Riyadh: At 5:00 PM local time on November 30th in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Issara Seriwattanavuthi, Secretary-General of the King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI), and Mr. Dam Buntham, Thai Ambassador to Riyadh, represented Thailand in receiving an award on the world stage. The book “Democracy on the Plate,” a work by the King Prajadhipok’s Institute, won first place in the Gastrodiplomacy category at the 31st Gourmand Awards, which has been hailed as the “World Food Oscars” for 2025. This global award demonstrates Thailand’s potential in using food as a diplomatic tool and soft power to foster cultural understanding and democracy internationally.
According to Thai News Agency, the Secretary-General of the King Prajadhipok’s Institute stated that the book “Edible Democracy” was produced at the initiative of the NIDA Secretary-General, under the institute’s mission to serve as a national think tank to promote democracy and public participation through student civic projects in each program. The book tells the story of democracy in an accessible format, connecting it to people’s way of life through local ingredients, traditional dishes, and geographic diversity, all of which reflect the dynamics of Thai society. Receiving the award in the Food Diplomacy category is not only a source of pride for Thailand, but also demonstrates that the NIDA’s work stands up to international standards in terms of sustainability, creativity, and its role in global society. The award committee emphasizes the concept that “food is a universal language,” connecting people and serving as a crucial platform for fostering inclusive understanding.
Mr. Issara added that this award is both an honor for Thailand and an encouragement for the institute to continue developing work to meaningfully strengthen Thai democracy. This book clearly demonstrates that democracy is not a distant concept, but rather something we can experience every day, through food, livelihoods, opportunities, and a better quality of life, based on a transparent, accountable system that leaves no one behind.