On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Dr. Kanjana Sommit, a lecturer at Maejo University’s International College and Director of the LMC Spice Routes Research Project, participated in the 2025 Mekong-Lancang Special Fund Launch Event during Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Week 2025. She also attended a workshop on project management strategies and best practices under the 2024 Mekong-Lancang Special Fund, organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI) of Thailand in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event was held at Novotel Bangkok Siam Square, Vibration Room, B1 Floor.

Maejo University, represented by the International College and Faculty of Liberal Arts, has been awarded a research grant under the Lancang-Mekong Special Fund from the People’s Republic of China, with Thailand’s MHESI serving as the sponsoring agency. The project, titled "LMC Spice Routes: The Development of Gastronomy and Cultural Tourism Platform," is led by Dr. Kanjana Sommit (International College) as the Project Director and Dr. Nitas Boonpaisansatid (Faculty of Liberal Arts) as the Project Coordinator. The project is a collaboration between research networks in four countries: China, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand.

The LMC Spice Routes project aims to promote spice-trail tourism, linking restaurants, spice markets, and production sites across the Mekong region. Many famous dishes—such as Khao Soi, Larb Muang, Palo (braised five-spice pork), and Massaman curry—contain unique spice blends with historical significance. These culinary stories can be leveraged to create tourism opportunities, benefiting both the economy and cultural preservation while highlighting local food heritage and traditional knowledge.

Dr. Kanjana Sommit added:
"Having successfully developed the Makwan (Zanthoxylum) spice trail in Northern Thailand, I saw an opportunity to expand the concept. For instance, Mala, which features Hua Jiao (Sichuan peppercorn) as a key ingredient, is a renowned spice blend in the region. This project seeks to highlight distinctive spices from different countries, encouraging travelers to explore local cuisine and spice farms. This initiative will not only enhance gastronomy tourism but also generate additional income for local spice farmers."