, and pesticides in leachate from toxic sources.

In 2014, Dr. Ngo Thi Thuy Huong's research team started to study the possibility of mitigating dioxin from Vetiver grass.

The King of Thailand Awards honour a total of six excellent research works on Vetiver grass at a ceremony held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on May 29. The award ceremony was held within the framework of the seventh international conference on Vetiver held from May 29 to June 1.

This marks the third time that Thailand has hosted the event, drawing the participation of scientists and researchers from more than 18 countries and territories worldwide.

Source: VOV