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Dr. Saowaluk Krainara explains the environmental benefits of PRBIO and BEACHBIOS to interested entrepreneurs at Hotel Expo Krabi Go Green 2026.

A research team from Walailak University's School of Public Health presented two home-grown microbial biotechnology innovations, PRBIO and BEACHBIOS, at Hotel Expo Krabi Go Green 2026, held 23-25 July at Krabi Maritime Resort. The free three-day event brought together hotel operators, restaurateurs, tourism businesses, students, and the public for seminars, exhibitions, and business networking.

Presenting the technologies at the university's booth was Assistant Professor Dr. Saowaluk Krainara of the Department of Environmental Health and Technology, School of Public Health, and Acting Deputy Director of the Research and Innovation Institute of Excellence (RIIE). "It was a real honor to showcase our research innovations at Hotel Expo Krabi Go Green 2026," she said. "This expo brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, and sustainable solutions that support green tourism and the circular economy. We came to Krabi because it provided the perfect opportunity to connect our biotechnology innovations with entrepreneurs who can apply them to solve real environmental challenges."

"Our goal was to demonstrate that even tiny microorganisms can make a big difference," she added.

PRBIO, short for Precision Ready-to-Use Bioaugmentation, combines selected beneficial microorganisms with biochar. According to Dr. Saowaluk, the microorganisms produce natural enzymes that act like "tiny scissors," breaking food waste into smaller molecules so it decomposes far faster. The biochar, meanwhile, gives the microbes a stable habitat that helps them survive longer, work more efficiently, and store carbon. The result, she said, is reduced odor, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and food waste transformed into a valuable soil conditioner for plant growth.

BEACHBIOS is an eco-friendly liquid biotechnology developed from a bacterial strain that Dr. Saowaluk's team discovered in beach sediment in Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat, home to Walailak University. Early research indicates the strain has potential to biodegrade PET plastics and microplastics, a growing environmental concern worldwide. "We're preparing these findings for publication in an international scientific journal in collaboration with overseas researchers, so I can't share all the scientific details just yet," Dr. Saowaluk said. "What I can say is that we've developed it into an environmentally friendly solution designed to help keep coastal environments cleaner."


PRBIO and BEACHBIOS products showcased at the booth

One of the more encouraging moments at the expo, she said, came from a conversation with a company in the marine and boating industry. Currently reliant on chemical-based cleaning products, the company approached the Walailak team to ask whether BEACHBIOS could offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to reduce its impact on the marine environment. "That was the beginning of a much bigger conversation," Dr. Saowaluk said. "We started discussing how we could work together to develop a new biotechnology solution that addresses their challenge."

That kind of interest, she noted, reflects the broader reach of the technologies. "These aren't just for hotels," she said. "They have the potential to benefit the entire tourism ecosystem - from hotels and restaurants to marinas, boating operators, local communities, and coastal businesses."

Both technologies trace back to 2024, when the research began as small research ideas supported by funding from RIIE, School of Public Health, and Thailand's Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. The team has since filed intellectual property protections for both innovations and is now validating them through field applications and sandbox projects.

Looking ahead, Dr. Saowaluk said the team plans to extend PRBIO and BEACHBIOS into low-carbon landfill management and household-scale solutions that let people manage food waste at the source, while moving toward commercialization through a planned biotechnology startup.

Dr. Saowaluk is the principal researcher leading the development of PRBIO and BEACHBIOS, working alongside Dr. Avnish Mistry and Dr. Wantanasak Suksong, colleagues from the School of Public Health, and research partners in Thailand and Australia.

"Seeing our products move beyond the laboratory and creating real solutions that improve people's lives and help solve environmental challenges is what I'm most proud of. I hope this is the beginning of long-term collaborations where researchers and industry work together to build a greener and more sustainable future," said Dr. Saowaluk.

 
Dr. Saowaluk Krainara connecting with interested entrepreneurs at the expo

Photos courtesy of Assistant Professor Dr. Saowaluk Krainara 
Written by Settaboot Onphakdee, Division of Corporate Communications