{"id":17707,"date":"2026-04-10T17:39:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T10:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.koktailmagazine.com\/?post_type=the-future-list&p=17707"},"modified":"2026-04-20T11:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T04:00:12","slug":"bonny-babu","status":"publish","type":"the-future-list","link":"https:\/\/www.koktailmagazine.com\/th\/the-future-list\/bonny-babu\/","title":{"rendered":"Bonny Babu"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bonny Babu applies his engineering skills to sustainable farming and creates Khao Yai Vanilla. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the search for produce across Thailand, the land continues to reveal how soil and care shape what we grow and eat. Through this Future List series, I\u2019ve encountered stories ranging from cocoa farms in Chiang Mai <\/a>and Nong Khai<\/a> to banana-growing communities<\/a>, as well as individuals supporting local farmers<\/a> and even a chef travelling in search of rare Thai ingredients<\/a>. Each story reflects a different relationship between people and produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time the focus turns to a different kind of crop, vanilla. Though vanilla originates from abroad, its ability to adapt has allowed it to take root in Thailand. At Khao Yai that potential has been shaped into something remarkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khao Yai Vanilla stands as the country\u2019s first 100% off-grid, solar-powered vanilla farm, set in one of Thailand\u2019s most fertile regions. The project brings together Visootha \u201cNikki\u201d Lohitnavy<\/a>, previously featured as a Future Lister in 2020 as Thailand\u2019s first female winemaker at GranMonte Vineyard and Winery, and Bonny Babu, whose engineering background and focus on smart farming systems shape the farm\u2019s operations and sustainable direction today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, they have created more than just a farm, each supporting the other. This story looks more closely at Babu\u2019s work on the ground, where Khao Yai Vanilla continues to add to a new chapter in Thailand\u2019s agricultural story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Courtesy of Khao Yai Vanilla <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From Two Vines to a Growing Farm: Khao Yai Vanilla\u2019s Journey<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Khao Yai Vanilla began with the simplest of beginnings: two vanilla vines gifted from Nikki\u2019s friends. At that time, vanilla remained largely unexplored in Thailand, aside from a handful of initiatives such as the Royal Project in Chiang Mai. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Intrigued by the plant\u2019s potential, Nikki decided to pursue vanilla cultivation in earnest. Her experience at GranMonte gave her a strong foundation in agriculture, from overseeing the full production process to shaping how each vineyard plot contributes to the final product, supported by modern techniques in pressing and ageing to ensure quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Khao Yai Vanilla (@khaoyaivanilla)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n